Week 5 Conversation Starter: Week of March 22-28

Theme: The Divine Christ

Orthodox Christological doctrine affirms that the there is one person—Jesus Christ—who has two natures—human and divine. In the first weeks of our Lenten study we have explored Jesus’ historical and religious context, grounding the person of Jesus in first century Judaism. We’ve explored Jesus as a human being, a figure of history—limited in time and place. And we’ve begun to talk about how we experience Christ as an enduring presence: through memory, story, in relationships and in community, through experiences of forgiveness and reconciliation, in justice-making, and in our awareness of “something more”—perhaps a presence or power we sense. What is this “something more?” This week we will ask what it means to affirm that Christ is divine.

Scripture: Mark 14:26-42

26When they had sung the hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives. 27 And Jesus said to them, ‘You will all become deserters; for it is written,“I will strike the shepherd,and the sheep will be scattered.”

28 But after I am raised up, I will go before you to Galilee.’ 29 Peter said to him, ‘Even though all become deserters, I will not.’ 30 Jesus said to him, ‘Truly I tell you, this day, this very night, before the cock crows twice, you will deny me three times.’ 31 But he said vehemently, ‘Even though I must die with you, I will not deny you.’ And all of them said the same.

32They went to a place called Gethsemane; and he said to his disciples, ‘Sit here while I pray.’

33 He took with him Peter and James and John, and began to be distressed and agitated. 34 And he said to them, ‘I am deeply grieved, even to death; remain here, and keep awake.’ 35 And going a little farther, he threw himself on the ground and prayed that, if it were possible, the hour might pass from him. 36 He said, ‘Abba, Father, for you all things are possible; remove this cup from me; yet, not what I want, but what you want.’ 37 He came and found them sleeping; and he said to Peter, ‘Simon, are you asleep? Could you not keep awake one hour? 38 Keep awake and pray that you may not come into the time of trial; the spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak.’

39 And again he went away and prayed, saying the same words. 40 And once more he came and found them sleeping, for their eyes were very heavy; and they did not know what to say to him. 41 He came a third time and said to them, ‘Are you still sleeping and taking your rest? Enough! The hour has come; the Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. 42 Get up, let us be going. See, my betrayer is at hand.’

Selections from Christ Actually by James Carroll:

“The stories about Jesus are consistently centered on this openness to misfits…and ne’er-do-wells, but the Peter story shows that moral failure is a mark of the insiders as much as of the outsiders. Human weakness is universal. Jesus knew it, and he was not put off by it.” (p. 187)

“Here is the surprise: the pit of moral failure into which Peter fell was not disqualifying. After his gross treason, Peter “went outside and wept bitterly,” because when Jesus looked at him, just as the cock crowed, Peter saw the ghost of their love—and felt the shock of his having betrayed it. But the point of this moment in the Passion drama is what Jesus saw. In that locked gaze, Jesus beheld not a ghost but a man. Only a man. There was no shock in Jesus, for he saw in Peter only what he already knew was in him. Peter was his familiar friend, even in his fecklessness. He was still his friend, although at that moment Peter did not know it.” (p. 188)

“His having been more in need of forgiveness than anyone, and his having been nevertheless forgiven, was the source of his personal power. In his own being, Peter made the promise real. And look what happened then.” (p. 189)

“Peter, as portrayed in the Gospel, had learned from his encounter with Jesus…Unshakenness, gladness of heart, uncorrupted flesh, the permanent presence of the Lord—all of this, Peter declared on the authority of his own experience, was [offered] to anyone who would receive it.” (p. 191)

Suggestion for Further Reading: Chapter 6, pages 178-192, especially pages 188-192.

Focal Question(s):

1.  There is something powerful about the way Jesus sees and forgives Peter in this moment of Peter’s betrayal. Do we see something of the divine in Jesus’ act of love and forgiveness?

2.  Here in Gethsemane, everyone falls away and Jesus loses all human support, yet he remains singularly focused on his faithfulness to God. Do we glimpse transcendence?

3.  How does Jesus’ response empower Peter? Are there implications for our own humanity and our relationship with God?