O.K. I had my doubts about the claim you can buy ANYTHING on ebay….. until now. Check out this offering for a mere $89,000 (and free shipping!) And lest you doubt my veracity—- here’s the link—-https://www.ebay.com/i/283349093997 Just think of the possibilities— like Jesus you can attract fishermen to fish, while going to church. Or, if your pastor is all wet when he preaches, you can always go swimming for a while and climb back on during the benediction. One warning—... Read more
Q. Throughout this study the theme of risk comes up, in the title of each chapter. And at the end of the study you remind “Entering the Passion means risk-taking; it means facing our fears, our failures, and our faults, and addressing them. Whom have we betrayed? Denied? Condemned” (p. 142). It seems to me that one way to draw a parallel with that uncomfortable last supper meal would be to ask the question— Why do so many people wish... Read more
Q. I take Lk. 22.38 to mean ‘enough of this (nonsense)’. In other words, Jesus’ is exasperated with the pathetic response of the disciples when he is about to be taken away. That is… he is not suggesting violent action on his behalf ever (if only the Crusaders has paid attention). To what degree do you think Jesus is calling his own disciples to a life commitment of non-violence? A. There are various ways of understanding Luke 22.38, but it... Read more
Q. I found your interpretation of the rending of the temple veil intriguing— you say it is a sign of God mourning over the coming loss of his Son (p. 135)? And so it is not a follow up to Ezekiel’s ‘the spirit of God left the building’, leaving the building to be destroyed later? Frankly, I like your interpretation rather better. You draw an analogy with the rending of a garment in mourning. So… does God see Jesus’ death... Read more
Q. One of the most helpful insights that recurs in this study is that a fuller reading of the OT texts alluded to or cited in the Passion narrative, provides a richer understanding of the story in the Passion narrative. For example, the citing of ‘the poor you have with you always’ from Deut. 15.11, as you rightly point out, goes on to exhort the audience in Deut. to open one’s hands to the poor. In other words, Jesus is... Read more
Q. On p. 97ff. you make much of the fact that women were able to be ‘bread-winners’ on their own in early Judaism, and that stereotypes about Jesus liberating women from the oppressive patriarchy of early Judaism go too far. Leaving stereotypes out for the moment, it does seem to be true that Jesus attracted women of all sorts to be his followers and helpers and they seem to have been more loyal to him even unto being present at... Read more
Q. As you note, in the Markan anointing story, the word myridzo rather than some form of the word christos is used in reference to the woman anointing Jesus, even though the anointing is on the head, like a kingly anointing. Why do you think Mark doesn’t make more out of Jesus being the anointed one of God in this story, especially since it is in Passion Week, which could also be called unveiling the Messianic secret week? A. Mark... Read more
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