Reading Assignment: Chapter Two
The idea that Jesus was in anguish, pleading with God, is unsettling to many Christians. For some, the scene evokes great compassion. For others, the image of Jesus asking God to take the cup of suffering from him and his seeming anxiety over the Crucifixion seems to lack nobility and courage. For still others, the image may even appear to indicate a lack of faith. They would perhaps expect Jesus to face his torture and death without agitation or fear. How does the Gospels’ portrayal of Jesus’ anguish in the garden of Gethsemane inform or affect your understanding of who Jesus is?
Read Joel 2:28-3:12
Read the following question. And share your response with a comment:
The prophet Joel describes God’s final judgement of the nations as taking place in the same area where Jesus journeyed on his way to Gethsemane and ultimately to the cross. What insights does that connection give you as you consider Jesus’ agonizing over his mission in Gethsemane?
Homework for next week: Read Chapter Three