Sunday Dive

Episode 028: Good Friday (Readings for Apr. 10, 2020)

Episode Summary

Jesus is arrested at the Garden of Gethsemane and taken to trial. We follow this trial as recounted in John's Gospel first to Annas' house, then to Caiphas', and finally to the Praetorium of Pontius Pilate. Using John's chiastic structure we see that the heart of Jesus' trial is over his status as king and, following his condemnation, we follow Jesus to Calvary where he mounts the throne of his cross.

Episode Notes

Bibliography/Resources

• The Gospel of John (Catholic Commentary on Sacred Scripture Series)
• Verbum Bible Software - www.verbum.com

Chiastic Structure of Trial Before Pilate
A - Pilate speaks to Jewish authorities outside
B - Pilate speaks to Jesus inside
C - Pilate speaks to Jewish authorities outside
D - Jesus hailed King (John 19:1-3)
C1 - Pilate speaks to Jewish authorities outside
B1 - Pilate speaks to Jesus inside
A1 - Pilate speaks to Jewish authorities outside (delivers verdict)

References

• Leviticus 24:16 - "He who blasphemes the name of the LORD shall be put to death"
• Antiquities of the Jews by Josephus (3.159) - "Now this vesture was not composed of two pieces, nor was it sewed together upon the shoulders and the sides, but it was one long vestment so woven as to have an aperture for the neck"
• Exodus 28:32 - "It shall have in it an opening for the head, with a woven binding around the opening, like the opening in a garment, that it may not be torn."
• Psalm 22:18 - "They divide my garments among them, and for my raiment they cast lots."
• Psalm 69:21 - "For my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink"
• Zechariah 12:10, 13:1 - "And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit of compassion and supplication, so that, when they look on him whom they have pierced [...] On that day there shall be a fountain opened for the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to cleanse them from sin and uncleanness."
• Ezekiel 47:1-2 - "Then he brought me back to the door of the temple; and behold, water was issuing from below the threshold of the temple toward the east (for the temple faced east); and the water was flowing down from below the south end of the threshold of the temple, south of the altar. 2 Then he brought me out by way of the north gate, and led me round on the outside to the outer gate, that faces toward the east; and the water was coming out on the south side."