Gospel of Matthew

RUNNING HEADER: The Passion

Sarah Sieber

Waynesbug College

BMS 106

The Passion

Many people believe that there is only one account of the Passion of Jesus Christ or they believe that each story is the same; whereas there are four separate Gospel accounts of the Passion of Our Lord. Each of these Gospel accounts supplements the others, however each gospel account of the crucifixion of Jesus is unique, not only in how the story is told but also in the events and features themselves. Matthew, Mark, Luke and John clearly present different portrayals of the death of Jesus Christ. By examining each account the reader discovers the evangelist's understanding of the death accounts of the crucifixion and death of Jesus. The reader must examine and compare all of the Gospel accounts to have a full and clear knowledge of the whole story. The crucifixion is the centerpiece of the Gospels.

In the first gospel account, Matthew emphasizes the negative, blameworthy role of the Jews at the crucifixion. He portrays a moment of judgment on the Jews. He describes the darkness that covered the earth, a common image symbolizing judgment. In his narrative, Matthew stresses on the split of the temple makes it clear that Jesus is bringing an end to the old order, which is centered on the temple. Matthew saw the Jewish war and the destruction of Jerusalem and the temple as a visible result of their fatal choice.

Matthew portrays Jesus’ death as a glorious event, and the ending of one era and the beginning of a new era. For Matthew, the crucifixion is clearly an astronomical event in which the events of Jesus death signal the dawning of a new age. It is a clear, decisive act of God in human history. Matthew describes images such as earthquakes, splitting rocks, opening tombs and the rising of the dead.

Mark, author of the oldest Gospel, stresses Jesus' humanity. In the Gospel of Mark, Mark gives a stark, raw, brutal and unembellished account of Jesus’ suffering and death. Mark tells the story without dwelling on its horrific and physical details. He is the only one to note that the false witnesses were not in agreement one with another. Lastly, he is the only one who records the fact that Pilate asked for proof of the death of Christ. According to Mark, Jesus died on the day of Passover, but the tradition supposes it was the preparation day before Passover. This is the only Gospel that mentions the names of Simon's children, Alexander and Rufus.

Mark presents Jesus as a compassionate savior who through his acts of service and acts of suffering summons unbelievers to become disciples and so that believers would understand what it means to be committed followers of Jesus. In Mark’s account of the Passion of Jesus Christ, Jesus dies alone.Jesus only speaks once from the cross stating "My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?" and dies. Mark acknowledges that after Jesus’ crucifixtion that people believed in Jesus being the true Messiah, “Truly this man was the Son of God!" (15:39).

The Gospel according to Luke exhibits several differences from the other Synoptic Gospels. Unlike Matthew and Mark who record Jesus saying: “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?” Luke states “Father, into your hands, I commend