Andy Graham

Looking back over the past few days, what differences did we notice in the Gospel narratives?

All four Gospels suggest Jesus died on a Friday and that it was on the Sunday after the Sabbath that the women came to find the empty tomb, but there were differences. The Synoptics all speak of these final hours of Jesus life beginning from the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, John speaks of before the festival. In John when the Jewish authorities come to Pilate they will not enter for fear of defiling themselves before the Passover, but not so in the Synoptic Gospels. Also, in John’s account of these few days Jesus is very much accepting of and in control of what is about to happen. There is no mention of the agony of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and also a longer discourse between Jesus and Pilate. Why? It would seem that John is out to show us that all of these things happened because it was destined to be. Jesus’ life wasn’t taken from Him, He willingly gave it up for us, He was in control the whole time. However, there also seems to be a clear difference in timings between John and the Synoptic Gospels, but why?

Was it simply that by the time John wrote his Gospel the calendar had changed or were there theological reasons. For example, see John 19:13,14 – the sixth hour on the Day of Preparation would have been about the time when the authorities in the Temple would have been preparing the Sacrificial Lambs – remember John 1:29 Behold the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world… It would seem that John clearly wants us to look to Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice.

There is no mention of the agony of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane and also a longer discourse between Jesus and Pilate. Why? It would seem that John is out to show us that all of these things happened because it was destined to be. Jesus’ life wasn’t taken from Him, He willingly gave it up for us, He was in control the whole time.

John’s Gospel is completely different from the Synoptics, not just in these verses but in many ways, and many believe it is the most accurate record of the ministry of Christ. However, that is not to say that the writer of this account did not have his own agenda to proclaim.

Readings for this Good Friday:- Matthew 27:11-26, Mark 15:1-15, Luke 23:1-25, John 18:33-19:16

All of these accounts feature the exchange between Jesus and Pilate, and again John is significantly different from the Synoptic Gospels. In the Synoptics Jesus says very little, however, in John’s Gospel there is quite along discourse between Jesus and Pilate. Not only that, during this discourse although it is Jesus who is on trial and being questioned, there are times when you might believe it to be the other way around. John gives this picture again of Jesus being in complete control of all that is happening.

Continuing from where we left of yesterday:-

Read     Matthew 26:36-46, Mark 14:32-42, Luke 22:39-46, John 18:1-14

All these accounts speak of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane before being arrested, but notice the differences in them. For John there is not the agony of Jesus that we see in the Synoptics and in John, after Jesus is arrested, there is no trial before the Jewish Council only Caiaphas. For John, Jesus is not only accepting of what is about to happen, but is in control of all that is happening.

Over the next few days we are going to focus very much on the last few days of Jesus time here on earth before His crucifixion, primarily looking at the different accounts of these events as found in the different Gospel narratives. We all know these verses so well, but have we ever taken time to compare the different Gospel narratives around the same events? Let’s do so now and then take time to reflect on why there may be some subtle differences. However, before we do so, a little background information:-

Passover, which is the 7 day Feast of Unleavened Bread, begins on the 15^th of the Hebrew month of Nisan, which falls within either March or April of our calendar today, and lasts for seven days. In Judaism, however, each day begins at dusk on the preceding day, so the 15^th day of Nisan would begin at sunset on the evening of the 14^th.

The Paschal Lamb, eaten at Passover would be selected on Nisan 10 and then slaughtered and prepared at dusk on Nisan 14. It is then eaten later that night, on Nisan 15, and any remnants of the sacrificial meal would have to be burned before the sun rises on Nisan 15.

Read Matthew 26:17-19     Mark 14:12     Luke 22:7-8     John 13:1-3

Is there any one of these narratives that seems to stand out from the others as being different? If so, why might that be?

‘I am the way, the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me…’ (John 14:6)

As we continue through Holy Week let’s not just believe these words, but let’s ask for God’s help to look for ways in which we can share them with others.

‘I am the resurrection and the life…’ (John 11:25)

Lord, we believe – help us in our unbelief!

‘Then Jesus shouted, Lazarus, come out…’ (John 11:43)

It’s difficult for us to imagine or visualise this scene, but why is this passage so important?

‘My sheep recognise my voice; I know them and they follow me…’ (John 10:27)

In this busy world that we live in, with all that we have to do each and every day, how easy is it to always recognise the voice of Our Lord? Do we – and if not, what do we need to do in order to follow Him as we should?

Read John 12:20-36

This is a defining moment for Jesus after His entry into Jerusalem as He looks to the cross. Now His mind and energy are focussed on what lies ahead, but there is little time left to impress on both His disciples, and the wider audience, how important this moment really is.

1. What did Jesus mean by the Son of Man being glorified? (See Daniel 7:13)
2. John 12:27 appears to suggest that Jesus could have asked His Father in Heaven to rescue Him from the cross. Do you think He should have done this to extend His mission time here on earth?
3. Jesus talks elsewhere about taking up our cross and following him. Is the story of the kernel of wheat saying something similar and how do you see this happening in Christians’ lives?
4. The people heard the voice of God, rather than relying purely on scripture to speak to them. Does God still speak directly to us or do you think that the voice that spoke to the prophets has gone silent now?
5. How do you perceive God’s will for your life and how might He be glorified through it?

John tells us that at this crucial time the voice of God was heard, not only by Jesus but by the crowd standing there. Perhaps this should serve as a reminder to us that God is not silent, and perhaps it is more that we are not attuned to listening for his voice.

‘As water reflects your face, so your mind shows what kind of person you are…’ (Proverbs 27:19)

What does our mind say about us?