The last words of Jesus (Part 2)

The Arrest of Jesus

• In Matthew 26:47-50, Judas planned to do something to show the people, who came

to arrest Jesus, which man was Jesus. Judas said “The man I kiss is Jesus. Arrest

him.”

• In John 18:1-8, Judas led a group of soldiers to the garden. Judas also brought some

guards from the leading priests and the Pharisees. They were carrying torches,

lanterns, and weapons. Jesus knew everything that would happen to him. Jesus

went out and asked, “Whom seek ye? They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth.”

Jesus said, “I am he”

Which one of these stories was inspired, and which one was not? Can we gain

any reasonable answer from the apologetics?

The Gentile woman

• In Matthew 15:21, a Canaanite woman asked Jesus to help her daughter who had a

demon inside her.

215

• In Mark 7:26, the woman was not a Jew. She was Greek, born in Phoenicia, an area

in Syria.

Was this woman Canaanite or Phoenician?

Does it make a difference? Yes it does, if both sources claim to be inspired by God.

The Last Super

• John places the Last Supper “before the Passover celebration.”

• All other three Gospels place the Last Super during the celebration.

Does it make a difference? Yes it does, if both sources claim to be inspired by God.

What did Jesus drink on the cross?

• Matthew 27:34, “They gave him (Jesus) vinegar to drink, mingled with gall.”

• Mark 15:23 “And they gave him (Jesus) to drink, wine mingled with myrrh.”

This is two different authors account of the same event, Jesus on the cross. The first

is Matthew saying that they gave Jesus to drink vinegar (old wine) mixed with gall, which

is a product that comes from the oak tree. It is used in inks and medicines.

The second verse is from Mark, and it says wine mixed with myrrh, which is a gum

resin used in the making of incense. Mark clearly wrote his gospel first, and Matthew

must have not been clear on what Mark meant.

The High Priests

The High Priests condemned Jesus because he had “blasphemed” God for they found

no other reason. The High Priests asked whether he was Christ, the Son of God:

• The answer according to Matthew (26:64): “Thou hast said.”

• The answer according to Mark (14:62): “I am.”

• The answer according to Luke (22:70): “Ye say that I am.”

216

• John gives more detailed information. Jesus defended himself before the high

priests: “I ever taught in the synagogue and in the temple, whither the Jews always

resort; and in secret have I said nothing.” (John 18:20)

The contradictions of the four evangelists are understandable. None of them

were present at the trial; they are merely reporting rumors.

Who carried Jesus' cross?

• Mark 15:21, “And they compel one Simon a Cyrennian, who passed by, coming out

of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus to bear his cross.”

• John 19:16-17, “Then delivered he him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they

took Jesus and led him away. And he bearing his cross went forth into a place called

the place of a skull, which is called in the Hebrew Golgotha”

In Mark’s version, the soldiers forced Simon to carry the cross. In John’s version,

Jesus carried his own cross. So, Who is right? Neither of the authors of these tales can

say for sure because they were not there. Half the truth Christian preachers publicize the

story of John because it is more dramatic.

The resurrection

The four Gospels have different accounts about the resurrection

• Matthew makes the whole scene very dramatic (28:1-9). Mary Magdalene and Mary

the mother of James went to the tomb, which was closed. At that time there was a

strong earthquake. An angle of the Lord came from the sky, his face like lightening

and his robe as white as snow, moved the stone, sat on it, and spoke to the women.

He showed them the place where Jesus’ body was and said that he had risen, and

that they were to inform the disciples quickly. The fact that they also met Jesus on

the way is no longer connected to the visit to the tomb.

• Mark (16:1-8) says that Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome

bought spices to anoint Jesus. On the way they were wondering how they would

217

move the stone from the tomb, when they saw that it was already opened and that a

young man in a long white garment sat inside. He told them not to be afraid, for

Jesus, whom they sought, had risen from the dead. They were to tell the disciples.

But the women fled in panic; “neither said they anything to any man, for they were

afraid.” “Neither” implies two women, but Mark stated the names of three women!

• Luke (24:1-6) only mentions “women” (not mentioned by name), who went to the

open tomb and found it empty. While they stood there sadly, two men in “shining

garments” said to them: “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but

is risen.”

•