Go to Dark Gethsemane

The Next Step Podcast
Season 1: When from Death I’m Free
Episode 05: “Go to Dark Gethsemane”
Date: Palm Sunday, 2020
Guest: Leopoldo A. Sánchez M., Concordia Seminary—St. Louis

Also available on: Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyPandora, and Amazon Music.

Leo Sanchez, author of Sculptor Spirit: Models of Sanctification from Spirit Christology, joins Justin Rossow, author of When from Death I’m Free: A Hymn Journal for Holy Week to discuss “Go to Dark Gethsemane.”

That hymn text points us to Jesus and His prayer in the garden and bids us, “Learn of Jesus Christ to pray.” Leo and Justin will discuss Jesus as an example and how that relates to the role of the Holy Spirit, who shapes us and conforms us to the image of Christ.

You will hear a brief introduction on “theology done together,” then Leo will pray, and the two authors will read the Scripture for the day responsively. They will discuss those readings before moving on to the devotion.

The hymn “Go to Dark Gethsemane” is on page 47 of When from Death I’m Free and artwork, Scripture readings, and the devotion are found on following pages. The music in today’s episode was provided by thehymnalproject.com and, according to their website, was commissioned by the Michigan District of the Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod and is available for free use.

You can find Leo’s book Sculptor Spirit on Amazon, or hear an overview of three models found in that book as Leo presents at the 2015 Theological Conference, “Life in the Spirit: Watered, Fed, and Armed” Theological Conference put on by the Michigan District.

The opening discussion of today’s podcast briefly points to the distinction between “Logos Christology” (focusing on Jesus as the Incarnate Word, or “Logos” of God, who is completely unique) and “Spirit Christology” (focusing on Jesus as the Anointed Bearer and Giver of the Spirit, who is like us). Both are Scriptural and both are important (and both can sound like high-brow technical jargon). For a sermon that lays out the difference between the two (without ever using the technical terms), see the last sermon in the 42 Seconds sermon series: “Be Jesus.

We follow Jesus better when we follow Him together, so we invite you to join the Social Learning group sharing this hymn journal experience here: When From Death I’m Free Facebook Social Learning Group.

This podcast was made possible in part by the generous support of Next Step Patrons, like you. Special thanks to our new Patrons this week: Steve, Jon, and Dorothy. Patrons make it possible. Support a next step: become a patron today.


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