5.3 the crucifixion and resurrection narratives in Luke Flashcards
What kind of emphasis does Luke’s narrative lack?
- soteriological (salvation)
Who is the NT scholar that identified the importance of salvation and salvation history in Luke?
Hans Conzelmann
What does Conzelmann argue about the crucifixion narrative?
- there’s none of the passion ‘mysticism’ that is present in the other Gospels
- he makes key observations about various omissions and additions Luke makes within his Gospel that show Luke’s focus on more historical matters
What is an example of an omission that Luke makes?
- he omits Mark 10:45 (‘to give his life as a ransom for many’)
- by redacting this passage, scholars have argued that Lk is de-emphasising the atoning aspects of Jesus’ death
What is the significance of the OT reference to the Women of Jerusalem?
- it is a prophecy given by Jesus; a time will come when it would have been better not to have children than to see them suffer
- Matera = it is Jesus’ final prophetic words to the people of Jerusalem
What is the significance of the OT reference in Jesus’ final words on the cross?
- Psalm 31:5= ‘into your hands I commit my spirit’ BUT Jesus says ‘Father…’ - drawing attention to he Father-Son relationship
What further significance does Jesus’ final words have?
- Lk emphasises that the death of Jesus was carrying out God’s will; he didn’t die in despair like in MT and Mk (‘My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?’)
What is the link to scripture with the two criminals?
- Isaiah 53:9 and 12 = ‘assigned a grave with the wicked’ and ‘numbered with the transgressors’
What is the significance of the two criminals and the OT reference?
- links with the SS
- Lk uses the Greek word for criminal compared with MK who used the word for revolutionary - disassociating Jesus from any political motives
How is the dividing of Jesus’ clothes linked to scripture?
- Psalm 22:18 = ‘they divide my clothes among them and cast lots for my garment
What is the significance of the dividing of clothes?
- Jesus’ death fulfils this messianic expectation
How does Jesus being offered wine vinegar link to scripture?
- Psalm 69:21 = ‘gave me vinegar for my thirst’
What is the significance of Jesus being offered wine vinegar?
- Lk uses it as part of the mockery by the soldiers
- it shows the ‘paradox of the cross’ - Matera
How does the people standing at a distance link to scripture?
- Psalm 38:11 = ‘my friend and companions avoid me…my neighbours stay far away’
What is the significance of the disciples and women standing at a distance watching?
- the irony is that the women, who will be the first to see the risen Jesus, watch his death from a distance
- their action is fulfilling the prophecy about the Messiah
How is darkness used as a symbol during the crucifixion narrative?
- OT = darkness was a sign of God’s displeasure e.g. the plague of darkness in Exodus 10:21
- Lk = the ‘light of revelation’ (2:23) referred to by Simeon when Jesus was presented in the Temple has gone for a while
How is the tearing of the Temple Curtain used as a symbol in the crucifixion narrative?
- the tearing represents the breaking of the barrier between God and humanity
- Lk differs in that the time the Temple curtain is torn before Jesus’ death whereas in the other Gospels it is at Jesus’ death
What does Matera argue about the tearing of the Temple Curtain?
- this is Lk’s way of saying that the cult of the Temple doesn’t end with Jesus’ death; it continues to play a role in Acts
How can the crucifixion narrative be seen to show Jesus’ death as his destiny?
- Jesus’ passion doesn’t come as a surprise: he tells the women not to weep for him (23:28) and he states that the scripture from Isaiah must be fulfilled in him (22:37)
How can the crucifixion narrative be seen to show Jesus as God’s Royal son?
- Matera = Jesus enters his passion as God’s royal son and that the royal theme leads to the passion
How can the crucifixion narrative be seen to show Jesus’ innocence?
- one of the criminals recognised that Jesus has done nothing wrong
- he acknowledges Jesus’ kingship by asking him to remember him when he enters the kingdom (23:42)
How can the crucifixion narrative be seen to present Jesus as a righteous man?
- In Mk = Jesus is called the Son of God by the guard
- In Lk = the reference to a righteous man seems a weaker claim
How does the crucifixion narrative show the paradox of the cross?
- Jesus is mocked by the Jewish authorities, the soldiers and the criminals because he can’t save himself
How can the crucifixion narrative be seen as God’s saving plan?
- Jesus’ death is a new Exodus; a redemptive act
What are the key features of the resurrection narrative?
- the empty tomb
- the women
- Jerusalem
- Peter
- the breaking of bread
- the fulfilment of scripture
What role does the empty tomb play in the resurrection?
- Joseph of Arimathea acts as a respectable witness that Jesus was truly dead and was buried therefore it can only have been a bodily resurrection
What role do the women play in the resurrection?
- they are the first to witness that the resurrection took place by finding the tomb
What role does the Jerusalem play in the resurrection?
- the resurrection appearances centre on Jerusalem
- the disciples’ mission will begin in Jerusalem (24:47)
- after the ascension, they return to Jerusalem (24:52)
What role does the Peter play in the resurrection?
- a central role in developing the early Church in Acts
- the risen Jesus appears to him (24:35)
- he is shown as a witness to the empty tomb (24:12)
What role does the breaking of bread play in the resurrection?
- Jesus gave thanks, broke the bread and gave it to them (24:30-31) - echoing the Last Supper
- shows that they encounter Christ through the Eucharist
What role does the emphasis on abodily resurrection play in the resurrection?
- Lk stresses that it is a bodily resurrection: Jesus eats a piece of broiled fish (24:42-43) and asks them to touch his hands and feet (24:39)
What does Marshall argue about the emphasis on a bodily resurrection?
- ‘The motif is one of the reality of the risen Lord’
What role does the fulfilment of OT prophecy play in the resurrection?
- it is only when the scripture is ‘opened’ to the disciples that they know that Jesus is the promised Messiah
- Jesus says that the scriptures prophesised evrything about him (24:46-47) which acts as a summary of the whole Gospel message
What does Marshall argue about Lk 24:46-47?
- it is the ‘Lucan formulation of the kerygma’
How does the resurrection narrative show the power of God and relationship with God?
- the resurrection can be seen to be God making himself known in the world as it testifies to God’s power to overcome death
- through the gift of the Holy Spirit the disciples will receive the power of God
How does the resurrection show themes of atonement, sacrfice, forgiveness of sins, relationship with God?
- Jesus’ death was seeb as the perfect sacrifice - through his death and resurrection the forgiveness of sins is made possible
- the disciples are told to preach the message of ‘repentance for the forgiveness of sins’ to all (24:47)
How does the resurrection show the future of the early church?
- Lk shows how to keep the early believers’ faith going: through the transformation of a group of believers into the church
- the narratives stress the importance of scripture, Eucharist and the Holy Spirit
How does the resurrection narrative present the theme of salvation?
- it is through the scriptures that the disciples are shown that Jesus’ death and resurrection were part of God’s plan for salvation
