The death of Jesus and his exaltation

Abstract

The death of Jesus finds in the New Testament various interpretations. For Paul, the cross of Jesus and his death on the cross constitute the center of his theology. The Power of God reveals itself in the humiliation of Jesus and his death on the cross. In Mark, not the death of Jesus leads to salvation, but the response to the call of Jesus to follow him on the way of the cross. In John, the death of Jesus as such does not seem to have a theological significance. Instead of the three announcements of the coming passion, death and resurrection of Jesus in the Synoptics we find a threefold announcement of Jesus’ coming “exaltation” in John (3,14; 8,28; 12,32.34). Jesus is for the fourth evangelist the Suffering Servant of Is 52,13 LXX who must be “exalted and glorified”. Here we are at the heart of Johannine Christology.