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Each year during Holy Week the Church reads two different accounts of Jesus’ passion. On Palm Sunday the account is from one of the first three Gospels (this year it is from Mark), while on Good Friday it is always from John. Thus the liturgy makes it possible to note how very different the Gospel passions are, each offering a unique vantage point from which to see and understand a crucified Christ.
This short course will begin with an introduction to the passion narratives and will be followed by two sessions offering an accessible guide to the passion account in Mark and two on the account in John. It is hoped that reflection on these texts will reveal fresh and striking insights into many familiar stories and enrich the experience of Holy Week for those who participate in the liturgy.
Week 1: Entering into the Passion
The drama of the Passion takes place in and around the city of Jerusalem. In this session participants are offered some brief geographical notes on various locations mentioned in the narratives and the in-built chronological sequence of the Passion will be outlined. The passion is written as a story that is larger than Jesus’ story. Over half of the narratives concern other people & what happens to them. Their reactions are an integral part of the story. In that way we are drawn into the narrative, as if faced with the question: “Where would we be in this story? Who would we stand beside?”
Week 2: The Passion According to Mark
This session offers a broad overview of Mark’s passion story, before exploring some of its key themes in more detail. The focus will be on Mark 14:1-14:52 – the events from the decision to arrest and kill Jesus up to his arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane.
Week 3: The Passion According to Mark
In this session particular attention is paid to the “dark” dimensions of Mark’s Passion, reflected both in the physical darkness at the time of the crucifixion & in the abandonment of Jesus by his own disciples. We will consider how OT texts have helped shape the language of the story Mark tells, in order to find meaning in the expected idea of a suffering Messiah. Finally, the question of God’s silence & God’s absence is explored in the climactic scene of Jesus’ death. The focus will be on Mark 14:53-15:47.
Week 4: The Passion According to John
John’s portrayal of Jesus is quite distinctive from that of Mark, Mathew and Luke. For John, Jesus is the revelation of God’s love for the world, the “word made flesh” whose death is an act of love, a sign of God’s total embrace of humanity and the final triumph over evil. In this session we focus on John 18:1-19:16a – the arrest of Jesus in the garden, the interrogation by Annas, Peter’s denial and Jesus before Pilate.
Week 5: The Passion According to John
We continue our exploration of the Passion and focus on John 19:16b-42 – the crucifixion, death and burial of Jesus. Mention will also be made of the comparison between Peter and the Beloved Disciple in the various episodes of this Passion account.
Introductory Reading
Gospel Parallels of the Passion Accounts
Map of Jerusalem at the Time of Jesus
Raymond E. Brown, A Crucified Christ in Holy Week, The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, 1986pp. 9-20
For those who wish to read further
Jose Antonio Pagola, Jesus: An Historical Approximation, Convivium Press, Miami, Florida, 2009, pp.353-384
Questions for Reflection
1. Why did you choose to sign up for this course on Praying the Passion?
2. What do you hope to gain from your study of and reflection on the Passion Narratives in the gospels of Mark and John?
3. Who do you identify with in the Passion Narratives?
4. Did you find anything unexpected, surprising or disturbing in this session? If so, explain what it was and why you found it that way.
Introductory Reading
Read Mark 14:1-14:52
Henry Wansbrough OSB, “The Passion of Jesus” in Introducing the New Testament, Bloomsbury, London 2015, pp.154-161.
Brian Purfield, Notes on Mark 14:1-14:52
For those who wish to read further
Brendan Byrne SJ, “Passion I: Jesus Confronts His Death” in A Costly Freedom: A Theological Reading of Mark’s Gospel, Liturgical Press, Collegeville Minnesota, 2008, pp.213-229.
David M. Stanley SJ, “The Last Supper: The First Phase in the Marcan Passion-Story” in The Call to Discipleship. The Spiritual Exercises with the Gospel of Mark. Supplement to The Way, Numbers 43/44, January 1982, The Way Publications, London 1982, pp.143-154.
Questions for Reflection
1. Reading Mk 14:1-14:52, how would you describe Jesus’ attitude toward his impending death?
2. In Gethsemane, Jesus keeps the same three disciples with him who saw him transfigured (9:2; 14:33). What might the significance of this be?
3. What picture of Jesus emerges from this reading? What could this picture of Jesus mean for your relationship with him?
4. In what ways do you need to “keep awake”, as Jesus urges in 14:34?
Introductory Reading
Read Mark 14:53-15:47
Nicholas King SJ, “The Passion Narrative” in The Strangest Gospel: A Study of Mark, Kevin Mayhew, Buxhall, Stowmarket Suffolk, 2006, pp. 97-107.
Brian Purfield, Notes on Mark 14:53-15:47
For those who wish to read further
N.T. Wright & Michael F. Bird, “The Death of the Messiah” in The New Testament in its World: An Introduction to the History, Literature & Theology of the First Christians, SPCK London2019, pp.242-261.
David M. Stanley SJ, “Gethsemane and the Arrest of Jesus” in The Call to Discipleship. The Spiritual Exercises with the Gospel of Mark. Supplement to The Way, Numbers 43/44, January 1982, The Way Publications, London 1982, pp.155-166.
Brian Purfield, “Return to Galilee” in Thinking Faith (Posted 29th March 2018)
Questions for Reflection
1. Mark sandwiches the account of Jesus’ trial (14:55-65) between portions of the account of Peter’s betrayal (14:54, 66-72). What does this technique highlight about Jesus & Peter?
2. Why is it only Jesus’ death, rather than any of his miracles, that finally leads someone to recognise him as God’s Son?
3. When have you felt abandoned by God? What effect did this experience have on you?
4. How has reading Mark altered your picture of Jesus? How will this perception
change your relationship with him?
Introductory Reading
Read John 18:1-27
Comparison in the Fourth Gospel Between Peter & the Beloved Disciple
Henry Wansbrough OSB, The Passion and Death of Jesus, Darton, Longman &Todd, London 2003, pp. 62-66, 79-83.
For those who wish to read further
Brendan Byrne, “The Passion & Death of Jesus: 18:1-19:42” in Life Abounding, A Reading of John’s Gospel, The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, 2014pp. 292-300.
Questions for Reflection
1. Did you find anything unexpected, surprising or disturbing in this session? If so, explain what it was and why you found it that way.
2. What do you think was going through Peter’s mind as he stood warming himself by the charcoal fire (Jn 18:18)?
3. To what extent is John’s story a revelation of the ‘glory’ of the Son of God?
Introductory Reading
Read John 18:28 - 19:42
The Structure of the Roman Trial Scenes
Brendan Byrne SJ, “Jesus Crucified: John 19:17-42” in Come to the Light: Reflections on the Gospel of John, Liturgical Press, Collegeville Minnesota 2021, pp. 89-95.
For those who wish to read further
Brendan Byrne, Life Abounding, A Reading of John’s Gospel, The Liturgical Press, Collegeville, Minnesota, 2014 pp. 300-326.
John Parr, Credible Witnesses, Kevin Mayhew Ltd, Buxhall, Stowmarket, Suffolk 2016, pp.105-118.
Questions for Reflection
1. Did you find anything unexpected, surprising or disturbing in this session? If so, explain what it was and why you found it that way.
2. Why might Pilate have refused to change the inscription on the cross(19:22)? (There is no one right answer!).
3. What will I take away from these brief reflections on the Passion Narratives in the gospels of Mark and John?
We would really appreciate it if you could take a few minutes to provide us with feedback on your experience with our course. Please complete an evaluation form here:
Evaluation Form - Praying the Passion · ChurchSuite Forms
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Week 1
Week 2
Week 3
Week 4
Week 5
Brian is a tutor in the theology stream. Originally from Birmingham, Brian studied philosophy and theology at the Gregorian University, Rome and later gained a Masters Degree in Franciscan Studies from St. Bonaventure’s University, New York. He has given retreats and courses throughout the UK and Ireland, North America, the Far East and Australia. He taught at the International Franciscan Study, Canterbury and at Campion House, Osterley before joining the Mount Street Jesuit Team when it began in 2004. Brian also taught at Heythrop College on the Foundation Degree in Pastoral Ministry. His particular interest is in opening up the Scriptures to people, young and old, at a level that they can understand and seek to apply to their daily lives. Brian is married to Deborah who works for CAFOD. They live in Buckinghamshire.
