Below is a partial compilation of Jesus and the cross. This is a glimpse of how the Gospel writers reported the reality of his death.
In the following sample I am including only the details which are common to Matthew, and Mark, and Luke, and John. In some cases their order is not common and wording is not identical.
Other information is found in one or more of those sources (for example: Jesus before Herod; Simon of Cyrene, the cross bearer; detail of Mary and others by the cross; mockery; Jesus’ cry; Pilate’s surprise).
Then he (Pilate) handed him (Jesus) over to be crucified.
Then they took Jesus away.[a] Carrying the cross by himself, he went out (John 19:16-17a, CSB)
Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. (Luke 23:32, ESV).
Pilate ordered the charge against Jesus to be written on a board and put above the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” (John 19:19, CEV)
Some women were watching from a distance (Mark 15:40a, NIV).
One of them (soldier) ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink (Matthew 27:48, NLT).
Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last (Mark 15:37, NRSV).
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’s body. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and took his body away (John 19:38, CSB).
He (Joseph) took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in fine cloth. Then he put it in a tomb that had been cut out of solid rock and had never been used (Luke 23:53, CEV).
As this is common to the four, the above compilation must reflect something close to the core account heard by the original listeners. This was the minimum; a kind of framework. Depending on where they were (who was their messenger), there were many more details.
It is important not to make assumptions. So, for example, all four sources have women nearby as Jesus suffered. The women are consistently prominent. However, Luke indicates other "acquaintances" were there as well, and John confirms at least one male. (John alone brings the followers close.)
As usual in a crucifixion, a significant amount of time (hours) passed - but that does not emerge above.
Why did it matter? What did it all mean? I think meaning and significance was what was first told to them. For the meaning and significance I look to the teaching of Jesus (see previous more extensive post, "Died"), and the earliest New Testament (NT) documents (future post).
Other information is found in one or more of those sources (for example: Jesus before Herod; Simon of Cyrene, the cross bearer; detail of Mary and others by the cross; mockery; Jesus’ cry; Pilate’s surprise).
Then he (Pilate) handed him (Jesus) over to be crucified.
Then they took Jesus away.[a] Carrying the cross by himself, he went out (John 19:16-17a, CSB)
Two others, who were criminals, were led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place that is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. (Luke 23:32, ESV).
Pilate ordered the charge against Jesus to be written on a board and put above the cross. It read, “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews” (John 19:19, CEV)
Some women were watching from a distance (Mark 15:40a, NIV).
One of them (soldier) ran and filled a sponge with sour wine, holding it up to him on a reed stick so he could drink (Matthew 27:48, NLT).
Then Jesus gave a loud cry and breathed his last (Mark 15:37, NRSV).
After this, Joseph of Arimathea, who was a disciple of Jesus—but secretly because of his fear of the Jews—asked Pilate that he might remove Jesus’s body. Pilate gave him permission; so he came and took his body away (John 19:38, CSB).
He (Joseph) took the body down from the cross and wrapped it in fine cloth. Then he put it in a tomb that had been cut out of solid rock and had never been used (Luke 23:53, CEV).
As this is common to the four, the above compilation must reflect something close to the core account heard by the original listeners. This was the minimum; a kind of framework. Depending on where they were (who was their messenger), there were many more details.
It is important not to make assumptions. So, for example, all four sources have women nearby as Jesus suffered. The women are consistently prominent. However, Luke indicates other "acquaintances" were there as well, and John confirms at least one male. (John alone brings the followers close.)
As usual in a crucifixion, a significant amount of time (hours) passed - but that does not emerge above.
Why did it matter? What did it all mean? I think meaning and significance was what was first told to them. For the meaning and significance I look to the teaching of Jesus (see previous more extensive post, "Died"), and the earliest New Testament (NT) documents (future post).
Scripture quotations marked (CEV) are from the Contemporary English Version Copyright © 1991, 1992, 1995 by American Bible Society. Used by Permission.
Scripture quotations marked (CSB) are from the Christian Standard Bible. Copyright © 2017 by Holman Bible Publishers. Used by permission. Christian Standard Bible®, and CSB® are federally registered trademarks of Holman Bible Publishers, all rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (ESV) are from the ESV® Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®, NIV® Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission.
All rights reserved worldwide.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NRSV) are from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Note: I retain in the publishers' text where they occur the references to footnotes, but usually not the notes. You can check them out by viewing the text on-line. Often they are replicated in different translations.
Bible passages accessed via BibleGateway.com
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