A Book Review from Books At a Glance
By William Krewson
Take time now to ponder the days of Holy Week with Will Varner as your guide. He’s been a guide to Israel for over fifty tours as well as an exegetical guide through his classes and sermons. I was privileged to travel with Will on his first trip to the Holy Land in 1978. Since that time, I’ve seen his love for the land of the Bible grow in tandem with his knowledge of Scripture. This small book is the rich fruit of years “on the ground” and “in the Word.” You will not be disappointed, and you may even be surprised with some of his iconoclastic ideas. Throughout the chapters, Varner makes the readers question what they have always believed. He does this by reminding us that Scripture could be silent on a subject or it could be interpreted differently. He uses his travels to Israel and his hermeneutical skills to convince the readers of a more accurate understanding of the Passion Week and challenges us to think outside the traditional Holy Week box. Here are some examples of the tantalizing and edifying chapters:
- Chapter 2 has a title that gives one pause: “Palm Monday.” He then gently explains, “Even at the risk of making some readers anxious, I suggest that the entry most probably took place on a Monday” (16). After grabbing our attention, Varner helpfully explains his reasons for this day, rather than Sunday, and the significance of Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem in light of Zechariah 9.
- Chapter 4 includes vital Second Temple background on the antagonistic figures so prominently featured in the Gospels – the Sadducees and Pharisees. Armed with this information, he concludes that “the Pharisees drop out of the account until after the burial… the Pharisees did not participate in the actual condemnation and crucifixion of Jesus” (38).
- Chapter 7 reveals that while Scripture never refers to “the garden of Gethsemane,” it does mention a place on the Mount of Olives called “Gethsemane.” Using archaeology and early Christian tradition, Varner explains that what the Gospel writers probably referred to is actually the cave of Gethsemane, not the garden.
- Chapter 8 is devoted to Jesus, but not to Jesus the Messiah. If you wonder who this other Jesus is, Varner explores the Greek manuscript tradition for the verse that mentions him (Matthew 27:17). You may be surprised!
- Other chapters elucidate the beginning point of the Via Dolorosa, how Jesus could have cleansed the Temple, what hymn Jesus and his disciples sang at the Last Supper, whether there is a “Mount” of Calvary, what Jesus meant by crying, “it is finished,” and the importance of a Friday crucifixion and the ascension of Christ.
In sum, Varner seeks to clarify the details of the Passion Week by being provocative but not belligerent. Each chapter is filled with devotional thoughts that pursue our hearts during Holy Week. He wants to clear away the false or assumed concepts, so that the beauty and power of Jesus’ death and resurrection may become clearer. The work is illustrated with helpful photos in each chapter. Included at the end of each chapter are scholarly resources for the reader to pursue. Because this a work for head and heart alike, each chapter concludes with a suggested prayer. I highly recommend adding this work to your library now, since you will no doubt use it every year hereafter.
William Krewson a professor at Cairn University, School of Divinity