
From Behind the Veil: The Epistles of John

Deep Exegesis:The Mystery of Reading Scripture

1 & 2 Kings
Brazos Theological Commentary

The Promise Of His Appearing: An Exposition Of Second Peter

A Great Mystery: Fourteen Wedding Sermons

Deep Comedy: Trinity, Tragedy, And Hope In Western Literature

Miniatures & Morals: The Christian Novels of Jane Austen

The Priesthood of the Plebs: A Theology of Baptism

A Son To Me: An Exposition of 1 & 2 Samuel

From Silence to Song: The Davidic Liturgical Revolution

Ascent to Love: A Guide to Dante's Divine Comedy

Blessed Are the Hungry: Meditations on the Lord's Supper

A House For My Name: A Survey of the Old Testament

Heroes of the City of Man: A Christian Guide to Select Ancient Literature

Brightest Heaven of Invention: A Christian Guide To Six Shakespeare Plays

Wise Words: Family Stories That Bring the Proverbs to Life

The Kingdom and the Power: Rediscovering the Centrality of the Church
The trial and death of Jesus looks like a tragedy, for Him. It isn’t, not in the least, and not just because He’s raised from the dead. He’s no victim of circumstance or fate, but lays down His life for His sheep.
But there is tragedy, the tragedy of Israel. One by one, Israel divests itself of its privileges. It uses the law to condemn the Law-giver. It finds God guilty of blasphemy. Caiaphas rips up his priestly robes. The Jews renounce their living temple to save their doomed stone temple, and they deny Yahweh to His face. They join Judas in “handing over” Jesus, and they will share His condemnation. It all climaxes with “His blood be on us and on our children.” Filled with frenzied self-protection, Israel strips itself naked.
This is the ironic twist in every attempt to suppress the gospel. Those who have spilled their blood for and with Jesus never suffer tragedy, but their persecutors always do.
posted by Peter J. Leithart on Friday, November 20, 2009 at 3:10 pm
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