Good Lenten viewing. Bishop Minerva Carcaño on CNN series, “Finding Jesus.”
CHRISTOPHER FENOGLIO
United Methodist News Service
Bishop Minerva Carcaño from the California-Nevada Annual Conference, provides expert commentary in the latest season of “Finding Jesus: Faith, Fact, Forgery” airing Sunday evenings at 9 p.m. EDT on CNN.
In each show, scholars and clergy examine what the Bible tell us about the historical Jesus. The producers combine these discussions with footage of archaeological discoveries of potentially key artifacts and reenactments of notable events during this period.
“Archaeology and historical research work fascinate me,” says Bishop Carcaño. “I am always open to learning more. It helps to strengthen my biblical scholarship, which helps me with my preaching and my teaching. The archaeological and historical work cause us to stop and reflect on Scripture in a different way.”
The second season of “Finding Jesus” has attracted good viewership numbers, especially with adults age 18-34. Bishop Carcaño believes that United Methodists can learn a great deal about Jesus’ life from the historical research.
In an upcoming episode, “The Boyhood Home of Jesus,” she states “The series can make a difference in how we reflect upon Scripture. If in fact this is the boyhood home of Jesus, it would be amazing and wonderful to touch something that Jesus touched. We all have the human tendency to touch, to know more through our senses, but ultimately it is about faith. We need to have a balance between the human need for the tangible and our faith. In this balance, we can feel the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.”
During the season of Lent, when we are taking more time to examine our conscience, read more Scripture, and practice acts of kindness and sacrifice, there is value in learning more about the life of Jesus.
“This series and other archaeological and historical research are tremendous resources for finding Jesus anew,” says Carcaño. “We learn more about the day and age in which Jesus grew up, what human suffering he endured. Understanding how Jesus lived can help us know how we should live. It informs us how to be better disciples in this world.”
Carcaño provides commentary in three episodes: “Raising Lazarus” (March 12), “The Childhood Home of Jesus” (March 19) and “The Tomb of King Herod” (March 26). Additional episodes in the second season are “The Pilate Stone” (March 5), “The Bones of St. Peter” (April 2), and “Doubting Thomas” (April 9).
Last Updated on March 14, 2017