Jesus is now in Jerusalem, where the death he has predicted is little more than a breath away. His enemies are closing in, firing salvos of accusations impugning his religious orthodoxy and his loyalty to Caesar. They hope to find blasphemy and treason in his responses.

What pastor has not found himself in somewhat the same situation? The telephone rings in the parsonage, manse, or rectory. A caller, who prefers to remain anonymous, launches a mini-probe of the pastor’s beliefs about heaven and hell, and how he advises his flock to reach the former and escape the latter. If the pastor fails to answer to his satisfaction, the caller warns him that he is on the path to perdition, and proceeds to outline the plan of salvation.

Or a visitor appears in church one Sunday morning. He flips thro…