There is as much evidence of these utterances (and they are not all of his predictions, in some form, of his death and resurrection), as there is of any of his sayings upon any subject, and they are so interwoven with the entire narrative that is impossible to set them aside, and leave anything to which we can safely assent as historically true of all his recorded acts and words. There is no alternative, except to believe that he uttered these predictions, or else to arbitrarily set aside the testimony of the four Evangelists, as well as that of Paul. It is impossible to save their character as honest witnesses, and deny that Jesus at various times, and in different ways, foretold his death and the circumstances attending it, and also his resurrection, and that after he was raised from the dead, he would go before them into Galilee. Not that we have the precise words, neither more nor less, that he uttered. In no instance do any two of the five witnesses give precisely the same words. Their testimony is in accordance with what usually[A] occurs, with honest witnesses. The witness says, “I cannot give the exact words, or all of them.” He is told to give the substance of what was said; and he does so to the extent of his recollection, using some of the same words, doubtless, but in the main expressing the idea in language of his own. Yet there is sufficient certainty, for the court or jury, in matters of the greatest concern. It is, in the highest degree, unreasonable to demand more of the Evangelists. It is also to be borne in mind that neither of them professes to give all of our Lord’s sayings; and John, writing much later than the others, purposely omitted many things as having been already sufficiently stated.
If, then (as it cannot be doubted was a fact), Jesus plainly foretold his death, why did it take his disciples by surprise? The answer to this question may be that not till within six months of the close of his ministry were they thus told; those months were crowded with his teachings and miracles, multitudes were following him; he had just before entered Jerusalem as they might expect their Messiah would do, amidst the hosannahs of thousands; and they were so filled with their visions of his glory, and their false conceptions of the predicted Messiah, whom they believed him to be, that they could not understand him. Their mistake under the circumstances was a natural one. (See also post, [c. 19].)
[1] Canon Farrar’s Life of Christ, c. 13; Lange, ditto, Vol. II., p. 29; John ii. 13-22, and iii 22-25. Here, and in all subsequent references, the citations are from the Revised Version of the New Testament, unless otherwise stated.
[2] Lange, Vol. II., p. 273, note, citing Stier, ii, 171.
[3] Lange, Vol. II., p. 273, note; Godet on Luke, p. 265; Whitby, as quoted by Scott, on Matthew xii. 40; Genesis i. 5; Daniel viii. 14, with Genesis vii. 4 and 17; Deuteronomy xiv. 28, with xxvi. 12; 1 Samuel xx. 12, with v. 19; 2 Chronicles x. 5, with v. 12; Matthew xxvi. 2, with xxvii. 63 and 64; Luke ii. 21, with i. 59; 1 Kings xx. 29; Esther iv. 16; Greenleaf on the Evangelists, etc., 268, 269 and notes.
[4] The cock crows about midnight and about three in the morning, which was the beginning of the fourth watch. Galicinium (Cock-crowing) standing alone means the latter time; so that the same time is referred to by all. Greenleaf’s Testimony, etc., p. 436, and citations.
CHAPTER XVII.
ORDER OF EVENTS.
Whatever difficulties may exist as to minor points, all the facts necessary to a correct decision of the question of the Resurrection may be ascertained with reasonable certainty, and the order of their occurrence.[A]