San Diego, California, United States First United Methodist Church "Heart of Christianity" Discussion Questions for Sunday, 26 October 2014

San Diego, California, United States First United Methodist Church "Heart of Christianity" Discussion Questions for Sunday, 26 October 2014
Hi to All:
For next Sunday's class, we'll discuss some issues and questions based on Chapters 7 and 8 in Aslan's book Zealot.
Chapter 7
1. Pp. 84-85. How are John the Baptist and the Jewish sect, the Essenes, similar and different?
2. Pp. 87-89.  Aslan writes that the gospel of Luke merely glosses over any special person who baptized Jesus.  Why?  and Aslan continues that until Jesus met John the Baptist, Jesus was little known in the Galilean region.  After his baptism, Jesus started his ministry by echoing John the Baptist's preaching: an apocalyptic message of "Repent, the Kingdom of Heaven is near!"  And, Jesus illustrated his preaching with parables and allegories, making his preaching even more attractive to his followers. (As far as we know, John the Baptist did not use parables and allegories in his preaching.)  We see over some thirty years, which spans the four gospel texts (70 - 100 C.E.), from Mark to John, a progression of details and developments in the Jesus story, which seems to suggest, not immutable historical fact, but, in large measure, enriched storytelling.  Your thoughts?
3. P. 88, middle Parag., 3rd line.  Here Aslan cites Mark's gospel. Instead of "Mark's original omissions",  think of John the evangelist as adding to the story another embellishment.  When he took his turn at writing a fourth gospel story -- some thirty years after Mark wrote the first gospel, he added, uniquely, the concept of "Logos" (the Word or Reason).  Your comments?
Chapter 8
4. Pp. 90-92. Do you accept as credible Aslan's claim that the Galilean "region had been a hotbed of revoluntionary activity for centuries"?  Can you think possibly that the young Jesus' attitude and behavior somehow were affected by the ethos  of the region of Galilee, where he grew up?  (Also, see last line of P. 91 and top of p. 92).
5. P. 97, 5th line.  In the quote from Luke and Matthew, I've always been suspicious of the word "hate" in this context.  I have always wished that the translators had not used that English word (hate).  Is there any other word(s) that would fit the cultural and linguistic context?  (How about the phrase "willingly leave"?).  Let's briefly consider this problem I've had for almost all of my adult life!
6. Pp. 99-100.  How did Jesus preach to make clear who his main opponent in his preaching ministry was?  Your comments?  (See specifically, last Parag. on P. 99 and top of P. 100)
7. P. 101, last 7 lines and top of p. 102.  Aslan cites from Mark's gospel the story of the "unclean man."  This event takes place at the outset of this ministry.  This is a very remarkable story; a story to make the Galilean people sit up and take notice of Jesus. But, then, Mark's text was written some forty years after Jesus died.  I imagine that after Mark penned that remarkable event, the people of the region were still all abuzz about the itinerant preacher named Jesus, who gave such a miraculous accounting of himself in Capernaum, some forty years earlier.  Your thoughts?
8. Is there any other topic in Chapters 7 and 8 you would like to mention?  If so, have at it!
I look forward to next Sunday's class and to another sizzling discussion.  Jot down on paper your notes and thoughts.  Meanwhile, have a safe and thoughtful rest of the week.  Best wishes and hasta domingo, Ben
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