Book Review: From GETHSEMANE to PENTECOST

Danna, Elizabeth
From GETHSEMANE to PENTECOST: A Passion Study.  
Wipf & Stock, Eugene, Oregon,
2011, ix, 155 pages.

    This book, as the author says at the outset, is “an eight-week study designed for small Bible study groups meeting once a week.” I came to this book from The Trial and Death of Jesus Christ by James Stalker (1894), looking for a more modern and lighter read. This is not a light read! In fact, it may be a dense read but, at least, I was warned. To get the most benefit, Gethsemane to Pentecost should be read daily, in the prescribed doses. It should be a personal commitment rather than “entertainment” or “an interesting read.”

    Ms. Danna’s divisions of the story have such titles as:- Second Garden, Second Adam; Jesus (and Peter) on Trial; Sealed in a Stone-Cold Tomb; and Wind and Fire.

Literary

     And now some details of what I learned:--  “Irony” features largely in this story. “The reader [of the Gospels] is expected to ‘get it,’ even when the characters do not.” The prime example is the high priest suggesting that one man should die for the people—he means politically—we know what God means.      

     Another term we are introduced to is “the divine passive,” explained as “a way of phrasing that, instead of saying ‘God did this,’ says, ‘This was done.’ ” The purpose was “to avoid unintentional irreverent use of God’s name.”

     Toward the end of the book, there is a review of some theories to explain the empty tomb. We were pleased to see that the spiritual resurrection theory “lacks substance!”

Historical

    Ms. Danna fills her study with references to the Old Testament and with bountiful indications of prophetic fulfillment:

·         Amos 3:7. God must foretell of Jesus.

·         Zech.12:10. The One who was pierced.

·         Ps.16:8-11. The One whom death could not hold.

     Some of the most interesting points the author raises deal with parallels between David and Jesus, particularly David in his rejection, during Absalom’s rebellion. The Son of David was, of course, rejected in the same city.

Reasons to Believe

     We believe Scripture and trust that God has given us a true picture of those few days 2000 years ago. We also know that our minds do become focused on ourselves and we lose sight of Jesus; we do have trouble submitting to Him; we can easily appear judgmental if we don’t first show our love for unbelievers; stress and fatigue can “leave us open to attack from the enemy”; remorse can, like Judas lead us to despair or, like Peter, to repentance; and finally, “the flesh does not die quietly.”

Practical Application

    Sometimes the best we can come up with is to, in Joyce Meyer’s words, “Do it afraid.” Sometimes we need to get our minds off ourselves. Jesus “always provides a way out of temptation (1 Cor. 10:13).”

     A question and a statement that piqued my curiosity, were, “Did Abraham and Sarah delay the fulfilling of the promise by ‘helping’ God?” and sixteen pages farther along, “God will not take matters into His hands while we keep them in our hands.”
     We are glad to see the Gospel clearly shining through: “Why is it important that Jesus die by the  Roman method of crucifixion?”; “What does it mean to you that Jesus suffered so much for us?”
    As far as theology goes, we don’t want to be picky with semantics, but we wonder if Jesus was ever “terrified” or even “afraid”.

The Author

     Elizabeth Danna is greatly to be commended for her dedication to this study. She has let us see into her own life at suitable moments and it is here that her suggestions take hold with the greatest power. If you’re serious about studying our Lord’s Passion but don’t want to go it alone, let Beth Danna go with you and guide you.

Reviewed by Glenn Wilson Ì