Easter and its errors
Well it's Ressurection Day, and what better way to speak of the holy guy than to show his errors? Nevermind the original meaning of Easter (A solistace if I remember)
If you don't feel like reading the whole thing, these are basically the cliffs notes:
1. In Mark Jesus --greatly disturbed-- asks that the cup be taken away. In John Jesus literally scoffs at the heretical notion of asking that the cup be taken from him.
2. In Mark Jesus is seized or captured and the disciples run. In John Jesus lets the soldiers accompany him to his glorification and lets his disciples go free.
3. In Mark, Pilate interrogates Jesus. In John, Jesus interrogates Pilate.
4. In Mark, a painfully human Jesus is granted assistance carrying his cross. In John, the serenely transcendental and always-in-charge-Jesus requires no assistance at fulfilling the cup the father poured for him.
5. In Mark Jesus is offered a drink. In John Jesus says, "I am thirsty" an someone brings him a drink.
6. In Mark, Jesus lets out a loud cry and breaths his last breath. In John, knowing that all is fulfilled, Jesus chooses to give up his spirit.
And here's them in their entirety:
1:
Mark 14:32-42 features Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane. Jesus is deeply disturbed and in distress. His soul is overwhelmed to the point of death and he falls to the ground (Luke alters this t have Jesus kneels) and asks, if possible, that this cup be taken from him.
In GJohn, Jesus has a long-winded prayer (ch. 17) right before his arrest (which is where the synoptic authors place their accounts) but Jesus is in control in John. He says to the Father, "Glorify me" and instead of praying as he does in the synoptics, he prays for the disciples, future believers and he speaks of the glory he brought the Father on earth and of his marvelous accomplishments.
Jesus in the Gospel of John cannot falter and ask, if its possible take away this cup. For John, Jesus is always in control of everything and this is the purpose for which he came. He knows asking "if its possible take it away" is useless as this is why he is here." Here is how John responds to the synoptic image of Jesus: John 12:27-28 "Now my heart is troubled, and what shall I say? 'Father, save me from this hour'? No, it was for this very reason I came to this hour. Father, glorify your name!"
In Mark Jesus --greatly disturbed-- asks that the cup be taken away. In John Jesus literally scoffs at the heretical notion of asking that the cup be taken from him.
-------------------------------
2:
In Mark 14 the men of the arresting party seize Jesus (v.46) and the disciples flee (v.50). In John 18 its made explicitly clear that Jesus knows in advance (v.4) what will happen and he is certainly not seized by captors (v.6). Jesus knowing in advance says to the party, 'who do you want' and they respond with 'Jesus of Nazareth'. Jesus then says, "I am he" and instead of being seized (as Mark has him) the arresting party "draws back and falls to the ground" in John. Jesus then lets the men arrest him (v. 11). In Mark the disciples flee from the captors (v. 50). In John Jesus tells the soldiers to let the men go, and naturally, they--soldiers with weapons and all-- must adhere to and follow the commands of Jesus.
In Mark Jesus is seized or captured and the disciples run. In John Jesus lets the soldiers accompany him to his glorification and lets his disciples go free.
----------------------------
3:
In Mark 15 Pilate asks Jesus if he is the king of the Jews and Jesus says, "Yes, it is as you say." (v.3) This is all Jesus says according to the Marcan portrait. After a silence Pilate goes on, "Aren't you going to answer? See how many things they are accusing you of." But Jesus still made no reply, and Pilate was amazed.
In John however, Jesus is the one in control and conducting the interview. Look at this scenario from John 18:
Pilate "Are you the king of the Jews?"
Jesus: "Is that your own idea or did others talk to you about me?"
Pilate: "Am I a Jew? It was your people and your chief priests who handed you over to me. What is it you have done?
Jesus:"My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."
Pilate: "You are a king, then!".
Jesus: "You are right in saying I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me."
Pilate: What is truth?"
What is more astounding is Pilate is convinced that Jesus is the king of the Jews and goes on to ask if they want him to release Jesus. In chapter 19 Pilate then hears from "the Jews" that Jesus claimed to be the Son of God (v. 7). At this Pilate is frightened and goes back to Jesus one more time:
Pilate: "Where do you come from?"
Jesus [No Response]
Pilate Do you refuse to speak to me? Don't you realize I have power either to free you or to crucify you?"
Jesus then corrects Pilate:
Jesus: "You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above."
Amazingly the text says at this point: "From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free". The comparison is then made. In Mark Pilate is the authority who is questioning a largely silent Jesus. In the Gospel of John, however, it is Jesus again who is in charge and who really leads the conversation.
In Mark, Pilate interrogates Jesus. In John, Jesus interrogates Pilate.
---------------------------------------
4:
In Mark 15:1 Jesus is aided in carrying his cross."A certain man from Cyrene, Simon, the father of Alexander and Rufus, was passing by on his way in from the country, and they forced him to carry the cross." In John it explicitly states (presumably in contrast to the synoptic notion), that "Jesus carried his own cross" (19:17). He certainly does not need help to accomplish what he has come here to do.
In Mark, a painfully human Jesus is granted assistance carrying his cross. In John, the serenely transcendental and always-in-charge-Jesus requires no assistance at fulfilling the cup the father poured for him.
------------------------------------
5:
In Mark 15:36 Jesus is offered a drink. "One man ran, filled a sponge with wine vinegar, put it on a stick, and offered it to Jesus to drink." In John 19:28-20 Jesus says, "I am thirsty" and naturally, this crucified criminal being executed in the most shameful and brutal manner of the time, is given a drink.
In Mark Jesus is offered a drink. In John Jesus says, "I am thirsty" an someone brings him a drink.
------------------------------------
6:
In Mark Jesus offers a psalm of lamentation (my God..my God) and then (15:37), "With a loud cry, Jesus breathed his last." In John, knowing that all was completed, Jesus says, "It is finished" and with that he bowed his head and gave up his spirit. Not only do the arresting party and Pilate have no power over Jesus, death itself does not have any power over Jesus.
In Mark, Jesus lets out a loud cry and breaths his last breath. In John, knowing that all is fulfilled, Jesus chooses to give up his spirit.
Special thanks to my friend Vinnie in this.
Happy Easter
Euro-Pagan influences are fun.
HAHAHAHA.....ya, thats right, I just got Matrix Revolutions yesterday completing my matrix collection for now
