Witness at the Cross

A Beginner's Guide to Holy Friday

By: Amy-Jill Levine

Narrated by: Nan McNamara

Length: 6 hrs and 8 mins

Publisher's summary

Experience Holy Friday from the perspective of those who watched Jesus die: Mary his mother; the Beloved Disciple from the Gospel of John; Mary Magdalene and the other women from Galilee; the two men, usually identified as thieves, crucified with Jesus; the centurion and the soldiers; Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus. Jews and Romans, friends and strangers, the powerful and the powerless, the hopeful and the despairing.

The story of Jesus's death is not something we just hear: We think about it, and we experience it.

In Witness at the Cross, Amy-Jill Levine shows how the people at the cross each have distinct roles to play. Each Evangelist presents a distinct picture of the death of Jesus. Each portrays different individuals and groups of people at the cross, each offers different images and dialogues, and so from each, we learn how those meanings and messages cross the centuries to any who would come to the cross today.

Each Gospel has its own story to tell, all the witnesses have their own memories, and every listener comes away with a new insight. The witnesses at the Crucifixion watch Jesus die, and we watch with them, and we watch them. And we come away transformed.

©2021 Amy-Jill Levine (P)2022 Tantor

Now I feel like a witness at the cross

This book added depth to my understanding of what people at the cross saw and understood. I enjoyed the comparison the synoptic gospel. The authors Jewish perspective answers many questions in my mind.

Scripture references

At times, difficult to listen due to extensive references to supporting scripture. I finally just got the book so that I could have the references; reading was easier than listening.