Voices in the crowd (Palm Sunday)

Samaritans' Passover at Mount Gerizim

This is really just some raw textual analysis of the four Gospel renditions of Jesus entry into Jerusalem. Note that this is done using the NIV and would be more accurate if done in the Greek, but it does seem to show a sense of there being many voices or the echoes of many voices within the four renditions we have. It is worth thinking about the places where phrases and themes are repeated as well as dwelling with the material that is unique to each version. Also note how the version from John's Gospel had to be reordered to fit.

Matthew 21:1-11 (NIV)	Mark 11:1-11 (NIV)	Luke 19:28-40 (NIV)	John 12:12-16 (NIV)
		28 After Jesus had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.	12 The next day the great crowd that had come for the festival heard that Jesus was on his way to Jerusalem.
21 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on	11 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage and Bethany at	29 As he approached  Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called
the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two      disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”	the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two of his disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and just as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 3 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you doing this?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it and will send it back here shortly.’”	the Mount of Olives,  he  sent two of his disciples, saying to them, 30 “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’”
4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet: 5 “Say to Daughter Zion,     ‘See, your king comes to you, gentle and riding on a donkey,     and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”[a]			14 Jesus found a young donkey and sat on it, as it is written: 15 “Do not be afraid, Daughter Zion;     see, your king is coming,     seated on a donkey’s colt.”[c]
6 The disciples went and	4 They went and found a colt outside in the street, tied at a doorway. As they untied it, 5 some people standing there asked, “What are you doing, untying that colt?”	32 Those who were sent ahead went and found it just as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?”
did as Jesus had instructed them.	6 They answered as Jesus had told them to, and the people let them go. he sat on it.	34 They replied, “The Lord needs it.”
7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on.	7 When they brought the colt to Jesus and threw their cloaks over it,	35 They brought it to Jesus, threw their cloaks on the colt and put Jesus on it.
8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,	8 Many people spread their cloaks on the road, while others spread branches they had cut in the fields. 9 Those who went ahead and those who followed shouted,	36 As he went along, people spread their cloaks on the road.	13 They took palm branches and went out to meet him, shouting,
		37 When he came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen:
“Hosanna[b] to the Son of David!”	“Hosanna![a]”		“Hosanna![a]”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[c]	“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[b]	38 “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord!”[a]	“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”[b]
	10 “Blessed is the coming kingdom of our father David!”		“Blessed is the king of Israel!”
“Hosanna[d] in the highest heaven!” 10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?” 11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.” Footnotes: a. Matthew 21:5 Zech. 9:9 b. Matthew 21:9 A Hebrew expression meaning “Save!” which became an exclamation of praise; also in verse 15 c.  Matthew 21:9 Psalm 118:25,26 d. Matthew 21:9 A Hebrew expression meaning “Save!” which became an exclamation of praise; also in verse 15	“Hosanna in the highest heaven!” 11 Jesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple courts. He looked around at everything, but since it was already late, he went out to Bethany with the Twelve. Footnotes: a.       Mark 11:9 A Hebrew expression meaning “Save!” which became an exclamation of praise; also in verse 10 b.       Mark 11:9 Psalm 118:25,26	“Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to Jesus, “Teacher, rebuke your disciples!” 40 “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.” Footnotes: a.       Luke 19:38 Psalm 118:26	16 At first his disciples did not understand all this. Only after Jesus was glorified did they realize that these things had been written about him and that these things had been done to him. Footnotes: a.       John 12:13 A Hebrew expression meaning “Save!” which became an exclamation of praise b.       John 12:13 Psalm 118:25,26 John 12:15 Zech. 9:9