Reading the Gospels Together

The Trials – Part 4

We have noticed that Luke has chosen to re-write Mark’s story rather freely throughout the Passion Narrative. That is certainly the case here as well. It is clear that Luke is telling the same story but he has changed the order to a point and added some things while subtracting others. It is clearly his own story that he wants to tell.

Whereas Mark had teased his readers with the mention of Peter only to go on to tell of the trial of Jesus, Luke begins the episode of the trials by telling his readers the whole story about Peter’s denial. As soon as Jesus arrives at the house of the high priest Peter is found in the courtyard and three times denies Jesus. The story is the same as Mark’s but told before the trial of Jesus. Where Mark wants his readers to see these two trials together Luke seems to want to separate them. Peter is none the less the denier but his denial comes ahead of the condemnation of Jesus. And only Luke tells his readers the heart-wrenching words that upon his third denial Jesus turned and looked at Peter.

Readers of Luke’s gospel soon discover why Luke has made this change in order. Jesus is not tried during the night but only when morning has come. During the night Jesus is abused and mocked by those who had arrested him. This is something that Mark has told about only after the condemnation. We might ask if there is any significance regarding why Luke has waited until morning to tell of the trial of Jesus. We have already noted that a trial at night would have been very unusual and in fact illegal. Was Luke aware of this and seeking to make the trial a legal proceeding and not the irregular affair it was in Mark’s gospel? Likely Luke was not attempting to justify the proceedings but he did place the event at a time that would have been acceptable. Of course in a way this makes Mark’s scenario even more believable – usually when someone tries to clean up an “error” the “error” is likely correct. Whatever Luke’s motive was he has re-written Mark by moving the trial to the morning hours.

And Luke’s telling of the story is also more freely rendered than Matthew’s was. Luke splits the question regarding Jesus as the Messiah, the Son of God into two questions. When Jesus is asked if he is the Messiah his reply is a frustrating response, “If I tell you, you will not believe and if I question you, you will not answer.” Jesus finally does not answer that question. When the religious leaders ask him if he is the Son of God Jesus response is also vague, “You say that I am.” Actually Matthew had done the same thing with Jesus’ response in his gospel. Only Mark makes the reply of Jesus definite and powerful. Were Matthew and Luke uncomfortable with Jesus’ response as reported by Mark? Or was their way of putting it only a euphemism meaning the same thing? Both Matthew and Luke present us with a puzzle. Only Mark is clear in this regard. Likely Mark represents the actual response of Jesus – especially given what else we know about Mark’s avoidance of letting anyone identify Jesus as the Son of God until his death. At any rate Luke tells his readers that Jesus is found guilty and brought before Pilate.