what did JC think of his death essay

Question 1

intro

Answer 1

• 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).

Question 2

para 1

Answer 2

Para 1 - It is possible that Jesus viewed death as an inescapable part of a prophetic mission which involves suffering
- Luke 13:32– 33; Matt 23:29–36 (Q)/Mk 8:31
o ‘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)
- Rowland - ‘It was the plot against Jesus when he travelled to Jerusalem…which led to his arrest and death’ (162)
- Mt 16:21-28/Lk 9:22-27
o From that time on, Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised.

Question 3

para 1 Lukan tradition

Answer 3

• 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.
  o 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)

Question 4

para 1 ao2

Answer 4

• Had knowledge of JB fate
  o ‘In the context of the Temple precincts, where Jesus draws attention to John (see Mark 11:27-33 – did the baptism of john come from heaven or humans?), Jesus tells the parable of the Wicked Vineyard Tenants (see Mark 12:1-12), implying that the “son” of the vineyard owner (i.e., Jesus) will be murdered.’ (CRAIG EVANS)
• presents it as out of his hands, inevitable
  o “Abba! Father. All things are possible for you; remove this cup from Me; yet not what I will, but what you will” (Mark 14:36, NASB).
  o Evans – why would the gospel writers invent a pericope where JC sounds frightened?

Question 5

para 2 - 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]): confession

Answer 5

• Confession before Caiaphas – Mark 14:61-64
  o JC affirms that he is ‘the Christ the Son of the Blessed’ whom Caiphas and company ‘will see’ as ‘Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming with the clouds of heaven’ (Mark 14:61-2)
  o Mark 14:64 – ‘blasphemy!’
  o Son of Man could be generic reference
  • but, son of man = reminiscent of Dan 7
  • 1 Enoch 62, son of man = on ‘throne of glory’

Question 6

para 2 third day

Answer 6

• Mt 17:22-23/Mk 9:30-32
  o “The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands, 23 and they will kill him, and on the third day he will be raised.”
  o Predicts his resurrection ‘after three days’ based on Hos 6:2
  • Evans - Whereas the Hebrew reads: “He will revive us after two days; on the third day he will raise us up that we may live before him” (and the Greek reads similarly), the Aramaic reads: “He will give us life in the days of consolations that will come; on the day of the resurrection of the dead he will raise us up.” Jesus presupposed the interpretive orientation reflected in this later Aramaic paraphrase. He alluded to this passage in his expression of confidence that he would be raised up “after three days” (or “on the third day”), that is, “on the day of the resurrection of the dead,” which given the nearness of God’s kingdom, must surely be at hand.

Question 7

para 2 eucharist

Answer 7

• link to eucharist - a rite immediately before his death in which it is given a vicarious, redemptive meaning.
  o 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)
  o 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

Question 8

para 2 ao2

Answer 8

• Cry of dereliction suggests he wasn’t prepared
  o ‘My God, My God, why hast thou forsaken me?’ (Mk 15:34, also in Mt 27:46; a quote from Psalm 22:1?)
  o ‘Father, into your hand I commend my spirit.’ (Lk 23:46; cf. Psalm 31:5)
  o ‘It is finished. (Jn 19:30) - link to paragraph 1
  o 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)
  o Sanders - the view that he plotted his own redemptive death makes him strange in any century and thrusts the entire drama into his peculiar inner psyche.
• But look at allusion to Psalm 22

Question 9

para 3

Answer 9

• Mark 10:45, ‘the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many’
  o How is son of man being used?
  o Did JC foresee his death?
• Background = Isaiah 53
  o JC depicts himself as suffering servant of Deutero-Isaiah
• Link to KofG sayings

Question 10

para 3 ao2

Answer 10

• Evidence of hope in resurrection reflects Jewish martyrdom tradition – resurrection will be for all
  o Contemp hope for resurrection amongst Jews (Dan 12:1-3, 1 Enoch 22-27, 4 Ezra 7:26-42), 4Q521 links Messiah and general resurrection
  o Evans: Vindication for all - 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)