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The Cross in Contexts: Suffering and Redemption in Palestine
Why did Jesus die? And in what ways did his crucifixion offer redemption to the world?
Those questions, which lie at the heart of Christian faith, remain a pressing concern for theological reflection. What sets this work apart is that the authors -- a Palestinian theologian from Bethlehem and a New Testament scholar from the United States -- explore the meaning of the cross in light of both first and twenty-first century Palestinian contexts. Together, their insights coalesce around themes that expose the divine power of the cross both for Jesus' first followers and for contemporary readers alike.
Those questions, which lie at the heart of Christian faith, remain a pressing concern for theological reflection. What sets this work apart is that the authors -- a Palestinian theologian from Bethlehem and a New Testament scholar from the United States -- explore the meaning of the cross in light of both first and twenty-first century Palestinian contexts. Together, their insights coalesce around themes that expose the divine power of the cross both for Jesus' first followers and for contemporary readers alike.
- GenresTheology
160 pages, Paperback
Published April 20, 2017
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
October 10, 2018
In late March, 15 peaceful protesters were killed in Gaza by Israeli military forces. They were shot dead for walking toward the land that rightfully belongs to them. Last week was just another week in Palestine; another week of brutal oppression and occupation. Mitri Raheb and Suzanne Watts Henderson have done an incredible job in this book of making connections between the sufferings of Christ and the sufferings of modern day Palestinians (the descendants of Christ). If you are looking for a book to study as a church or a small group, this is a quick but powerful read that couldn’t be more timely.
December 16, 2023
This is a good complement to Faith In The Face of Empire by Mitri Raheb. That book focuses on the travails, both historically and present day, of occupied Palestine (a term that's essentially redundant). This one could just as easily be called Palestine in the Context of The Cross, as the situation in Palestine is the main focus of that context.
The authors preface the book by saying that it might create more questions than it answers, and, at least in my case, that was true. The primary question that it asks is, "Where are you, God?", which, frankly, is another way to ask the age-old question (and book title from the 70's) "Why do bad things happen to good people?" And the answer, to me, is theologically unsatisfying. But that's OK, because there IS no satisfying answer to that question!
This is a serious, thoughtful book, and it's written for an audience far more intelligent (and theologically knowledgeable) than I am. My suggestion for laypeople like me is to take both these books and use them as the basis for a book club, reviewing a couple of chapters at a time. That's probably far more productive than trying to plow through them solo, with your questions left not only unanswered, but undiscussed.
The authors preface the book by saying that it might create more questions than it answers, and, at least in my case, that was true. The primary question that it asks is, "Where are you, God?", which, frankly, is another way to ask the age-old question (and book title from the 70's) "Why do bad things happen to good people?" And the answer, to me, is theologically unsatisfying. But that's OK, because there IS no satisfying answer to that question!
This is a serious, thoughtful book, and it's written for an audience far more intelligent (and theologically knowledgeable) than I am. My suggestion for laypeople like me is to take both these books and use them as the basis for a book club, reviewing a couple of chapters at a time. That's probably far more productive than trying to plow through them solo, with your questions left not only unanswered, but undiscussed.
May 16, 2021
I don't give many five star reviews, but this one totally changed the way I think about the meaning of the cross. It took it way beyond "Jesus saved me by suffering and dying on the cross for my sins." The Cross in Contexts is a quick read that will leave an impression on those looking to deepen their faith and better understand the power of the cross and crucifixion.
Did you know the cross was a political symbol long before it was a religious symbol, used to both satisfy the bloodlust of the masses, while at the same time holding them down and reinforcing the power of the state?
Did you know the cross has meaning for Palestinian Muslims too? It's a powerful symbol of Jesus's solidarity with our suffering and an example of how we are to love one another.
Jesus reveals Gods redemptive power through the cross. And when the temple curtain was torn in two, it symbolized that God is no longer restricted to residing just in the Holy of Holies, but resides with us, everywhere we go in the world!
Did you know the cross was a political symbol long before it was a religious symbol, used to both satisfy the bloodlust of the masses, while at the same time holding them down and reinforcing the power of the state?
Did you know the cross has meaning for Palestinian Muslims too? It's a powerful symbol of Jesus's solidarity with our suffering and an example of how we are to love one another.
Jesus reveals Gods redemptive power through the cross. And when the temple curtain was torn in two, it symbolized that God is no longer restricted to residing just in the Holy of Holies, but resides with us, everywhere we go in the world!
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews