How Did the Crucifixion Tale Become so Disjointed


When I moved into adulthood and listened to the Easter story a disconnect became apparent. If there was a Jesus who acted up in the Temple and was arrested and charged for doing this, why are we supposed to believe he died to forgive our sins? His breaking the law by misbehaving and claiming he suffered to offset someone else's sin had no connection. That's how I saw it decades ago and see it now.

The question is, how did the tale slide from one explanation to an entirely different one? While I'm not a scholar of the Bible, there is one small event that illustrates the clever slide. It happened between the first Gospel written, Mark, and the second one, Matthew. And, while scholars such as Bart Ehrman say it is unlikely Pontius Pilate ever showed up at a "trail" for Jesus, Mark and Matthew put different words in Pilate's mouth. It was done to slide the story from a simple charge of disturbing the peace to a great theatrical sacrifice.

After setting the theatrical scene with Pilate holding court, Mark 15:9 tells us Pilate had the choice of killing Jesus or a common criminal. "Do you want for me to release for you the King of the Jews?"

When Matthew came along he did not like this reference to Jesus as a political figure. Jesus was supposed to be a religious figure Matthew decided. So, Matthew had Pilate giving the Jews a choice between releasing the criminal Jesus Barabbas or Jesus. Matthew 27:16-17, "So after they had gathered, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release, Jesus Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah?"

That is, Matthew ID's Jesus as a religious figure instead of Mark's political one. 

The strange conversation about releasing Barabbas comes from an ancient Jewish ritual called Yom Kippur-rite. The priest has two identical goats. One is banished to the desert to die--it carries with it to death all the sins of the people (have you heard of the scapegoat). The other is slaughtered to give people atonement. 

It seems to me people could do something more fun on a Sunday in the Spring than listen to this bizarre folk tale. 

Comments

  1. Matt NoahOctober 6, 2021 at 1:26 PM

    Begrudge us not for how we spend a Spring Sunday.

    You believe in God. You try hard to make your sphere of influence to not believe. You are trying to run from your sins AND Jesus.

    ReplyDelete

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