Product Description

For at least a century, at special three-hour services on Good Friday, it has been the custom in many churches to reflect on the Seven Last Words of Jesus from the Cross. In this tradition, Fleming Rutledge here presents seven eloquent meditations on these final sayings of Jesus. Rutledge links the sayings from the cross with contemporary events and concerns, but also incorporates recent biblical scholarship and modern questions about the death of Christ, particularly in light of Mel Gibsons film The Passion of the Christ. Rutledge shows how each word or saying from the Cross affords an opportunity for readers to gain a deeper understanding of the horrific death suffered by Jesus. Intending for this book to lead readers into a genuine devotional experience, Rutledge has made every effort to evoke and preserve the contemplative atmosphere of the three-hour Good Friday memorial. The book includes frequent references to hymns associated with this special day, and each meditation ends with an appropriate hymn text for personal prayer and reflection.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #463347 in Books
• Published on: 2004-11-22
• Original language: English
• Dimensions: .23 pounds
• Binding: Paperback
• 81 pages

From Publishers Weekly
Rutledge, the Anglican priest whose book, Help My Unbelief, is fast becoming a modern classic, ruminates on the last sayings of Jesus in this brief Lenten title. Adapted from Good Friday sermons she delivered in 2002 and 2003, Rutledge explores faith and suffering, interspersing timeless questions with contemporary issues like those raised by Mel Gibson's The Passion of the Christ or the war in Iraq. Rutledge is clearly a word-lover, and her enthralling forays into the meanings of words both ordinary and theological is a boon to anyone who, like her, finds layers of hidden meaning in etymology. She is also a careful interpreter of scripture who is keen to place the New Testament in its historical context and alive to details others might miss (such as the fact that the criminals crucified next to Jesus were probably violent armed bandits and not just petty thieves). The book is designed to complement the three-hour service that many liturgical churches hold on Good Friday. Rutledge writes that "the prayerful singing of hymns, with special attention to the words, is a chief feature of such services," and she includes relevant hymn texts and music suggestions to enhance the worship experience.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.