God’s victory among the nations brings them the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and Jesus’ commandment to love. more

The risen Lord, who gave himself in love, enables peoples and persons to be God’s love for each other. more

The risen Lord is the Good Shepherd, giving his life for his sheep and known to them by his Name. more

The resurrection of Jesus releases new power, opens old scriptures, and cancels old sins. more

The witnesses to the resurrection find new life in the community (koinonia) of the forgiven. more

The story of Jesus is retold as gospel (good news) by witnesses of his resurrection. more

The following comments are based on a strict reading of the Passion narrative in Mark. They avoid any attempt to harmonize Mark with the other Gospels, and they do not seek to reconstruct any actual history of the last night and day of Jesus’ life. What we have in Mark’s Passion is one of the ways second-generation Greek-speaking Christians told the story of the Passion as it seemed right and important to them. (On Jesus and the Gospels generally, see James D.G. Dunn’s most recent summary in Jesus, Paul, and the Gospels, Eerdmans. 2011.) more

Those who have waited for salvation welcome joyfully the coming king. more

Healing may have mysterious depths, but redeemed ones give thanks for a way to new life. more

Preparation for the Lord’s passion includes hearing God’s Commandments—also, revisiting God’s Temple. more