Matthew and John Contrasting: The Crucifixion Burial, and Resurrection of Jesus"

 

By Megan Jones 

June 2nd, 2023 

"Matthew and John 

Contrasting  

"The Crucifixion, Burial, and Resurrection, of Jesus"

Matthew Chapter 27 verse 46

From noon until 3 in the afternoon darkness came over the land, about 3 in the afternoon Jesus cried out My God, My God, Why hast thou forsaken me? Kings James Version) 48- Immediately one of them ran and got a sponge, and offered him a drink. 50- Jesus cried out with a loud voice and gave up his spirit

51-Suddenly the temple curtain of the sanctuary was torn from top to bottom, and the earth quaked and the rocks were split. 52-The tombs of many of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised. 55-Many of the women who had followed Jesus from Galilee Mary Magdalene, Mary mother of James and Joseph and the mother of Zebedee's sons.  

"The Crucifixion"

John Chapter 19 verse 16 

Then they took Jesus away. 17-Carrying the cross by himself, he went out to The Place of the Skull. 18-There they crucified him between him and the two other with Jesus in the middle. 19- Pilate had a sign made that said "Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews. 23-When the soldiers crucified him they took his clothes and divided them into four parts, a solder took the tunic which was seamless, woven from the top. 24-So they said let's cast lots for it to see who gets it. 

"The finished work of Jesus"

John Chapter 19 verse 28 

After this, Jesus knew that everything was finished  that the scripture might be fulfilled,  he said "I am thirsty" 29-  A jar full of sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it up (the guard)  to his mouth 30- When Jesus received the sour wine, He said, "It is finished" and gave up his spirit. 

Now, notice that in Matthew it starts off from noon until 3pm, but in John he writes they took Jesus away. carrying the cross and he goes to the valley of the skull, Whereas Matthew writes Jesus cries out, drinks the wine, then gives up is spirit. John however writes they crucified him why such a difference?

In my opinion, Since John the son of Zebedee was the beloved disciple and was there when Jesus was crucified then The John version of this account reads like an eyewitness account. For example, when Jesus saw Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene and the disciple Jesus loved standing there. The disciple Jesus loved was John.  Peter and the beloved disciple appear together in several scenes in Acts, for example Acts 1:13, 3,4,11, and Acts 4;133, 19, 8:14. "John was Peter's companion. "The unnamed companion of Andrew in John 1:35, and 40, was the Beloved Disciple. But there is no way to know whether John was the Beloved Disciple or two others." "The presence of the Beloved Disciple at the Last Supper had been interpreted as evidence that the Beloved Disciple must have been one of the 12." And if so probably John." " The giving of Jesus' mother to The Beloved Disciple has also been a basis for identifying him with John." If the mother of the sons of Zebedee was Salmone, who was also the sister of Jesus' mother the sons of Zebedee would be Jesus' first cousins." 

(p. 73-75 Culepepper, Alan.)

In Matthew, after Jesus is crucified  the temple of the curtain was torn from top to bottom, The earth quaked Then those women who followed Jesus were mentioned. Mary Magdalene, The mother of Zebedee's sons) John's mom) In John, his side was pierced  and the water and blood drained. Then, in John as well, Jesus was buried and Joseph asked for his body and they took it. In Matthew, Joseph wrapped Jesus's body in fine linen. placed in the tomb, sealed it. Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were at the entrance. 

In John, Nico. brought the spices myrrh, and aloes,Then, they wrapped the body according to the customs of The Jews. Then they placed Jesus body in the tomb. When Jesus resurrected, In Matthew Mary and the other Mary came to finish the prep. of his body because the Sabbath cut it short. He is not here he has risen. In John, Mary comes to the tomb early, while it is still dark. Peter came too and went in the tomb. Saw the linen. Then Jesus appeared to Mary. In John, Jesus tells Mary to tell the others. Mary does. In Matthew, Jesus tells the disciples to meet him in Galilee.  

It comes down to the structure of Matthew and John.  First, Matthew's gospel contains the conception, and Infancy. In Chapter 3, The prep. for ministry and Jesus's baptism. The Temptation of, Chapter 4, The ministry in Galilee, Ch. 4:12) and "The Sermon  on The Mount" and  A man is Cleansed,  and The Healing at Capernaum, (Ch.8) Commission of  the 12, (Ch. 10) Transfiguration, Ch 17) Betrayal at Passover, Ch. 26, Prayer in The Garden" Ch. 26. verse 36, "Jesus Death" Ch. 27:46-55) and finally, The Resurrection Ch. 28. 

"The Structure of John"

John's structure focuses on 

1. The mighty deeds of Jesus 

Chapters 1-2, 

and the events leading up to the Resurrection Chapters 12-21.  

More specifically, the first half of chapters 2-11, are dominated by seven signs and seven Major discourses. Feeding of the 5,000 and The Bread of Life. Chapters 2-4, and 5-10 begin and end with The Miracles at Cana" And are to be taken as a unit." And describe what Jesus did at the Festival Times in Jerusalem." p. 263-265 Blomberg)

"Unique to Matthew"

is the account of The Jewish Leaders securing permission from Pilate to seal The tomb and set a guard lest (in case)  Jesus's disciples come and steal the body and declare that he has been raised from the dead as he predicated would happen." (Matthew 27:62-66)

"The 2nd paragraph explains how the same authorities later tried to use the same story of a stolen body as their explanation for the empty tomb. (Matthew 28:11-15) "How wrong they are." p. 554 Blomberg)

"Matthew's crucifixion narrative, highlights the cosmic signs in the Passion Narrative, another earthquake appears, the young man becomes an angel, and the white robe as snow." 

"Unique to John"  

"John has the longest resurrection of all, two full chapters. "The beginning and ending of these chapters frame John's account by comparing and contrasting Peter and The Beloved Disciple. Together they run to the tomb and find it empty." "Jesus demonstrates the reality of his resurrection, Thomas cries out My Lord, and My God." p. 570 Blomberg) 

M.L. A. Works Cited List 

1. Worldview Study Bible 

"The Death of Jesus"

Matthew Chapter 27 verses 46-55

"The Crucifixion"

John Chapter 19 verses 16-24

"The finished work of Jesus"

John Chapter 19 verses 28-30

Holman Publishers

Nashville, TN 

2018.

2. Blomberg, Craig Ph. D, 

"Jesus and The Gospels"

Structure of John" 

Chapter 9 

pages 263-265

Unique to Matthew

Passion, Crucifixion, and Resurrection"

( The Events Immedaielty after Jesus's Death) 

Chapter 17

page-554

"Unique to John"

"Passion, Crucifixion, and Resurrection"

Chapter 17 

( "The Redicational Emphases")

pages-569-570.

B& H Academic

Nashville, TN 

2022.

3. Culepeer, Alan

"John: The Son of Zebedee The Life of a Legend"

Chapter 3 "The Beloved Disciple: The Apostle in The fourth Gospel"

("Who was the Beloved Disciple: The apostle John)"

p. 73-75

Fortress, Press Minneapolis, MN

1999.