Chapter 2: Monday

In an attempt to help us frame the conversations around The Last Week, the authors suggested some questions in the back of the book. My favorite one is:

What’s something from this chapter that stands out for you? Something new that seems important? Or, something that you perhaps knew before, but that seems important to underline? Something that you want to remember?

For me the first of these places where I really want to remember is on page 37 where the authors explore answers to the question, “how, then did people create, maintain or restore good relations with a divine being?” When relating to other one another in the human realm, good relations were created and/or maintained by bringing a gift and/or sharing a meal. Those protocols were translated into divine human relationships through sacrifice. Again, they could give a gift or share a meal. I have long struggled with the classic atonement theologies feeling deep in my heart that sacrifice was not about suffering or substitution. Understanding that it was a gift and a shared meal that were behind blood sacrifice for ancient Hebrews sheds light on the gospel writer’s account of Jesus as sacrifice. According to Borg and Crossan, “ that sense of sacrifice should never be confused with either suffering or substitution.”

The second place of particular interest to me is the slight different way of looking at what has historically been called “the cleansing of the temple.” Borg and Crossan emphasize that the money changers and animal sellers were perfectly legitimate and necessary for the temple’s normal functioning. Jesus’ actions symbolically shut down the temple in a prophetic statement about its lack of fruit. The temple and worship cannot be a safe refuge or hide away for those who do not practice God’s justice. Worship is not a substitute for justice and righteousness.

What stood out to you?

What do you want to remember from this chapter?