Jesus in the Drama of Salvation: Toward a Biblical Doctrine of Redemption

Rating:
Summary: A powerful statement of God's Love revealed in Jesus.
Review: This book carefully examines the New Testament witness to the life, death and Resurrection of Jesus. Far from being a sceptical handling of the material, this examination is undertaken in the context of a deep faith in the divinity of Jesus and the Goodness of God. In contrast to those who see religion and Christianity in particular as inclined towards violence, Schwager offers a tightly reasoned argument to the effect that God, as revealed by Jesus is totally non-violent and totally loving. Schwager frames this book with a reference to the famous dictum of St. Anselm of Canterbury (11th century) that God is that of which nothing greater can be thought. The exploration of the New Testament data on Jesus is governed by this insight. As a result, the conviction that God is love is not a merely sentimental bit of wishful thinking. Rather, the love of God is awesome beyond human imagination. Schwager first takes the reader through the preaching and healing ministry of Jesus. Here Jesus offers the Kingdom of God which is based solely on peace and the renunciation of all violence. Schwager then demonstrates that this offer was rejected by his listeners and then even his disciples (or at least misunderstood.) Schwager accounts for the apparently judgmental sayings attributed to Jesus as showilng the self-judgment on the part of those who rejected the teaching. As a result of this rejection, Jesus demonstrates God's love by accepting the death imposed upon him by his enemies. HOwever, not even in His Resurrection does Jesus exact vengeance for the violence committed against Him. On the contrary, Jesus again seeks to gather the Kingdom of God through peaceful means. By sticking closely to biblical material, Schwager's theological portrayal of Jesus is grounded in the concrete and is not an abstract presentation. This is not an easy book to read, but it is READABLE. One should not need a background in theology, but only the interest and willingness to wrestle with important ideas. For all its theological content, the devotional thrust is always at the top of the reader's attention. I personally rate this book as one of the very best theological and devotional books to come out in many years. I can't recommend it strongly enough. Andrew Marr, a Benedictine Monk