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The Final Days: A Lenten Journey through the Gospels
This Lent ponder the themes of justice, poverty, freedom, and love.
The four New Testament Gospels aren’t the same story, but they offer the same Resurrection hope. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John devote most of their story detailing Jesus’ last week in Jerusalem, all highlighting Jesus’ triumphant entry into the city, the suffering and humiliation of the cross, and the empty tomb come Sunday morning, but the stories they tell aren’t quite the same.
Each Gospel offers a different lens through which we understand Jesus’ Passion. One portrait reveals Jesus to be in control, while another emphasizes his suffering. In one story Jesus offers hope to the thief on the cross, and in another Jesus only receives derision. These different perspectives aren’t a reason to dismiss the Gospels; rather the reveal an abundant, diverse, and complementary picture of God’s work in the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Other components for the study include a leader guide, and teaching video are available.
The four New Testament Gospels aren’t the same story, but they offer the same Resurrection hope. Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John devote most of their story detailing Jesus’ last week in Jerusalem, all highlighting Jesus’ triumphant entry into the city, the suffering and humiliation of the cross, and the empty tomb come Sunday morning, but the stories they tell aren’t quite the same.
Each Gospel offers a different lens through which we understand Jesus’ Passion. One portrait reveals Jesus to be in control, while another emphasizes his suffering. In one story Jesus offers hope to the thief on the cross, and in another Jesus only receives derision. These different perspectives aren’t a reason to dismiss the Gospels; rather the reveal an abundant, diverse, and complementary picture of God’s work in the suffering, death, and resurrection of Jesus.
Other components for the study include a leader guide, and teaching video are available.
138 pages, Kindle Edition
Published December 17, 2024
36 people are currently reading
11 people want to read
About the author
Matt Rawle
40 books33 followersMatt Rawle is Lead Pastor at Asbury United Methodist Church in Bossier City, LA. Matt is an international speaker who loves to tell an old story in a new way, especially at the intersection of pop culture and the church.
Matt has a B.A. in music from LSU and an M.Div. from Duke Divinity School. He and his wife Christie have three daughters. Matt loves meditating on Scripture, listening to the heart of God, and inspiring people to do the work of God—Love. He also loves thinking about new ways to tell an old story.
He is the author of a new series of books titled The Pop in Culture Series. The series includes The Faith of a Mockingbird, Hollywood Jesus, and The Salvation of Doctor Who.
Matt has a B.A. in music from LSU and an M.Div. from Duke Divinity School. He and his wife Christie have three daughters. Matt loves meditating on Scripture, listening to the heart of God, and inspiring people to do the work of God—Love. He also loves thinking about new ways to tell an old story.
He is the author of a new series of books titled The Pop in Culture Series. The series includes The Faith of a Mockingbird, Hollywood Jesus, and The Salvation of Doctor Who.
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
April 7, 2025
I tried to read this three times and gave up at the 45% mark. I'm sure there are good things in here but the text was in desperate need of an editor and a formatter. Maybe the format problems were only in the ebook; I don't know. The topic is fascinating and hopefully I will find a comprehensible book on the matter. But it's not this one.
April 15, 2025
TLDR: At best, this book gets people to think about who they can identify as within the biblical narrative of the passion. Rawle does, in fact, closely examine many of the biblical characters. But at worst, this is a confusing book where the author seems to already have his own illustrations in mind and is trying to make the scriptures and lessons bend around it. The result; forced interpretations and confusing transitions.
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.
A lot of Rawle’s scriptural interpretations seem forced in order to make spiritual lessons. Almost all the time, I agree with his overall sentiments. But his messages he tries to preach are confusing because of what feels like forced interpretations; Just two examples include, a) the ‘great chasm’ that separate the Rich man and Lazarus. Rawle says ‘the chasm’ “is the rich man’s inability to see Lazarus as anything other than his personal servant” (p. 84). But there’s nothing in the scripture to suggest that it is the Rich man’s attitude in the afterlife that separates him from Lazarus. Though the wisdom he draws from this interpretation is wholesome, it’s a forced interpretation nonetheless. A little less helpful interpretation comes from, b) the story of Judas betraying Jesus and taking his own life- a story which Rawle sees Judas as (intentionally(?)) making restitution for Jesus’ betrayal in accordance to Exodus 21:32, a covenant code law mandating the killing of an ox if the ox kills a slave. Jesus is betrayed for the same amount of silver as a slave in biblical times (Yes, I can agree with this), but to say “Judas sees himself as the ox” (p. 71) is a dubious inference. Not only is that putting words in Judas’ mouth, but the roles which Rawle is trying to project onto the characters is confusing. If Judas ‘is the ox’, that means he would need to pay thirty pieces of silver to the Pharisees or disciples (not the other way around). But that law has to do with an accident between livestock and humans, not a betrayal of one human against another. Again, the roles are confused in this forced interpretation which is made for the sake of making a point that (if I had to guess) Rawle already had in his mind.
An example of a bad transition is on p.64, where Rawle is trying to convey the point that a “yes-or-no” answer isn't always helpful and especially in Matthew’s gospel. He refers to a time in his pastor’s interviews where, to a question asked, he gave a ‘Yes, though i think...’ kind of answer. And the answer in the example is not something I object to (quite the contrary!). But if he’s trying to illustrate how ‘yes-or-no answers’ are insufficient, then it would behoove him to not talk about a time where he basically gave a yes answer. A final example is on p.51, where after talking about the derision of Jesus and the blasphemy against him, in Mark’s Gospel, he brings up a scenario where his colleague was had her trust violated by someone working in her church. And then he jumps back into the subject of religious leaders mocking Jesus. I still struggle to see the connection he’s making.
A note of praise: Rawle’s wisdom is wholesome. And when he makes comparisons between the Gospel’s accounts, he illuminates great pieces of wisdom and learning. But again, his illustrations and transitions are confusing. His scriptural interpretations are forced. And the book sometimes seems to follow Rawle’s stream-of-conscious more than anything else.
Rawle says (as a hyperbolic joke, of course) that his mother is convinced that he’s written more books than he’s read. So, after reading his book, the tragic thing is that I’m worried that this is true.
.
.
A lot of Rawle’s scriptural interpretations seem forced in order to make spiritual lessons. Almost all the time, I agree with his overall sentiments. But his messages he tries to preach are confusing because of what feels like forced interpretations; Just two examples include, a) the ‘great chasm’ that separate the Rich man and Lazarus. Rawle says ‘the chasm’ “is the rich man’s inability to see Lazarus as anything other than his personal servant” (p. 84). But there’s nothing in the scripture to suggest that it is the Rich man’s attitude in the afterlife that separates him from Lazarus. Though the wisdom he draws from this interpretation is wholesome, it’s a forced interpretation nonetheless. A little less helpful interpretation comes from, b) the story of Judas betraying Jesus and taking his own life- a story which Rawle sees Judas as (intentionally(?)) making restitution for Jesus’ betrayal in accordance to Exodus 21:32, a covenant code law mandating the killing of an ox if the ox kills a slave. Jesus is betrayed for the same amount of silver as a slave in biblical times (Yes, I can agree with this), but to say “Judas sees himself as the ox” (p. 71) is a dubious inference. Not only is that putting words in Judas’ mouth, but the roles which Rawle is trying to project onto the characters is confusing. If Judas ‘is the ox’, that means he would need to pay thirty pieces of silver to the Pharisees or disciples (not the other way around). But that law has to do with an accident between livestock and humans, not a betrayal of one human against another. Again, the roles are confused in this forced interpretation which is made for the sake of making a point that (if I had to guess) Rawle already had in his mind.
An example of a bad transition is on p.64, where Rawle is trying to convey the point that a “yes-or-no” answer isn't always helpful and especially in Matthew’s gospel. He refers to a time in his pastor’s interviews where, to a question asked, he gave a ‘Yes, though i think...’ kind of answer. And the answer in the example is not something I object to (quite the contrary!). But if he’s trying to illustrate how ‘yes-or-no answers’ are insufficient, then it would behoove him to not talk about a time where he basically gave a yes answer. A final example is on p.51, where after talking about the derision of Jesus and the blasphemy against him, in Mark’s Gospel, he brings up a scenario where his colleague was had her trust violated by someone working in her church. And then he jumps back into the subject of religious leaders mocking Jesus. I still struggle to see the connection he’s making.
A note of praise: Rawle’s wisdom is wholesome. And when he makes comparisons between the Gospel’s accounts, he illuminates great pieces of wisdom and learning. But again, his illustrations and transitions are confusing. His scriptural interpretations are forced. And the book sometimes seems to follow Rawle’s stream-of-conscious more than anything else.
Rawle says (as a hyperbolic joke, of course) that his mother is convinced that he’s written more books than he’s read. So, after reading his book, the tragic thing is that I’m worried that this is true.
April 8, 2025
For me, the writing is somewhat disorganized and rambles. Many of the anecdotes do not necessarily support the main ideas for each section or there are do many personal anecdotes that it clouds the main point. I feel like liberties were taken in interpreting scripture, almost like he was pondering interpretations without researching to communicate fact.
March 20, 2025
Gospels
This is an excellent example of the same story but 4 different points of view. I have read and listened to the gospels many times and each time get something different from the story. Spread the news that Jesus is risen.
This is an excellent example of the same story but 4 different points of view. I have read and listened to the gospels many times and each time get something different from the story. Spread the news that Jesus is risen.
April 25, 2025
Great Lenten study
Fascinating to compare and contrast the accounts of Jesus' passion with all 4 gospels. Very thought provoking. Love Rawle's sense of humor and the way he makes the gospels relevant to modern life.
Fascinating to compare and contrast the accounts of Jesus' passion with all 4 gospels. Very thought provoking. Love Rawle's sense of humor and the way he makes the gospels relevant to modern life.
March 24, 2025
Great Lenten study!
April 14, 2025
An informative comparison book looking at the four gospels surrounding Jesus final days.
April 17, 2025
We did this as an all church bible study. Everyone enjoyed it
April 18, 2025
I learned a lot reading this. It was a great book for our Lenten Bible study.
July 30, 2025
I am so thankful that our book study group at church picked this book for the spring. It was so wonderful to read during the seasons of Lent and Easter. There were so many things I had never put together, that I learned, and that made me go “Wow! woah!” I loved the author’s writing- I think maybe the first chapter or two were a little deep, but the rest was really easy to read even though there was so much there. I think this is probably my favorite book I’ve read for the purpose of biblical knowledge. We also watched his short videos at the beginning of our Wednesday night studies. He even came to talk with us one week, which was the coolest! He is the pastor of Asbury Methodist in Bossier City. I can’t wait to read another one of his books.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews