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The article reflects on the gospel of John 18:7--8, 12--13a showing the betrayal of Jesus by one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot and His arrest by the Roman soldiers which took place in Gethsemane. It explains the greatness of God's love for all of us, allowing Himself to be prosecuted and crucified on the cross to save the us from our sins. It also tells us the different ways in which we can show that Christ is Gethsemane's King and Lamb.

Despite the growing popularity of Jesus merchandise in Christian retailing, little attention has been given to nontraditional religious media such as Jesus merchandise. The present study examined the persuasive appeals associated with various forms of Jesus merchandise and the primary communication functions that such merchandise fit. A content analysis of 982 pieces of Jesus merchandise revealed that informational and “good times” appeals are the two most common appeals used to promote Christianity. Jesus' name is used in logical or rational appeals designed to change beliefs and promote positive attitudes toward the Christian faith, while Jesus' image is used in emotional appeals. Edification is the most common communication function that fit Jesus merchandise analyzed in this study, with evangelism and public relations finishing a distant second and third, respectively. Implications of using certain persuasive strategies and associating particular values with Jesus merchandise were considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article is a reflective review of Simon Gathercole’s book, Defending Substitution, in which he defended the position that Paul held a substitutionary position of atonement. That position contends that Jesus died ‘instead of sinners’, replacing them in his death. I primarily offer an exegetical critique based on an Old Testament understanding of Paul’s language, in which I do not find a mechanism of substitution. That critique is followed by some reflections on why I find Gathercole’s substitutionary view to fall short of the portrayal of God’s offers of grace and atonement that are found in the OT and picked up on by the New Testament writers as they use the OT language. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A literary criticism of the novella "The Man Who Died" by D.H. Lawrence is presented. It discusses Lawrence's version of the character of Jesus as a being who seeks intimacy in unrepressed sexuality. It notes that Jesus experiences conflict between living for humankind and experiencing ecstasy and love. It also discusses the concept of betrayal, both by God the Father and by his earthly contacts, as constantly present.

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The author reflects on the biblical readings for May 6, 2007. She asserts that apostle Peter's growing understanding of the will of God is integral to the interpretation of the tale of the let down sheet. She explains how apostle Luke continually shifts the meaning of the conversion of Peter, demonstrating changes in the understanding of the latter and the hearers of the tale. She cites the significance of the remarks made by Jesus Christ during the Last Supper as Judas leaves to hand him over to the authorities.

The author reflects on the gospel of John 12:20-33 for Lent in March 29, 2009 which deals with the time of suffering and crucifixion of Jesus Christ. He says that the Jews are against with Jesus Christ throughout the gospel and that He is misunderstood and destined for death. The gospel relates the arrest of Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane with no agony. In the author's view, the church must be on the side of the lost and forsaken people at a time when the culture is described as self-absorbed and self-advancing.

Following the presidential announcement of Zimbabwe's harmonized 2023 electoral date, most Christian, African Traditional, and other religious leaders commendably resumed advocating for peaceful, free, and fair elections. However, as history usually repeats itself, the tables eventually turned. Some of the leaders regressively became divided, submitted to political infiltration, aligned themselves with oppressive politicians, betrayed their fellow leaders as well as God and humanity, and inadvertently supported totalitarianism. By employing Richard Osmer's practical theological methodology and engaging with the existing literature, this paper reviewed the (dis)unity and (dis)engagement between Christian and African Traditional Religious (ATR) leaders. It also endeavored to address the underlying (dis)connections in view of Jesus Christ's all-encompassing servant leadership model, diaconal mission, and the African Ubuntu philosophy. Observing that Zimbabwean religious leaders are retrogressively divided by their varying spiritualities, leadership styles, and political orientations, it is recommended to embrace inclusivity and unity amidst diversity. This can be achieved by resisting selfishness and promoting selflessness, unconditional love, generosity, hospitality, tolerance, peace-making, justice, and social cohesion. These values collectively play a role in the democratization of Zimbabwe and are imperative for its advancement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper presents additional qualitative results from Phase 1 of a larger study examining potentially morally injurious events/experiences (PMIE) and/or moral injury (MI) among Australian veterans (Hodgson et al. in J Relig Health 60(5):3061–3089, 2021). It makes specific reference to (1) betrayal and (2) retribution experienced or perpetrated by Australian military veterans during military conflicts and peacekeeping missions. During two veteran seminars conducted in Adelaide, South Australia, a total of 50 veterans were recruited, 10 of whom were willing to be interviewed and audio-recorded about their deployment experiences. Narrative data analysis of veteran transcripts indicated that all participants had engaged in or were exposed to a PMIE/MI of one kind or another, and all had experienced betrayal and/or witnessed or perpetrated retribution. Given the ethical, moral and spiritual issues involved, the role of chaplains in addressing moral injury for the benefit of veterans through the use of 'Pastoral Narrative Disclosure' (PND) is suggested—with a specific focus upon 'restoration' and 'ritual'. Additional research is recommended with regard to acts of betrayal and retribution among veterans, as well as the further development of PND to address PMIE/MI. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents stereotyped images of Jewish usury from the late Middle Ages. The connection between Jews and money is examined using medieval sources, including Passion plays, which linked all Jewish people with Biblical apostle Judas Iscariot and his betrayal of Jesus Christ for thirty silver pieces. This connection between Jews and money is contrasted with the perception of Christian spiritual superiority. The history of the prohibition against lending money for Christians is examined as a formative factor in the social roles and perceptions of Jews in the Middle Ages.

Examines Middle English poet Geoffrey Chaucer's work `Pardoner's Tale' and its parallelism to Judas Iscariot's greed that led to his betrayal of Jesus Christ. Judas' own disseminating repertoire imprints on Chaucer's storyline; Association of the poem's chosen theme with Judas; Similarities of Chaucer's old man in the poem to the wandering Jew who was condemned to walk the earth until Christ returned.

What was the race from which Christ sprang? Victorian artists, ethnographers, and theologians were preoccupied with locating Christ's racial origins. Evidence of this religiously motivated genealogical search can be found in portrayals of the so-called Jewish race in nineteenth-century paintings of biblical scenes, such as William Holman Hunt's The Finding of the Saviour in the Temple (1854–55) and Edward Poynter's Israel in Egypt (1867). A close examination of these artworks, along with the theological and scientific texts that informed them, uncovers an image of Christ as a temporal and racial hybrid, standing at the uneasy juncture of the Orient and Occident, Judaism and Christianity, the Semitic and Anglo-Saxon races. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents the author's view on the betrayal of Jesus Christ found in the Gospel of Matthew in which he relates it to being a pastor or leader of a church. He provides an analysis of the cup used by Christ during the Last Supper, and what Christ really meant about the cup. Also mentioned is the struggle of Jesus Christ in the Garden of Gethsemane, in which the author affirms that God was with Christ and God's will was being done.

The article offers information on topics related to theologian Hans Urs Von Balthasar. Topics mentioned include his perception on the Eastern religions of Buddhism, his views on Christian identity based on doctrinal and geographical boundaries, and differences he cited between the Eastern and Western religions based on theological aesthetics, metaphysics, and God.

This article traces the impact of the Hitler dictatorship on Dietrich Bonhoeffer: a highly perceptive and critical scholar who remained loyal to his Lutheran formation. Bonhoeffer strenuously maintained a strict Lutheran understanding of the role which history had decreed for the Protestant German Empire and its Emperors. Revolution in the Western sense was, therefore, never an option for German subjects; it was theologically unthinkable. However, with regard to Adolf Hitler, the situation demanded a radical revision, because Hitler proved to be a false ruler. Essentially, having declared war on his own helpless subjects, the Jews, Hitler had violated the Lutheran understanding of a legitimate ruler and, therefore, had to be removed from office. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the post-denominational self-understanding and engagement of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) in the ecumenical movement of the 1960s. It cites the history of the theological dialogue between the WARC and the Roman Catholic Church, which originated from the Third Assembly of the World Council of Churches in New Delhi, India in November-December 1961. It also cites the opinion of Dutch theologian Hendrikus Berkhof concerning the dialogues between the WARC and the Roman Catholic Church.

The article discusses an interpretation of the behavior of the apostle John and his dialog with Jesus at the Last Supper as depicted in the Gospel of John. It focuses on the unique situation of John as the beloved disciple and as the only one to be told the name of Jesus' traitor, Judas. According to the author this establishes an intimate bond between Jesus and John by which John comes to understand Jesus' love for Judas. The author reflects on the meaning of compassionate love and discipleship.