Steve Dempster is a friend of mine as well as a respected older colleague. He has just posted a great post at the Biblical Theology blog. Here is an excerpt.
Thus death–the epitome of the unclean and unholy –has been eliminated forever. Here is the context for the inclusive Zion Torah, which seeks to embrace all (cf. Is. 2:1-5, 42:1-6). Gese develops the idea further in the NT on the Sermon on the Mount, where there is the fulfillment of this Zion Torah in the teaching of Jesus of Nazereth. But it is in Jesus’ life in particular, where this movement of holiness smashing down all barriers is effectively seen. He dares to touch the leper, he is touched by the contaminated woman, he touches the dead and raises them. His death brings about the radical cleansing for all on the day of atonement. And He sends his disciples into all the world, for he is its Lord. Great thoughts.
Read the whole thing here. You can also read his newest essay in the recently released issue of The Southern Baptist Journal of Theology: “Exodus and Biblical Theology: On Moving into the Neighborhood with a New Name,” SBJT 12.3 (2008) 4-23. A version in word is posted here.
