The New Testament in 90 Days

Chapter 19 should be the last chapter.  But it isn't.  Death should be the end of the story of Jesus.  But it isn't. When Jesus is crucified, John records three different words from the cross:  "Woman, here is your son.  Here is your mother."  (to his mother and the beloved disciple).  Then, "I Thirst."  And finally, 'It is finished."  What do you suppose these three words mean?  What is the significance?  Do these words remind of of other words of Jesus? One of the mysteries of the gospel of John is:  Who is the beloved disciple?  Most people believe that the beloved disciple is John himself.  A few have thought it might be Lazarus, his friend.  There are some who even think it might have been Judas.  What do you think? After Jesus' crucifixion, Joseph of Arimathea provides a tomb for Jesus' body.  And the stone is rolled in front of the tomb, and that should be the end of it. But it isn't. ...

The end is near.  Also the beginning. The story becomes familiar:  Jesus eats with his disciples, and one of them goes to betray him.  He predicts Peter's denial; he prays, and they cannot keep their eyes open.  He is arrested, and he is mocked, and Peter does deny Jesus, and finally, he is brought before the religious leaders. Jesus is sent to Pilate, and then to Herod, and then to the crowds, and then crucified.  We've been through this now twice before.  And yet... Did you notice that when Herod and Pilate meet, they become friends?  Formerly, Luke says, they were enemies, but as of today, they blame friends.  Hmmmm.  What do you suppose that means? When Simon helps Jesus carry his cross, Jesus has words for the women of Jerusalem, who follow him, weeping.  "Weep for yourselves, he warns them.  On Jesus' Last Day, he flashes forward to another Last Day that is coming:  the destruction of Jerusalem. In Matthew and M...

After noticing the widow and her coin, Jesus begins to warn about the coming times of destruction, persecution.  Families will be torn apart, everyone ratting out everyone else.  Believers will be put on trial, but they should rely on the Hoy Spirit to put the words in their mouths. It won't be long before is put on trial, both before Herod and before the religious court.  Everything is set in motion, beginning with the unnamed woman who anoints Jesus for burial.  She is the beginning of the story of Jesus' death. I do find it ironic that Jesus tells the disciples that everyone will remember this woman and her actions, because actually, when we usually tell the passion story, we don't start here:  we start with the last supper.  Then there is the prayer in the garden, where the disciples can't stay awake.  There is the betray and arrest, the trials and Peter's denial. But the real beginning, which we never remember, is the anointing by the unname...