Jesus, Barabbas and the People: The Climax of Luke’s Trial Narrative and Lukan Christology (Luke 23.13-25)

This article argues that the nuance and function given to the Barabbas pericope in Luke’s trial narrative differs significantly from that expressed by the other evangelists. It submits that Luke depicts Jesus’ death to be the result of a substitution between the acquitted Jesus and the insurrectionist and murderer Barabbas. Furthermore, the third evangelist has crafted his trial narrative so as to highlight the representative nature of this death, thereby developing Jesus’ narrative identity as the Messiah. It is concluded that Luke’s crafting of his trial narrative raises questions for the prevalent view that the third evangelist has not integrated the idea of substitution into his understanding of Jesus’ death

Spaced out: “Territoriality” in the Fourth Gospel

The Fourth Gospel is inordinately involved with places and spaces, valuing some, but dis-valuing others. The task of interpreting all such references is greatly aided by the use of the anthropological model of "territoriality” which shows how all peoples 1) classify space, 2) communicate this and 3) control access to or exit from this territory. The classifications might be: public-private, sacred/profane, honorable/shameful, clean/unclean, fixed/fluid, center/periphery and the like. Where appropriate, these classifications are used  to interpret the Johannine data on spaces and places, particularly 1) Galilee/Judean, 2) public/in secret, 3) not on this mountain, nor in Jerusalem, 4)  whence/whither, 5) in my Father’s house there are many rooms, 6)  “in-dwelling” and “being-in” another;  and 7) two different worlds