1. Nolan and Luke 22-24 Jesus’ death and resurrection

2. Main points Passion (suffering, death) and resurrection are the main revealing events of Jesus’ life Passion (suffering, death) and resurrection are the main revealing events of Jesus’ life Consistent with his teaching and actions before Consistent with his teaching and actions before But only at the end do we get a full picture of who Jesus is But only at the end do we get a full picture of who Jesus is

3. Passion narrative (Luke 22-23) Passover meal Passover meal Prayer in garden/Mount of Olives Prayer in garden/Mount of Olives Arrest Arrest Trial Trial Before council of chief priests, scribes, elders Before council of chief priests, scribes, elders Before Roman governor, Pilate Before Roman governor, Pilate Crucifixion Crucifixion

4. Trial Why was Jesus arrested and sentenced to death? Why was Jesus arrested and sentenced to death? Nolan: destroy suffering Nolan: destroy suffering Lk 23:1-5: threat to order, Roman rule Lk 23:1-5: threat to order, Roman rule Crucifixion only used for political opponents of Roman gov’t Crucifixion only used for political opponents of Roman gov’t Most shameful, and painful, punishment Most shameful, and painful, punishment Council of Jewish priests and leaders in Jerusalem Council of Jewish priests and leaders in Jerusalem But only Romans could have arrested a Jew and ordered execution But only Romans could have arrested a Jew and ordered execution

5. Resurrection narrative (Luke 24) “The early Christians were those who continued to experience or began to experience… the power of Jesus’ presence among them after his death” (Nolan, 164). “The early Christians were those who continued to experience or began to experience… the power of Jesus’ presence among them after his death” (Nolan, 164). “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” (Lk 24:5) “Why do you look for the living among the dead?” (Lk 24:5) Road to Emmaus (Lk 24:13-35) Road to Emmaus (Lk 24:13-35)

6. Faith in Jesus Jesus did NOT set up a new religion Jesus did NOT set up a new religion Christianity developed first as Jewish sect Christianity developed first as Jewish sect Separated from Judaism after 70 CE Separated from Judaism after 70 CE But, his followers formed a movement But, his followers formed a movement Saw in Jesus the breakthrough of God to their own lives Saw in Jesus the breakthrough of God to their own lives Belief in Jesus changed their belief about divinity Belief in Jesus changed their belief about divinity Had to reinterpret all their old ideas about God Had to reinterpret all their old ideas about God Abba experience; compassion; service and solidarity Abba experience; compassion; service and solidarity

7. Nolan’s argument How do we understand Christianity after reading this book? How do we understand Christianity after reading this book? Fundamental: belief in Jesus shapes belief in God, not vice versa Fundamental: belief in Jesus shapes belief in God, not vice versa Jesus is the one in whom God drew near to humanity Jesus is the one in whom God drew near to humanity This will challenge preconceived ideas about God This will challenge preconceived ideas about God Must affect practice (orthopraxis) Must affect practice (orthopraxis) Belief in Jesus = choose to make him one’s own God, one’s own highest concern Belief in Jesus = choose to make him one’s own God, one’s own highest concern How is Jesus both most fully human and God? How is Jesus both most fully human and God?