Reading the Gospels Together Jesus and the Passover – Part 2 We have already noticed that John has a whole lot more invested in Passover than Mark, Matthew, and Luke do. John’s first hint of Passover is when John the Witness first identifies Jesus as the “lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.” Jesus is the Passover lamb. This happens at the very beginning of John’s gospel and these are the first words spoken about Jesus. Following Jesus’ identification as the lamb of God, John takes Jesus briefly to Galilee. But very quickly Jesus returns to Jerusalem because the Passover is about to take place. And what does Jesus do during this first Passover? He cleanses the Temple and claims that the function of the Temple now rest in him. John then takes Jesus back to Galilee with a stop in Samaria. After one more journey back to Jerusalem for an unnamed festival, John again finds Jesus in Galilee on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. It is Passover time once again. This is the second Passover in John’s storyline. And what does Jesus do during this Passover? Jesus multiplies the bread and claims that he is himself the Bread of Life. And in the process of discussing the meaning of the multiplication of the loaves John clearly alludes to the Sacrament of Holy Communion – “unless you eat my flesh and drink my blood you do not have life.” We will notices that John does not tell the story of Jesus transforming Passover into the Lord’s Supper when he tells of the meal in Jerusalem during the final Passover. There is no institution of Holy Communion in John’s storyline at that time – but here is the clear implication that such an institution has taken place and John’s community knows very well about Holy Communion! In the second Passover, Jesus indirectly institutes Holy Communion in his explanation regarding the multiplication of the Bread. We have also noticed how even the synoptic writers make allusion to Holy Communion in their telling of the story of the multiplication of the bread. As the end of the public ministry of Jesus is coming to a close, John alerts his readers that it is now six days before Passover – the third Passover in John’s storyline. In a scene that looks very much like that in Mark, John tells his readers that a woman, Mary, anoints Jesus using oil she has bought for his burial. It is in the days just ahead of this Passover that Jesus is encountered by the Greeks who desire to see him and the announcement is made that Jesus’ hour has now come. This Passover will be the moment for which the Messiah was sent into the world. We have now arrived at the third Passover in John’s gospel. It is during this Passover – in fact just prior to the meal itself, when the Passover lambs are being slaughtered, that John tells his readers of the crucifixion of Jesus. Jesus hangs on the cross while the Passover lambs which will be eaten that evening are being killed! So, in John’s storyline Jesus does not live long enough to actually celebrate the Passover with his disciples. We can be sure that this is what John means since he informs his readers that the Jewish religious leaders refuse to enter into Pilate’s headquarters because they do not want to defile themselves and thus be unable to celebrate the Passover. How are we to understand the difference between the synoptic gospel’s storyline which tells of only one Passover in which Jesus cleanses the Temple, transforms Passover into Holy Communion, and is crucified and John’s storyline which tells of Jesus taking part in three Passovers? Was there only one Passover or was there three Passovers? It seems again to be irreconcilable to attempt to merge these two storylines. And we have already looked at the issue of the cleansing of the Temple and came to the conclusion that Mark is likely reflecting historical accuracy better than John in that regard. Did Mark condense three Passovers into one? Or, did John expand one Passover into three? As we move forward to consider answers to our questions it is important that we notice what all these gospel writers share together. Their differences are so glaring that they might get in the way of the great similarity we need to recognize. All four gospel writers connect the Passover with the cleansing of the Temple. All four gospel writers connect Passover with Holy Communion. And all four gospel writers know that Jesus was crucified at Passover. Those are three very important and powerful things that all four gospel writers share together and we need to not forget that.