Jesus Remembered: Christianity in the Making, vol. 1

THE QUESTION OF JESUS' SELF-UNDERSTANDING §15.6
tion to the various 'prophetic actions' attributed to Jesus: 231 particularly the
choice of twelve, his eating with toll-collectors and sinners, his healings and exorcisms,
the entry into Jerusalem, the symbolic action in the Temple, and the last
supper. That Jesus every so often acted, not like the sign-prophets of whom
Josephus speaks, but in the mode of the great prophets 232 must be judged very
likely. And there are various suggestions in the Jesus tradition that Jesus was remembered
as exercising both prophetic insight (notably Luke 7.39) 233 and prophetic
foresight. 234 No doubt much of all this was elaborated in the many
retellings of such episodes, and much that was remembered began in the eye of
the beholder. But that there were some such memories remains likely, and that in
itself is significant.
d. More than a Prophet?
There are several hints that Jesus may have seen his mission in terms transcending
the category of prophet. It is difficult to gain a firm handle on the
point, since the Evangelists themselves evidently did not regard the category of
prophet as adequate for Jesus, as we see most clearly in Luke 24.19-27 and
John 6.30-33, 49-51. But possibly they were building on hints within the tradition
itself.
The most obvious of these are as follows: (1) Use of Isa. 61.1-3 may imply
a claim to be not just another prophet, but the (eschatological) prophet. 235
(2) The parable of the vineyard tenants (Mark 12.1-9 pars.) evidently trades on
Wright (Jesus, passim) and McKnight (New Vision 229-32) argue that Jesus took up the prophetic
hope for Israel's restoration as the end of exile.
231. Trautmann, Zeichenhafte Handlungen; Sanders, Historical Figure 253-54;
Schürmann, Jesus 136-56; Theissen and Merz, Historical Jesus 431-36; Hooker, Signs 38-54;
S. McKnight, 'Jesus and Prophetic Actions', BBR 10 (2000) 197-232.
232. Hooker, for example, instances Isaiah walking around naked (Isaiah 20), Jeremiah
publicly smashing a pot (Jeremiah 19), and Ezekiel eating a scroll or lying on his side for many
days (Ezek. 2.9-3.3; 4.4-6).
233. See also Mark 2.5 pars.; 2.8 pars.; 3.4 pars.; 3.16 pars.; 9.33-35; 10.21 pars.; 12.15
pars.; 12.43-44 par.; 14.18, 20 pars.; Matt. 12.15/Luke 11.17; Luke 19.5; John 1.47-48; 2.24-
25; 4.17-19.
234. Mark 10.39 par.; 13.2 pars.; 14.8 par.; 14.25 par.; 14.30 pars.; cf. Mark 5.36, 39
pars. On the 'Passion predictions' see below, § 17.4c.
235. M. Hengel, 'Jesus as Messianic Teacher of Wisdom and the Beginnings of Christology',
in Studies 73-117 (here 109-12): 'As messianic teacher and prophet he was the Spiritbearer
par excellence' (114); Witherington, Christology 45-46. See also Koester, cited above in
chapter 7 n. 60. Contrast Cullmann's confident conclusion that 'Jesus did not identify himself
in this way' (that is, as 'the Prophet') (Christology 37); similarly Flusser, Jesus 125.
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