Biblical Genres

Das biblische Gleichnis vom verlorenen Sohn (Lukas 15, 11-32) ist einer der populärsten Texte des Neuen Testaments. In neueren Übersetzungen wird es auch als "Gleichnis von den beiden Söhnen" bzw. "Von der Liebe des Vaters" bezeichnet. So weit die Bibel. Ihr geht es vor allem um Gott als den liebenden Vater. Der in die Welt gezogene und reumütig zurückgekehrte Sohn ist halt ein Sünder, der sich zu schämen hat. Was aber war wohl eigentlich seine Motivation, das Vaterhaus zu verlassen? Und was mag die Mutter gedacht, empfunden haben, von der im Gleichnis gar keine Rede ist?

The insurrection having failed, Barabbas and his men find a cave in which to hide out. But Barabbas, unsatisfied, decides to try robbery. He enlists the help of the two beggars, and they set out to rob rich Benjamin. But Timotheus almost turns back, after seeing the Nazarene. Will he go on to aid in this crime? Will it be successful, or will this also result in disaster?

The Nativity: During the reign of King Herod of Judea, an unwed teenage virgin called Mary is impregnated with a magical baby by the Holy Spirit. She and her fiancé, Joseph, travel to Bethlehem for a preposterous census, and Mary has to give birth in a stable. Meanwhile, a group of stargazing magi who have traipsed hundreds of miles after a star inadvertently inform the king of Judaea of the Messiah’s birth. Also included: "Herod’s Christmas Carol" and a bonus, "Parodies of a Visit from St. Nicholas".

The illegitimate son of the Roman Emperor Tiberius Caesar, Lucius must prove his worth as a captain in Jerusalem in order to win his father’s favor. Instructed to keep the peace during the Passover is proving to be impossible. A man named Jesus had the city in an uproar. All hell had broken loose. Lucius is ordered to scourge an innocent man and lead him to his crucifixion - his only crime? He was said to be the son of God. Doubts begin to cause the veiled resentment to surface, and he wonders what life is really all about. It had to be more than he had experienced.

The ark of God had been holed up in Abinadab's house for many years. But when King David arranged for thousands of people to celebrate seeing it moved back to the center of national life, a man integral to the procession suddenly died and the great procession stopped. What did it signify? Listen to Asaph, a key musician at the time, relate what David did next.