The Story: A Journey in Two Parts
The St Matthew Passion closely follows the text of the Gospel according to Matthew (chapters 26 and 27). It tells the story of the final days of Jesus, from the plots to kill him to his burial. In Bach's time, the entire Good Friday church service lasted up to five hours. Between Part 1 and Part 2 of the music, there was a sermon of over an hour. Below is the timeline of the story, so you always know where we are.
1. The Plot and the Anointing
The religious leaders in Jerusalem secretly plot to get rid of Jesus, but fear a riot among the people. Meanwhile, Jesus is in Bethany, where a woman anoints him with precious oil. The disciples consider this a waste of money, but Jesus defends her: she is preparing him for his burial. Shortly after, Judas approaches the high priests to betray Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. This was the legal price for a slave at the time. A pittance for a human life, which makes the humiliation of the betrayal even more painful.
2. The Last Supper
Jesus celebrates the Passover meal with his twelve disciples. The atmosphere is heavy, as he predicts that one of them will betray him. They uncertainly ask themselves: 'Is it I, Lord?' Jesus breaks the bread and shares the wine as a symbol of his body and blood, which will be given for them.
3. The Mount of Olives (Gethsemane)
After the meal, they go to the garden of Gethsemane on the Mount of Olives. Jesus feels enormous mortal fear and asks God if this path of suffering may pass him by, 'but not as I will, but as Thou wilt.' He asks his friends to keep watch with him, but they fall asleep three times.
4. The Arrest
Judas arrives with an armed mob. He kisses Jesus; this is the agreed sign to identify him. Peter draws his sword in a panic and cuts off a servant's ear, but Jesus stops the violence. He allows himself to be bound voluntarily. All the disciples panic and flee into the night.
5. The Interrogation before Caiaphas
Jesus is brought before High Priest Caiaphas. False witnesses are called, but Jesus remains silent. Only when Caiaphas asks him under oath if he is the Son of God, does he speak the confirming words. The council indignantly tears their clothes and condemns him for blasphemy. Jesus is spat in the face and mocked.
6. Peter's Denial
Outside in the courtyard, Peter waits. Three times he is recognized by bystanders as a follower of Jesus. Three times Peter denies knowing him, the last time even cursing. Then a rooster crows. Peter remembers that Jesus had predicted this exactly, runs outside, and weeps bitterly.
7. The End of Judas
Judas regrets his betrayal when he hears that Jezus has been condemned to death. He throws the blood money back into the temple, but the priests refuse to accept it. In blind despair, Judas hangs himself.
8. Before Pilate and Barabbas
Because the Jewish council cannot carry out the death penalty, they bring Jesus to the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. Pilate sees no guilt in him. He tries to free Jesus by letting the people choose: who should I release, the murderer Barabbas or Jesus? Encouraged by the priests, the crowd shouts for Barabbas. Pilate washes his hands in innocence and hands Jesus over.
9. The Scourging and the Crown of Thorns
Jesus is severely scourged by the Roman soldiers. They strip him, drape a purple robe around his shoulders, and press a crown woven from thorny branches onto his head. They mock him as a fake king and strike him.
10. The Way of the Cross and Golgotha
Jesus has to carry his own cross, but is too weakened. A passerby, Simon of Cyrene, is forced to help him. Arriving at the hill of Golgotha (the Place of the Skull), he is crucified between two murderers. The bystanders continue to taunt him: 'If you are the Son of God, come down from that cross!'
11. The Death
From noon, a deep darkness falls over the land. Around three o'clock, Jesus cries out: 'My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?' Shortly after, he dies. The earth shakes, the rocks split, and the curtain in the temple tears in two. A Roman centurion standing by whispers in awe: 'Truly, this was the Son of God.'
12. The Burial
In the evening, Joseph of Arimathea, a wealthy follower, asks permission to bury the body. He wraps Jesus in linen and lays him in a new tomb hewn out of the rock. A heavy stone is rolled in front of it. The Passion ends with a grand, gentle chorale in which the choir brings the deceased a final, comforting greeting: 'Rest softly, softly rest.'