The written gospels grew up around the passion story as the core of the traditions. Why did the passion story take fixed form first? Why was it the first part of the story of Jesus’ life to be retold and written down in such detail? The first preachers had to respond to the questions that Jesus’ shameful death raised.
Could a man who was crucified be God’s messiah, who came to save people and bring them new life? Jesus, who died the death of a criminal, wasn’t even powerful enough to save himself. The first preachers had to face mockers’ questions: How could Jesus be the king of the Jews, the messiah of God, God’s chosen one? If he were, he would have the power to save himself or God would save him.
- What are your questions about Jesus’ crucifixion?
People in Jesus’ time popularly expected a messiah who would restore Israel’s place among nations. When Jesus’ followers reread their Hebrew scriptures after his death and resurrection, they read them with Easter eyes. For example, the songs of the prophet Second Isaiah describing the Israelites in exile as God’s suffering servants also fit Jesus. Luke depends on such insights to explain that Jesus suffered and died “according to the scriptures.” For Christians, Jesus’ death and resurrection are one inseparable whole.
For this reason, the passion accounts present Jesus as someone who knows what will happen. In Luke’s account Jesus takes his place at the last supper table and prophesies, “I have greatly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer. I tell you, I will not eat again until it is fulfilled in the kingdom of God” (22:18).
Jesus knows that someone with whom he is eating the Passover supper will turn him over to soldiers. He knows that Peter will betray him. He accepts the Father’s plan in his prayer in the garden. He promises the repentant criminal, “This day you will be with me in paradise” (23.42).
Luke’s passion account emphasizes Jesus’ innocence. When the crowd, the chief priests, and temple guard come to arrest Jesus, he says, “Am I a criminal that you come out after me armed with swords and clubs? When I was with you day after day in the temple, you never raised a hand against me. But this is your hour — the triumph of darkness” (22.52-53).
- When have you experienced darkness seeming to triumph?
The charges brought against Jesus are specious. The passion narrative views the religious leaders (the chief priests and many scribes and elders) as plotting to kill him because they were afraid of the effect he was having on the people. When they ask him if he is the messiah, Jesus refuses to answer directly. They interpret his words to mean that he is the Son of God, testimony by which to condemn him (22.70).
The civil authorities, Pilate and Herod, can find no evidence of a crime. As Pilate says “I did not find this man guilty of any crime, nor did Herod” (23.14-15). Even the criminal on the cross testifies to Jesus’ innocence. “This man has done nothing wrong.”
At Jesus’ death the centurion who stands at the foot of the cross expresses Luke’s view, “Surely, this man was innocent!”
Innocence is a powerful agent of change. The cries of children separated from their parents at the U.S./Mexican border awakened citizens to the immigration issues more than the plight of adults. Turning the fire hoses on children in Montgomery had the same power during the struggle for Civil Rights. The violence we can justify toward one another we cannot justify doing to children.
Besides Jesus’ innocence Luke emphasizes what a humble leader Jesus is. When his followers argue at the last supper table about who is greatest, Jesus contrasts two examples of leadership — earthly kings and table servants. Earthly kings, he explains, “lord it over” their people, and are called grand names.
Jesus urges his followers to reject this example and give up grandiose titles. Then he asks, “Who is greater, the person who sits at table, or the person who serves?” Jesus admits the usual answer is the person who sits at table, but he points to himself as an example of a different kind of greatness — “I am among you as one who serves.”
- How does violence against the innocent affect you?
- What leaders have disillusioned you? Who models service?
There are several characters in Luke’s gospel who play important roles in the passion story. Satan is one of them. Satan disappears at the end of Luke’s temptation story “until an opportune time” (Luke 4.13). The “opportune time” is Jesus’ crucifixion when Satan takes possession of Judas (22.3) and asks for Peter (22.31). Jesus says his arrest is the triumph of darkness (22.53). Unlike Judas, Peter experiences grief that he denied Jesus and so becomes a model of hope to other followers who like him are imperfect in their fidelity to Jesus.
Pilate and Herod exemplify earthly greatness and leadership. Both have power to sentence subjects to death. Pilate, even though he finds no evidence, fears the unruly crowd. In an act of cowardice, not true leadership, he perverts the system of justice by sentencing Jesus to death.
The two criminals crucified with Jesus characterize the two responses to Jesus throughout Luke’s passion account. One mocks him and taunts him, asking him to save himself if he is really the messiah. The other recognizes Jesus is an innocent man and asks Jesus to remember him when he comes into his kingdom.
- With which character in the passion story do you most identify? Why?