Palm Sunday
 
“Pilate knew it was out of jealousy that they had handed him over.”
First-time visitors to Jerusalem are often surprised and disappointed when they see the route traditionally thought to have been taken by Jesus on the way to Golgotha, the place of execution. It’s always busy, noisy and filled with shoppers looking for bargains in the markets. First-time pilgrims are shocked – until they realise that this is probably what it would have been like in Jesus’ time. The Romans paraded the condemned prisoners through crowds as an example to others: just look at what the Romans could – and would – do to punish those who tried to overthrow Roman rule. Crucifixion was used only for those who were not Roman citizens. As well as being extreme, it was discriminatory: Roman citizens were beheaded, which was considered more humane.
 
We can only begin to guess at the physical suffering Jesus must have undergone. Betrayed by the religious leadership of his own people, abandoned by his disciples; and, with the exception of his mother and some of her relations, Jesus died rejected by the majority of his own people. But that is not the end of the story, because there is an important phrase that runs through the whole of the Gospel of Matthew, and particularly in the passion narrative; Matthew frequently makes the observation that all this was done “to fulfil the scriptures”.
 
In addition to pointing out that events took place and words were spoken in order to fulfil the scriptures, Matthew includes episodes in his account of Jesus’ passion and death which are not found in the other Gospels. An example of this is the continuation of the story of Judas, who betrayed Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. This episode, says Matthew, was to fulfil the prophet Jeremiah; actually, this story is based on one from the prophet Zechariah. The point of the story is that the thirty pieces of silver that Judas received for betraying Jesus was the lowest price a slave could be sold for.
 
Another interesting episode is when Pilate’s wife warns her husband to have nothing to do with Jesus: she has had a dream about this man, which upset her. This is the second time in this Gospel that Gentiles show more understanding of Jesus’ identity than do Jesus’ fellow Jews. When Jesus was born, it was the pagan magi who, by following a star, sought the location of the newborn king. Herod and his advisors, with full access to the scriptures, made no attempt to do so, though Herod tried to have Jesus killed by slaughtering all male children in the area under two years of age.
 
Finally, there is the apocalyptic vision described after Jesus’ death when the dead leave their tombs. No other evangelist describes this happening, so some writers conclude that this is a vision of what will happen sometime in the future, perhaps at the second coming of Jesus. Matthew wants to stress that in his death, and the resurrection which will of course follow, Jesus’ works for the salvation of all apply to all people – past, present and future.
 
Matthew, like all the Gospel writers, collates stories about Jesus, not just to tell a good tale, but to demonstrate that God’s work takes place in every part of the story of this Gospel. In the passion account, Jesus continues to fulfil the scriptures. This is necessary because it is the proof that Matthew the evangelist uses to show that Jesus does not act alone, but is doing the will of his Father. Throughout the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus fulfils the teaching of Moses, and he is the healer of various ills in ways that recall the action of the greatest Old Testament prophets like Elijah and Elisha. Jesus is the fulfilment of the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah and Zechariah, but he carries out these works in his own right.
 
Matthew wrote his Gospel to strengthen the faith of followers of Jesus who had found themselves expelled from the synagogues by the former Pharisees. These had taken to themselves the teaching of the Law of Moses, and clearly felt challenged by those pledging allegiance to Jesus of Nazareth. Matthew’s document was a great resource for strengthening the faith of those caught up in these purges. Today the Gospel, particularly the story of Jesus’ passion, is a valuable resource for strengthening our own faith, and
 for our determination daily to witness to Jesus’ death and resurrection in our own lives.