2009 Good Friday

I believe that the Passion and Resurrection narratives are the core of Christian message in the apostolic age. It was only later that more materials were added on top of the central Christian message: Jesus reconciled us sinners and God through his death and resurrection. The Evangelists were Christian witnesses who put the Jesus story into writing. They were writing a biography of Jesus, but each one of them had to deal with problems their specific communities faced. Therefore, each Evangelist acted more or less like different movie directors. Each of them selected and highlighted different aspects of the life of Jesus to shed light on different problems they faced. Therefore, some Biblical scholars do not approve of harmonizing all four gospels into one. In ironing out the differences among them, such a harmonizing attempt will rub away much lustre of the Jesus portrayed by the Evangelists.
Tonight, we read the Passion according to St. John. Here, Jesus was in full control of the whole situation!
When the band of soldiers came to the garden to arrest Jesus, instead of waiting for the signal of Judas' kiss, Jesus stepped forwards to ask them whom they sought. When Jesus identified himself, the soldiers fell to the ground!
When he said to them, "I am he," they drew back and fell to the ground (John 18:6).
Jesus even commanded them to let the others leave. Though Peter drew out a sword to put up a futile resistance, John did not mention the dispersal of the apostles.
There is a little puzzle in the trial of Jesus before the High Priest. At first, Jesus was led to Annas, the father-in-law of Caiaphas the High Priest (John 18:13). Then the High Priest questioned Jesus (John 18:19). In the end, Annas sent Jesus bound to the High Priest (John 18:24). Wait a minute, who questioned Jesus in verse 19, Annas or Caiaphas? No questioning from Caiaphas was actually recorded. There were only Peter's denials of Jesus! Then Jesus was sent to Pilate (John 18:28).
In the Synoptic gospels, Jesus spoke only once before Pilate. But in John, there were a series of exchanges. In John, one gets the impression that Jesus was actually judging Pilate rather than Pilate Jesus. Pilate couldn't do anything to Jesus. In his fear, Pilate wanted to demonstrate his authority/power like what people usually resort to when they run out of reason/logic.
Pilate therefore said to him, "You will not speak to me? Do you not know that I have power to release you, and power to crucify you?" (John 19:10)
Even this was denied by Jesus.
Jesus answered him, "You would have no power over me unless it had been given you from above; therefore he who delivered me to you has the greater sin." (John 19:11)
Pilate wanted to release Jesus, but he was cornered by the Jews.
Upon this Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend; every one who makes himself a king sets himself against Caesar." (John 19:12)
Pilate was furious. He decided to humiliate the Jews by calling Jesus the king of the Jews.
Now it was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews, "Behold your King!"
They cried out, "Away with him, away with him, crucify him!" Pilate said to them, "Shall I crucify your King?" The chief priests answered, "We have no king but Caesar."
Then he handed him over to them to be crucified (John 19:14-16).
Pilate waited until the Jews acknowledged the kingship of Caesar. He was satisfied and handed Jesus over to them. In this narrative, John made the Jews wholly responsible for the death of Jesus. There was no need for a Barabbas for the Jews to choose from. There was no need for Pilate to wash his hands in front of all.
When Jesus was crucified, there were no insults from the bystanders. On the cross, Jesus did not pray for those who crucified him, nor did he recite Psalm 22. The Jesus in the Passion of St. John uttered only four sentences.

1. Woman, behold your son (John 19:26).
2. Behold your mother (John 19:27).
3. I thirst (John 19:28).
   [John explains that Jesus said this to fulfil the scripture. Contrast what Jesus told the Samaritan woman.
   but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst; the water that I shall give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life (John 4:14).]
4. It is finished (John 19:30).

On the cross, Jesus was the ultimate director. Cut. It is finished. But be of good cheer. I have overcome the world (John 16:33).

My sweet Jesus, you have overcome the world with your death on the cross. May we, your unworthy servants, gain strength from your Passion to sustain all adversities. Amen.