(DOWNLOAD) "Crucifixion As Parodic Exaltation." by Journal of Biblical Literature # eBook PDF Kindle ePub Free
eBook details
- Title: Crucifixion As Parodic Exaltation.
- Author : Journal of Biblical Literature
- Release Date : January 22, 2006
- Genre: Language Arts & Disciplines,Books,Professional & Technical,Education,
- Pages : * pages
- Size : 201 KB
Description
I. CRUCIFIXION AND EXALTATION The central irony in the passion narratives of the Gospels is that Jesus' crucifixion turns out to be his elevation to kingship. (1) This seems to be the best way to understand, for example, the fact that in Mark's Gospel Jesus is never called a "king" until he stands before Pilate on the way to the cross; yet from that point forward, within the space of thirty verses, he is called "king" six times: three times by Pilate (15:2, 9, 12), twice by mockers just before and just after his crucifixion (15:18, 32), and once by the inscription over his cross (15:26). (2) These instances of [TEXT NOT REPRODUCIBLE IN ASCII] are heavy with irony, since none of the characters--neither Pilate, nor the soldiers who mockingly dress Jesus in royal garb, nor the anonymous composer of the inscription "The King of the Jews," (3) nor the taunting passersby at Golgotha--really believes that Jesus is a king. Aside from calling Jesus king, dressing him in royal garb, and genuflecting to him, Jesus' executioners also mock his pretensions to royalty by crucifying him between two other "brigands," thus parodying a king's retinue. (4) Yet the reader understands that these characters' actions and words point toward a truth unknown to them: royal garments and crowns rightfully do belong to Jesus, who will show his kingship precisely by not saving himself but by dying on the cross. (5) Although the degrading slave's death of crucifixion seems to the mockers to be a decisive contradiction of the claim that Jesus is a king, the reader knows the opposite to be true.