The Life of Jesus of Nazareth

Excerpt: ...36-46; Mark xiv. 26, 32-42; Luke xxii. 39-46; John xviii. 1. The betrayal and arrest--Matt xxvi. 47-56; Mark xiv. 43-52; Luke xxii. 47-53; John xviii. 1-12. Trial before the high-priests and sanhedrin--Matt. xxvi. 57 to xxvii. 10; Mark xiv. 53 to xv. 1a; Luke xxii. 54-71; John xviii. 12-27. Trial before Pilate--Matt, xxvii. 11-31; Mark xv. 1-20; Luke xxiii. 1-25; John xviii. 28 to xix. 16a. The crucifixion--Matt, xxvii. 32-56; Mark xv. 21-41; Luke xxiii. 26-49; John xix. 16-37. The burial--Matt, xxvii. 57-61; Mark xv. 42-47; Luke xxiii. 50-56; John xix. 38-42. Saturday. The Sabbath rest--Luke xxiii. 56b. The watch at the tomb--Matt, xxvii. 62-66. VI The Final Controversies in Jerusalem 177. The early Christians were greatly interested in the teachings of Jesus and in his deeds, but they thought oftenest of the victory which by his resurrection he won out of seeming defeat. This is proved by the fact that of the first two gospels over one third, of Luke over one fifth, and of the fourth gospel nearly one half are devoted to the story of the passion and resurrection. This preponderance is not strange in view of the shock which the death of Jesus caused his disciples, and the new life which the resurrection brought to their hearts. The resurrection was the fundamental theme of apostolic preaching, the supreme evidence that Jesus was the Messiah. Hence the cross early became the object of exultant Christian joy and boasting; and in this the church entered actually into the Lord's own thought, for through the cross he looked for his exaltation and glory (Mark viii. 31; John xii. 23-36). From the time of the confession at Cæsarea Philippi, he had had his death avowedly in view, and had repeatedly checked the ambitious and unthinking enthusiasm of his disciples by reminding them of what he must receive at the hands of the leaders of the people. The few months preceding his final appearance in Jerusalem had been devoted to the journey to the cross....