Borg and Crossan have given us an account that follows daily events in the last week of Jesus' life as recorded in the gospel of Mark. One might expect these alumni of the Jesus Seminar to delve into which events are more likely to be historical; but that is completely foreign to their purpose, for they focus on explicating the meaning and significance of what Mark has to say. This is serious bible study that can appeal to the most literal-minded as well as the most liberal of readers.
They begin their account by imagining that two demonstrations coincided on Palm Sunday. One was the entry of Pilate and the Roman legions at one gate of Jerusalem and the other was Jesus on a donkey at another gate. Jesus' entry, they maintain, was intended as a counter and a critique of the procession representing the "domination system" of the day - that is, the political and economic system backed by Romans and leading religious authorities. From his very arrival in Jerusalem, Jesus was letting it be known that he intended to take on leading political and religious authorities. This he did overtly on Monday with a demonstration in the temple which clearly forecast its destruction.
Borg and Crossan highlight Mark's practice of "framing," that is, sandwiching one story between the beginning and ending of another story, to get across his literary point. For example, the story of the fig tree on Monday "frames" the story of the demonstration in the temple and helps to make clear that the dominant message of the action in the temple was to call for its destruction, as the fig tree had been destroyed, because it didn't produce fruit. They point to the fact that Mark uses framing several times to get his message across and to how Matthew and Luke tended to eliminate the Markan frames in telling their versions of the stories.
One of the major themes emphasized by Borg and Crossan is that Mark does not interpret the death of Jesus as substitutionary sacrifice. Such a notion of atonement came about in later centuries, they argue. According to these authors, Mark saw Jesus' death as a challenge to his followers to participate with him in death and resurrection. From Caesarea Philippi onward, they maintain, Jesus told them: "They must pass through death to a new life here below upon this earth, and they can already see what that transformed life is like in Jesus himself." (p. 103)
They point to failed discipleship as a theme in Mark. The woman who anoints Jesus' feet is the one person who does not fail to get his message, making her "the first believer" and the chief example of the model leader Jesus described. (p. 104) The treachery of Judas, in their view, was just one more of the failures of the disciples.
The one point where they could not avoid the issue of factuality was the occurrence of Easter. They state very clearly that Jesus would have been forgotten without Easter. But did the resurrection happen? They avoid the question by pointing to the parabolic meaning of the appearance stories, which is to say that the meaning of the stories is what seems to them to be the most important issue. Their approach is to "highlight their meaning as parable, as truth-filled stories, without any intrinsic denial of their factuality." (p. 194) Nevertheless, they seem to point to appearance stories as examples of visions, which, they say, may be truthful and not just hallucinations.
Readers of this book will come away with a new appreciation for the gospel of Mark and new insights into the central message of Jesus. Borg and Crossan have written a very readable and remarkably short book that deserves attention from any serious student of the bible.
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Great book, poor shipping and delivery. Came beat up.
I got the book today and started reading as I need to finish it asap. I love the book itself, but I'm pretty disappointed with the condition it came in. I would have asked for a replacement but I needed it right away and it had already been delayed.
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Top reviews from other countries
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PeregrinoReviewed in Spain on March 31, 2015
Excelente explicación de la Encarnación y muerte de Jesus
- Amazon CustomerReviewed in India on April 20, 2018
read this amazing book and watch videos of its
- Steve PReviewed in Australia on April 12, 2025
A fresh take on Jesus's last week in Mark, highlighting his rebellion against injustice and power.
- Mike from the green isleReviewed in the United Kingdom on April 10, 2017
A well researched amazing book about the high point of the Christian year
