Scripture: Luke 21: 25-32; 37 to 22:6
Tonight’s Scripture presents us with a problem. How much is authentic to Jesus’ earthly life? And hw much is editorializing by Luke to account for the fact that Jesus had not returned to complete his work of kingdom-building when Luke put quiill to papyrus? But however we answer those questions, Judas sets the trap for jesus this evening.
The Son of Man
I’ve always been fascinated by the expression ‘the Son of Man”. That’s because it would seem to be less ‘holy sounding’ than the “Son of God”. The Son of Man, with the definite article, was an innovation of the Gospel writers. It derived from the less clear term, ‘son of man’ or ‘son of Adam’ in Hebrew Scripture. Matthew, Mark, and Luke all quote directly from the Book of Daniel, with the Son of Man “coming down on clouds of great glory”. Daniel 7:13–14 describes how the “Ancient of Days” (God) gives dominion over the earth to “one like a son of man.”
Daniel’s 7:13 “like a son of man” probably did not represent the Messiah, but that this interpretation was introduced by later authors, in the pre-Christian period.
Apocalyptic writings
However, I think it unlikely that Jesus spoke these words himself. More probable is that many other prophetic voices had been called ‘sons of God’. That made the term seem, perhaps, rather unexceptional. Hence the Gospel writers wanted to emphasize Jesus as a unique personality.
But this is apocalyptic writing: about the ‘end times’. As I have emphasized several times, the Gospel evidence is that Jesus saw himself as the Jewish Messiah, God’s anointed one. Who would bring God’s righteous rule here on earth. Hence, “the Kingdom of God has drawn near.”
Early Christians had a problem
The kingdom had not come. The earthly Jesus had died. Therefore, either Jesus wasn’t the Messiah, or his work had been interrupted. A “second coming” was necessary to complete the work of kingdom-building. That was another reason for putting Daniel’s prophesy into Jesus’ mouth. The Gospel writers updated their concept of who Jesus was. To take later events and later ideas about Jesus, into account.
Whatever may have been Jesus’ original parable about the fig tree. However, it looks (to me) that the piece about “this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place” must be editorial in nature. It represents the hope of early Christians that Christ would return soon. Within their lifetime. Clearly, that did not happen.
Judas goes to the chief priests with a propsoal
And so we come to the arrangement between Judas Iscariot and the chief priests. As to to Judas’ motivations, I will include that tomorrow in my Maundy Thursday homily. For now, I’ll just comment that Judas gave the Temple leaders what they had been searching for, for much of Jesus ministry. And, especially since Jesus had entered Jerusalem on Palm Sunday. Judas’ agreement with them represents the climax – or the outcome – of what Holy Week Evening Prayers have been leading up to. Because, now Jesus’ arrest and execution have become inevitable.