Witness at the Cross Leader Guide: A Beginner's Guide to Holy Friday

by Amy-Jill Levine

Place yourself as a witness of the cross and determine what your own testimony will be! Experience Holy Friday from the perspective of those who watched Jesus Mary his mother; the Beloved Disciple from the Gospel of John; Mary Magdalene and the other women from Galilee; the two men, usually identified as thieves, crucified with Jesus; the centurion and the soldiers; Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Jews and Romans, friends and strangers, the powerful and the powerless, the hopeful and the despairing. The story of Jesus’s death is not something we just we think about it, and we experience it; we hear the taunts of the soldiers, the priests, and the passersby even as we hear the famous “seven last words” from the cross.In Witness at the Cross, Amy-Jill Levine shows how the people at the cross each have distinct roles to play. Each Evangelist presents a distinct picture of the death of Jesus. Each portrays different individuals and groups of people at the cross, each offers different images and dialogues, and so from each, we learn how those meanings and messages cross the centuries to any who would come to the cross today. Each Gospel has its own story to tell, all the witnesses have their own memories, and every reader comes away with a new insight. The witnesses at the Crucifixion watch Jesus die, and we watch with them, and we watch them. And we come away transformed.The Leader Guide includes session outline for each group meeting with Scripture, prayer, opening activity, discussion questions, activity, and ending call to action.

64 pages, Kindle Edition

Published December 28, 2021

About the author

Amy-Jill Levine is University Professor of New Testament and Jewish Studies and Mary Jane Werthan Professor of Jewish Studies at Vanderbilt Divinity School and Department of Jewish Studies. Her books include The Misunderstood Jew: The Church and the Scandal of the Jewish Jesus; Short Stories by Jesus: The Enigmatic Parables of a Controversial Rabbi; four children's books (with Sandy Sasso); The Gospel of Luke (with Ben Witherington III); and The Jewish Annotated New Testament (co-edited with Marc Z. Brettler). Her most recent books are The Bible With and Without Jesus: How Jews and Christians Read the Same Stories Differently (co-authored with Marc Z. Brettler), Sermon on the Mount: A Beginner's Guide to the Kingdom of Heaven; and The Kingdom of Heaven: 40 Devotionals. In 2019 she became the first Jew to teach New Testament at Rome's Pontifical Biblical Institute. Professor Levine, who has done over 300 programs for churches, clergy groups, and seminaries, has been awarded grants from the Mellon Foundation, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the American Council of Learned Societies. Institutions granting her honorary degrees include Christian Theological Seminary and the Episcopal Seminary of the Southwest.

Reviews

[Carol · Rating 5 out of 5]

A Leader’s Guide That Really Works

Witness at the Cross is a magnificent study of the most painful moment in Church history. Instead of focusing on Jesus, however, and entering the murky waters of why he was crucified, the book introduces us to the people around Jesus and asks us to join her in exploring their possible experiences and feelings. AJ shows her skill as a professor by giving us discussion questions that are fun to discuss, and a lesson plan for each chapter which is easy to follow. The video lectures by Levine add the perfect note. If you’re looking for a Church book study, this is your book

[Nancy · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is truly one of the best leader guides I've ever used. Amy Jill Levine sheds so much light on the different aspects of those at the foot of the cross. The addition of great works of art, and her knowledge as a professor lends so much to group discussions. It was the first time our group used one of her books, and we were so pleased with all the information she shared, which allowed so much discussion to follow. This won't be the last time we use use her books and guides.