zakatov

Hi all, I am in need of help from all you Bible-literate Infidels.

I am doing a final paper for religion comparing Hero's Journey (from Campbell's book) of 3 heros: Neo (from Matrix), Buddha and Jesus. I am having trouble figuring out some parts of Jesus's journey.

I am using a compressed/revised list of steps (given to me by prof)
Here they all are:
1. Call to Adventure
2. Refusal
3. Allies
4. Threshold of adventure
5. Road of trials
6. Helpers
7. Atonement with Father
8. Flight
9. Refusal to return
10. Tiredness
11. Return Threshold
12. Master of two worlds

(Note: I'm not expected to find ALL the steps)

I really have not read the Bible in its entirety, so I am a little lost with Jesus's story. I did read the Idiot's Guide to Bible tho

Here's what I have so far:

1) Am I correct to assume the call of adventure is his birth?
2) Did he ever refuse?
3) What were his allies? (I don't think his apostles count yet)
4) Baptism?
5) Temptation by devil/his encounters with authority?
6) His apostles are his helpers?
7) Totally lost on this one
8) Same
9) Does not flee from his prosecutors?
10) Dunno
11)His crusifiction?
12) I'm guessing his resurrection

Could someone plz help me fill in the blanks? Help out an infidel

Amaleq13

Even though my first instinct is to make you do your own homework...

Mark's Gospel depicts it as his baptism.

He doesn't refuse but he does ask God to "take away this cup" (ie get him out of being crucified) but he immediately follows that up with "if that is your will".

John the Baptist?

I'd go with the Temptation in the desert for this one and the next.

Don't forget the women. Jesus was supported by wealthy women. Joseph of Arimathea is also depicted as a secret helper at the end.

The death of Jesus atones for the sins of believers because he isn't supposed to have any sins to atone for himself. I think the closest you'll get to this is when he accepts "the cup" on the cross and fulfills his destiny.

Actually, Jesus does flee from the Pharisees earlier in the story when they gather to stone him.

He does above but I'm not sure you'll find anything to match the original number 9. He never "refuses to return".

Only at the very end when he breathes his last on the cross.

I would say the resurrection or ascension but maybe I'm not understanding what is meant by "the threshold".

I think the Second Coming is better though you could use the ascension, I suppose.

If you use any of this, you MUST tell me what grade we got.

Biff the unclean

I did attend some lectures Campbell gave at Cooper Union where he did answer your question. It's been quite some time but as far as I recall…
1. Call to Adventure--God speaking to him at his baptism
2. Refusal--at the water & wine wedding. "Woman, my time has not yet come."
3. Allies--Wise Men who prevent his murder as an infant
4. Threshold of adventure---meeting with devil in desert
5. Road of trials--his entire ministry is spent on the road
6. Helpers--John who is the guide/mentor to adventure, Apostles, women
7. Atonement with Father--"Not my will, but Thy will be done"
8. Flight--into Egypt
9. Refusal to return---Let this cup pass me by
10. Tiredness--- exhaustion at Stations of the Cross, cross is given to by-stander to carry.
11. Return Threshold---the empty tomb
12. Master of two worlds---the living and the dead

Rick Sumner

Is the temptation the "road of trials" Mark intended to convey?

Why not the repeated encounters with the scribes and Pharisees, which depict an unrealistic movement from one conflict to the next--trial upon trial.

If that's not Mark's "road of trials," it's difficult to figure out why Mark created the narrative in that fashion at all.

Unless Pharisees really had nothing better to do than hide in cornfields on the Sabbath. . .

Regards,
Rick Sumner

Amaleq13

Yeah, that probably works better. Based on Biff's answers, I think I passed but maybe with a low B.

zakatov

Thank you Amaleq, Biff and Rick for your help.
Even though your suggestions differ a bit, I will try to incorporate what each of you have said, because all your suggestions seem right.
(this is a confusing, though open ended assignment, and there is no single correct answer to each one)

Any more suggestions are appreciated

Clivedurdle

Putting it like this does kind of make Jesus the super hero! The story has twists in the plot and various denouements of differing strengths, but it is amazingly theatrical! (Umm The Greatest Story ever told!!)

Using a star wars analogy a long time ago....

Story starts with sex between God and a virgin!

Not only the earth moves, but the heavens - well at least one star, the three wise men, the flight to Egypt, some in fill about intelligence as a teenager with the priests, the coming of age, baptism, trial in the desert, going around doing a superman bit for three years, couple of people raised from dead, strange parables and miracles, very wise stuff about blessed.

Odd arguments, final denouement, trial, death and then the happy ever after bit!

Bloody hell, is this a story or what? It's superman, matrix and ET roled into one!

Clivedurdle

So are the Gospels then four versions of a hero play?

Amaleq13

There does appear to be more than a superficial similarity.

A hero play of mythical proportions, one might even say.