[SIZE=6.5pt]Interpreters and exegetes talk about supposed, ‘Discrepancies between the Synoptists and the Gospel of John’ with regard to the day upon which Jesus and his disciples ate the Last Supper. They say the Synoptists meant the Last Supper was on the fifteenth day of the First Month while John meant that it occurred on the fourteenth day. These interpreters allege the dates differed because certain parties among the Jews dated the passover this way or that for reasons of their own. Now it is not my idea to enter upon debate about whether or not such parties or and differences even existed. In my opinion neither did, and I don’t see any reason to discuss such imaginary issues. It is my conviction there are no discrepancies or contradictions or whatever between any Gospels. All the stories about Jesus’ last passover are chronologically consistent and coherently and in every respect of their historicity, fit the full Truth of our sure and perfect salvation in Christ Jesus.[/SIZE]
[SIZE=6.5pt]Therefore I have no doubt just where the actual hitch lies, for, for sure, there is a hitch somewhere. But it does not lie with the Gospels nor even with the believers; but with their traditions which determine what believers think, as well as what they do not think. The power of tradition cannot be over estimated!
Tradition has determined exactly how Christians read and what they read, and where they will read, and where they will not read whatever, to the extent that today tradition commands, exactly how Christians read and what they read, and where they will read, and where they will not read whatever.
Nowhere is this conditioning seen clearer than when Luke 23 is read next to Mark 14 and 15, Matthew 26 and 27, and John 13, 18 and 19. [/SIZE]
The reason is obvious. Luke condensed into about 30 words in two and a halve verses (23:50,52,53a), what Mark used about 70 words for in five verses (15:42,43a,44-46a); what Matthew used about 60 words for in four verses (27:57-60); and John used many times as many words for in eleven long and extensive verses.
To expect that Luke must give the same information that the other Gospels give, is most unreasonable. That Luke would omit much detail about the same things, is just as matter of fact. But that these omissions prove contradiction between Luke and Mark, Matthew and John, is unreasonable and is itself, no more than speculative supposition. The things which Luke does make mention of, remained consistent and in agreement with every extra detail found in any of the other Gospels. And chronology implied or mentioned, is one of those constants which is in perfect harmony in both Luke and the other three Gospels.
We can now look at how Luke got to be misinterpreted.
Heinlein wrote,
“~Start of Days … The crucifixion of Jesus can provide more clarification. His death occurred 3 hours before sunset (Luke 23:44). There was a rush to place the body in a nearby tomb before the day ended due to the Sabbath. They had so little time; that the body was not properly prepared and the women had to suspend their efforts until after the Sabbath (Luke 23:50-55, Matthew 27:57-61, John 19:38-42, Mark 15:42-47).Then at sunrise, the women reached the tomb to find it empty (Luke 24:1-3, Matthew 28:1, John 20:1-2, Mark 16:1-3).~”
This illustrates how Luke 23:50 gets placed on —supposedly—,
1) the SAME DAY implied in “~Luke 23:44~”;
and gets to be interpreted as happening —supposedly— on the same day
2) BEFORE SUNSET, —supposedly— as in “~Luke 23:50-55, Matthew 27:57-61, John 19:38-42, Mark 15:42-47~”
But it is not noticed that
1) Joseph arrived in Luke 23:50 the same time that he arrived in Matthew 27:57, John 19:31,38 and Mark 15:42.
And it is not noticed that
2) Joseph arrived in Luke 23:50 the same time that he arrived in Matthew 27:57, John 19:31,38 and Mark 15:42 “when evening had come already”.
. . . because Tradition has it that Joseph arrived at the cross on the day that Jesus was crucified, and that he took the body down and there and then had closed the body in the grave before the sun had set.
In other words, in a word, Luke 23:50 gets identified with Luke 23:54 which gets identified with “~Luke 23:50-55, Matthew 27:57-61, John 19:38-42, Mark 15:42-47~”.