ESSAY - did JC know he was going to die? Flashcards
intro
i) It is plausible that the historical Jesus, from early in his ministry, would have been aware of the possibility of his own violent end - especially given his knowledge of the fate of John the Baptist (Mk 6, 11:27ff). Note the Lukan tradition (13:31–33) in which the Pharisees warn Jesus to flee because Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee and the murderer of John, sought to kill Jesus as well.
a. At that very hour some Pharisees came and said to him, “Get away from here, for Herod wants to kill you.” He said to them, “Go and tell that fox for me, ‘Listen, I am casting out demons and performing cures today and tomorrow, and on the third day I finish my work.’ (Luke 13:31-32)
para 1
i) It is possible that Jesus viewed death as an inescapable part of a prophetic mission Luke 13:32– 33; Matt 23:29–36 (Q):
a. ‘Yet today, tomorrow, and the next day I must be on my way, because it is impossible for a prophet to be killed outside of Jerusalem.’ (Lk 13:33)
para 2
i) Jesus could have thought of himself as a figure that would suffer but be vindicated (combining the Suffering servant/Righteous one [e.g. Isaiah 52:13-53:12] with the Son of Man figure [e.g.Dan 7:13]).
link to cry of dereliction
• ‘My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ (Mk 15:34, also in Mt 27:46; a quote from Psalm 22:1?)
• ‘Father, into your hand I commend my spirit.’ (Lk 23:46; cf. Psalm 31:5)
• ‘It is finished. (Jn 19:30) - link to paragraph 1
• And the Lord screamed out, saying: ‘My power, O power, you have forsaken me.’ And having said this, he was taken up. (Gospel of Peter 19)
para 3
i) Jesus could have seen the death of a righteous person having an effect on others because of ideas associated with Jewish martyrdom traditions (e.g. 2 Mac 7:36ff).
a. I, like my brothers, give up body and life for the laws of our ancestors, appealing to God to show mercy soon to our nation and by trials and plagues to make you confess that he alone is God, and through me and my brothers to bring to an end the wrath of the Almighty that has justly fallen on our whole nation.” (2 Mac 7:36-7)
link to eucharist - a rite immediately before his death in which it is given a vicarious, redemptive meaning.
- According to the first tradition (Matt 26:26–29; Mark 14:22–25), the shedding of his blood will establish a covenant on behalf of many - as was done on Sinai (Exodus 24:8). (link to para 1)
- According to the second, the cup is the new covenant in Jesus’ blood (Luke 22:20; 1 Cor 11:25) promised in Jeremiah 31:31–34.
