The passion narrative is at the heart of Christianity and the suffering and death of Christ on the cross takes a central role in any discussions between Christians and non-Christians. Whenever Christians debate with non-Christians, the suffering and death on the cross takes central place. The 2004 film, The Passion of the Christ, provoked various emotions. While some were alarmed by the violence, others were moved by genuine religious experience. The topics dominating scholarly reviews and general discussion are the supposed exaggeration of the importance of the Cross in Christianity and the perceived anti-Semitic tone of the Gospel accounts. In this book, these two themes are discussed.
Authors of the Passion Gospels present a double perspective: that of the time of Jesus and that of their own time following the destruction of the Temple. Within this historical context, the author addresses the questions of anti-Semitism and the family quarrels between Jews and Christians in the historical context. Questions about Jesus' Passion - His trial and the purpose of His suffering - are expertly answered by Professor Kesich in this re-release of his 1965 edition, which also contains a new introduction by the author.