Reading the Gospels Together

The Death and Burial of Jesus – Part 4

As we have noted throughout the Passion Narrative Luke is quite free in his re-writing of Mark’s story. Clearly most of the events and the sequence of events in Luke are the same as in Mark but the content of those events is very different. Following Mark, Luke mentions that Simon of Cyrene is compelled to carry Jesus’ cross behind him. There is no mention of Rufus and Alexander. At this point Luke adds a significant event to the story. He tells his readers that a great crowd of people are following the procession to the site of the crucifixion and that the women of Jerusalem are beating their breasts and wailing for Jesus. Already there is great remorse for what is happening – at least on the part of some of the people. There are still those who are at least sympathetic to Jesus. Mark has made it clear that everyone has abandoned Jesus and he is all alone. Jesus directs those who wail for him to weep not for him but for themselves regarding the awful fate that awaits the city – a clear reference to the coming destruction of the city at the hands of the Romans in the Jewish War of 66-70 AD.

On the way to the cross Luke mentions the two criminal who were led away with Jesus to be crucified with him. As with Mark and Matthew, Luke uses only a minimum or words to tell his readers that Jesus was crucified – there is no description of any kind of the agony and suffering. He is crucified with one criminal on his left and the other on his right. Almost immediately Jesus speaks declaring words of forgiveness to his accusers and to those who have crucified him. The text is disputed since some of the more reliable older manuscripts do not contain this verse while others do. Whether or not Jesus actually said the words is less important than the message which fits Luke’s story. That Jesus would have forgiven his accusers fits well with Luke’s theology. By telling of Jesus making this proclamation Luke is moving far from the mood and message that dominates Mark’s gospel. That movement will be increased as we move forward. In spite of Jesus words of forgiveness those surrounding the cross still taunt Jesus. Mark had mentioned those who passed by, the religious leaders, and the other two criminal as those who mocked Jesus. Luke leaves the people standing by and not mocking Jesus and speaks only of the religious leaders and the soldiers and only one of the criminal joining in the taunting. Mark had brought every human being under trial and found wanting. Luke does not share Mark’s pessimism. Only Luke tells his readers of the encounter between Jesus and the two criminal who were crucified with him. One mocks Jesus. The other chastised the mocker and requests of Jesus that Jesus remember him when he comes into his kingdom. Jesus grants his request with his second words spoken from the cross – “Today you will be with me in paradise.” Already, the story Luke is weaving together has the assurance of a positive outcome. Readers of Luke’s gospel are not led into the awful darkness and utter despair that Mark’s readers must endure.

Following Mark, Luke tells of the darkness that engulfed the whole world from noon until three o’clock in the afternoon. Luke tells his readers that it was during this darkness while Jesus is still alive that the curtain in the Temple was torn in two – a change in Mark’s order. And at three o’clock when Jesus speaks his final words they are not words of despair but rather words of assurance and even hope. Jesus says, “Father into your hands I commit my spirit,” and with those words Jesus breathes his last – not in a death cry but in a release of his life into the certain arms of God. Once Jesus has surrendered his spirit the centurion speaks but his words are not the same as in Mark. Luke’s centurion does not declare Jesus to be the Son of God but rather that Jesus was innocent. A great injustice has taken place and the response of the crowd bears that out – they leave the scene of the cross beating their breasts in repentance. Mark had mentioned that only the women watched from a distance. Luke tells his readers that all of Jesus acquaintances – presumably even his male disciples including the Twelve – including the women stood at a distance and watched. The disciples have not fled after all. Luke has not mentioned the names of any of the women as Mark had done. The group of followers in Luke’s gospel is much larger and remains faithful to Jesus throughout.