1. Mark: defending the suffering Messiah:
Jesus as master of his fate
Predictions from scripture (Mk 14: 21)
Jesus as sacrifice (Mk 14: 24)
Resurrection as vindication
(Mk 14: 62)

2. Mark: defending the suffering Messiah:
Lord’s supper: early Christian rite
(Mk 14: 22-24)
Drama of tragic events
Mark’s ending: what came after
Mk 16: 1-8? See also Mk 14: 28

3. Matthew: Jewish Christianity
Judas’ fate (Mt 27: 3-10): use of Jewish
law and scripture
Likewise in Mt 27: and 28: 11-15
Universalising message
Jesus is not the only one who rises
(Mt 27: 52-53)

4. Luke: Gentiles/the downtrodden and oppressed
Encouragement to humility and
egalitarianism (Lk 22: 24-27)
Swords? (Lk 22: vs. 9: 1-6, but see
also 22: 50-51)
Reconciling enemies/Jews and Gentiles
(Lk 23: 12)

5. Luke: Gentiles/the downtrodden and oppressed
Jesus’ innocence (e.g. Lk 23: 40-43)
Predicting 70 AD (Lk 23: 28-31)
Resurrection and other events in Jerusalem
(Lk 24: 44-49)
Ascension (Lk 24: 51) recalling 2 Kings
2: 11-12, Gen 5: 24 and Sir 44: 16