Glory Wrapped in Shame

The Passion Narrative in the Gospel according to St. John is sometimes set aside as so thoroughly theological that it is historically unreliable in comparison with the Synoptics. Whereas the Synoptic accounts are viewed as the simple record of facts, Johannine narrative is viewed mainly as the interpretation. The Fourth Gospel contains many historical details of the death of Jesus which the Synoptics omittor play down. The repeated references to an eyewitness imply the experience of a participant is behind the Johannine Passion Narrative. Theologically too, St. John's interpretation of the death of Christ goes far beyond that of the Synoptics. No other evangelist has grasped the meaning of the death of Christ as St. John. This book takes a fresh look at the incidents of the arrest, trial, crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus Christ as described in the 18 & 19 chapters of St. John. A detailed exegesis of the same is followed by the discussion of the historical problems and the theological perspectives.