Thurman’s fourth sermon in this series expands the traditional frame of the wilderness temptations and portrays Jesus’ decision to go to Jerusalem for the last time as a crossroads dilemma. In this instance, Jesus must decide whether to go to Jerusalem, where he would be rejected and killed, or, to continue his ministry elsewhere and live. Thurman explains the crossroad faced by Jesus as a dilemma because this moment reflects the "agony" of any dilemma in that one must choose either between competing goods or competing evils. Jesus knew going to Jerusalem would mean meeting his fate. If he did not go, it would mean quieting the revelation of God within him. In the choice Jesus makes to go to Jerusalem, Thurman recognizes the crowning example of faith to trust God and follow divine will.

Part of the Collection, The Temptations of Jesus (1962, United Church of Canada, London, ON, Canada)

Tags: agony, crossroad, dilemma, Jesus, Judas, temptation, tempter

Description by ShaCarolyn Halyard

Recorded in United Church of Canada, London, Ontario

Citation: Thurman, Howard, “At the Crossroad, 1962 September 15,” The Howard Thurman Digital Archive, accessed July 9, 2024, https://thurman.pitts.emory.edu/items/show/33.