The Last Week: What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus's Final Days in Jerusalem

A group my wife and I belong to is studying this book. Borg and Crossan have written a very well thought out and presented book that explains why Jesus lived, died, and rose again. If you are doubting, questioning, concerned, or just want some reassurance about the meaning of the life of Christ, read and study this book. I will remind myself to read it again many times. It is that good!

I recommend this book for all seekers of truth. Especially those who have grown up in the church and remain unsatisfied within.

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.

There are many reasons to read this book, but for the sake of brevity I will emphasize three. The authors rely upon the Gospel of Mark to tell the story of Jesus' journey to Jerusalem, and in the process explain why and how this gospel was written. For a long time I've held the belief that the gospels were simply a collection of orally circulated stories that the authors wished to preserve in writing. In order to provide some type of cohesive logic, they placed the stories within a loose narrative framework. Thanks to Borg and Crossan, I now understand that Mark wrote a carefully crafted, concisely written book that has a specific purpose --- to demonstrate for Christians that to follow Jesus means to follow him on THE WAY. For Jesus, the road to Jerusalem led to death and resurrection. Those who follow Jesus on this path will also be resurrected to new life. In short, this book greatly enhanced my understanding of Mark. Ever wonder why Jesus condemned a fig tree that bore no fruit out of season? Or why Jesus was so impressed with the woman who anoited his head with oil? Who exactly was in "the crowd" that called for Jesus' execution? Read this book to find out. My second reason for reading the book is the most obvious one. You will understand what happened in Jerusalem and why Jesus died. As Christians we are taught to believe that Jesus was somehow mindlessly fulfilling Biblical prophecy by going to Jerusalem, as if he had no say in the matter. The truth is that in an act of tremendous personal courage, Jesus chose to confront the powerful elite of the city --- the Roman imperialists and their temple collaborators --- and demand an end to oppression and injustice. This is why he was crucified. Finally, Christians who take their religion seriously will be challenged by the authors' assertion that Jesus calls us not only to personal transformation, but to political action. Rather than lunching with Presidents, Billy Graham style, or hobnobbing with the rich and famous, we Christians should be speaking up for the poor, the oppressed, and the disadvantaged. We busy ourselves with arranging the flowers around the altar when we should be out there turning over the tables of the money changers.

A well researched amazing book about the high point of the Christian year. Certainly it challenges some of the conventional ideas about the events of this pivotal week in Christianity. Rather than challenge faith it invites the reader to deepen one's understanding of this week, leading to a deeper faith and better understanding of both the events of the week itself and what transpired afterwards - the beginning of the Christian church. This is not a book for those unwilling to be challenged in the way they view the events of this week. It is a book for those willing to engage in thinking more deeply about the meaning of this event in Christian history.

Excellent treatise on what Mark's gospel might have said. Takes the story of Jesus' last week as a set of planned moves to confront Imperial Powers (and injustice) and the collaboration at the top of Jewish religious leaders. If you are interested in the historical Jesus and can put aside blind faith, this is a fantastically good read that will set you thinking about the events that preempted the Crucifixion and Easter.

Treating the resurrection accounts as 'parables' for which the historicity of the accounts are unnecessary borders on blasphemy! Coming from professed ministers of the gospel of Jesus Christ is sacrilegious.

I found this book easy to read and utterly fascinating. Well written and held my attention throughout.

Surely one of the most profound and reflective treaties on the final days of Christ's life before his crucifion from which we all, those who profess and those who do not profess a faith. Should be treated for what it aims to do - instruct or reflect. Should not be discarded as 'yet another attempt' to convert the disbeliever but enhance or deepen the love of the faithfull for the person who they believe is their pathway to eternal life. More please