The crucifixion of jesus

NELSON BAYONA
JOHANNINE LITERATURE


THE CRICIFIXION OF JESUS
(John 19:16a-30)
EXEGETICAL ANALYSIS


I. Introduction
I read three biblical versions about this passage. Reading taken from New International Version (NIV), New Standard American Bible (NASB) and New International Reader’s Version (NIRV). In the three of them the versions changes a little bit. Some of the things that coughmy attention are: the place called Skull where he is going to be nailed in two of the versions (NIV and NIRV) mention “Aramaic” as the language used to mean Golgotha, but in NASB it says the language is “Hebrew”. In verse 28 in (NIV and NASB) they fit in the order how the sentence is expressed, but a little change is done in NIRV version. Which of these versions is the most reliable or accurate?What are the facts that lead to Jesus to his Glorification on the cross?

II. Historical context
The passage starts right after the condemnation to the cross. Pontius Pilate was the Roman governor of Judaea from 26 CE to 36 CE and he was responsible for the execution of Jesus of Nazareth. If we are to believe the gospels, Pilate refused to condemn Jesus of Nazareth, but was forced to execute himby a hysterical Jewish crowd. Jesus is treated as a bandit. The most extreme condemnation was made to those called bandits. It was the death penalty. There were a lot of ways to kill them. In most popular was the crucifixion practiced by the Romans known as “the most wretched death”. “The condemned prisoner was taken for a place of public execution and nailed and tied to the crossbar with his armsspread out; the bar was lifted into place on the vertical beam; the feet were fastened with nails or rope; the body rested on a peg that jutted out from the post. In general words, the most cruel and terrible penalty” . Jesus after being crucified for a while gives up his Spirit to his Father and dies. The date of this crucifixion fits on the Passover week (paraskeve) is used to mean Friday andit is the name in Greece today.

III. Literary Context
The passage is located on the second part of the Gospel that is related to the Book of Glory. There is a transition from the episode where Jesus is judged by Pilate to the episodes that occur while Jesus is on the cross.

IV. Structure
The account of Jesus’ crucifixion and its consequences are told in four brief scenes:

1. Vv. 16b-22:The crucifixion, the title on the cross, and the response of “the Jews.”
2. Vv. 23-24: The decision not to tear apart the seamless garment.
3. Vv. 25-27: The Mother of Jesus and the Beloved Disciple at the cross.
4. Vv. 28-30: The death of Jesus and the gift of the Spirit.

Raymond Brown presents another idea about a possible structure as well represented by a diagram:The diagram given highlights the more obvious parallels of the chiastic structure; note also that there are certain parallelism in the vertical columns between Episode 1 and 2 (concerning to the role of Jesus) and episodes 4 and 5 (concerning to the Spirit). Episode 3, in which Jesus himself speaks at greater length than in the other episodes, is the central episode.

Having referencewith the OT background for the passion, John is probably reflecting the early Christian concern to show the Jews that the crucifixion did not eliminate the possibility that Jesus was promised Messiah but rather God’s word in Scripture. Nevertheless, the selection of the specific OT passages and themes as background for the crucifixion seems to have been done in the light of Johannine theologicalinterest.

V. Detailed Analysis

I. The way of the cross and crucifixion (19: 16b-18)

In John a bare minimum of detail is given. So every condemned prisoner went out () to the place of execution because it was not allowed to do within city walls (Vv. 20). According to a recent popular description of the proceedings states that the upright part of the cross was probably left in place...