Chap. 29. At the Cross with Jesus
"Many are wowed by his miracles; few are wooed by his cross."
WHY CRUCIFIXION? Flannery O'Connor story about the cross. Sometimes it takes the grotesque to get our attention.
THE DIVINE DESIGN OF THE GROTESQUE CROSS. What story do we hear at the cross?
- A grotesque process designed for physical sympathy: Jesus with us. Jesus suffered on the cross. He did it demonstrate that he suffers with us.
- A grotesque act designed for spiritual freedom: Jesus instead of us. Jesus died for us, to give us freedom from death.
- A groteske model designed for moral transformation: Jesus before us. "As the biographer of John Bunyan, author of The Pilgrim’s Progress, says, “There is no Christianity without the cross, the cross that carries us and the cross that we carry.” Indeed. It is the Cross that carries us (in giving us spiritual freedom) as well as the cross we are to carry (in giving us a model for moral transformation)."
A LIFE OF THE CROSS. The example of Dietrich von Hildebrand.
Chap 30. At the Tomb with Jesus
Jesus' death was a disaster as far as his followers were concerned.
LIFE BEYOND THE DISASTER OF DEATH. If we participate in Jesus' resurrection by making the story our own story, we find hope.
IS THE WHOLE WORLD LIKE THIS? An example.
FROM DISASTERS TO NEW LIFE. Jesus shows us that beyond disasters there is forgiveness, presence, faith, and mission.
NEW LIFE BEYOD DISASTER: JOHN BUNYAN.
Quote from Mcknight, Scot (2009-10-01). Jesus Creed: Loving God, Loving Others (p. 280). Paraclete Press. Kindle Edition.