While these meditations began with two intriguing and somewhat provocative chapters it quickly becomes overwhelmed by the influence of modern exegetical methods where long-held understandings of the text are overturned in favor of more modern readings. For instance the authors make a point of distinguishing the disciple, John, from the "disciple whom Jesus loved. This interpretation is then used in an attempt to say that none of the twelve disciples were present at the cross. And finally the authors take rather heavy liberty in inferring the inner beliefs, feelings, and thoughts of people we knew very little about. In the end these meditations become far more eisegesis then exegesis which is not very compelling. ( )