Reading the Gospels Together The garden/Gethsemane – Part 4 We have already noted how Luke tends to re-write Mark’s story at this point of his gospel. Luke had already told his readers of Jesus warning to Peter that he would deny him three times while the group was still in the upper room. Luke does not have Jesus say that everyone will desert him, however, since only Peter is mentioned in that previous scene. Why did Luke move the scene of the prediction of Peter’s denial back into the story of the meal and why did Luke not mention the coming desertion of all the disciples? Likely Luke has made these changes because he wants to portray the disciples in a far more positive way than Mark had portrayed them. They will, after all, soon be the foundation of the church in the book of Acts. And Jesus does not tell his disciples that he will go before them to Galilee as Mark and Matthew had said. In Luke’s gospel Jesus never returns to Galilee but remains in Jerusalem and nearby throughout the resurrection appearances. This is an important change that Luke makes to reflect his own theological perspective. Jerusalem, not Galilee, is the center of further mission for Luke so Jesus does not leave that center in Luke’s gospel. Luke’s changes to Mark’s gospel reflect his own theological views and the plan he is already working toward in the book of Acts. When the group arrives at the Mount of Olives Jesus immediately withdraws from his disciples to pray. Luke does not mention Jesus taking the inner circle of three with him – all the disciples are together throughout Luke’s story. Though the text is not found in many of the older and more reliable manuscripts and therefore is doubtful, some of the later manuscripts contain an account of an angel coming to strengthen Jesus and of Jesus sweating what appears like great drops of blood as he agonized in prayer. Whether or not this part of the story goes back to Luke or has been added later by someone copying Luke’s gospel really doesn’t matter. The event at Gethsemane was one of deep anguish and agony for Jesus in Luke’s view – a view we have also seen was shared by Mark and Matthew. It is clear that all three synoptic gospel writers understood this to be a real and traumatic experience for Jesus! They do not fear emphasizing the humanity of Jesus – and in the process risking the possibility that Jesus might have failed! Had Jesus failed to “drink the cup of suffering” there would have been no gospel writing! But Jesus did not fail and so the story continues. Luke tells the story of the arrest of Jesus in much the same way as Mark had done. He does add a couple of touches to the story though. First of all Luke tells us that Jesus healed the man whose ear was severed – something neither Mark nor Matthew had mentioned. John will not mention this healing either. And Luke ends his account with the ominous words that this is “your hour” and the power of darkness. In the temptation scene near the beginning of Luke’s gospel he had told his readers that the devil “left Jesus for an opportune time.” Now is that time. And it is likely that Luke wants his readers to recall the earlier story. So, while we have noted a few minor differences, we can conclude that the synoptic writers speak with one voice once again as they tell this story. The subtle differences are interesting to note but clearly they all agree for the most part at this point in the story.