My map of this earliest text suggests that we have an introductory prologue follwed by a series of ever deepening acts culminating in the narrative of Jesus’ last week. Our text, however is not a just a play in several acts with a happy ending, but is apparently self-consciously written according to a classic “ring” format which invites the reader to return to the place where it all started – in this case, engaged one more time in ministry in the Galilee.
Act One
