Shusaku Endo
...him, and his own people treated him as if he was a criminal. Endo identified with these instances of Jesus’ pain, and began to deeply understand the person Jesus was. Realizing the true content of Jesus’ life, Endo began to have revelations about his faith, which were in stark contrast to the views he had held his entire life. As a Christian in Japan, Endo viewed Christianity as a triumphant, powerful faith that was based upon principles of strength, triumph and glory. Endo dreamed of living in nation where one could live as a Christian, free of persecution. Now though, with his new enlightened views, Endo began to see Christ in a different life; he saw that Christ had not lived a life free of disgrace and rejection, in fact his life was defined by these things. Endo felt comfort and ‘accompaniment’ in his pain and isolation, he now understood that Jesus related to the rejection he was going through. When asked, “why did Shusaku Endo write this book,” many things came to mind, but most importantly I believe he wrote it to appreciate Jesus in his own personal way. Also, he wants to express to his fellow Japanese his feelings that Jesus has been mis-portrayed to them. In context, on page four Schuchert writes “Endo’s theory-that Japan had not accepted God because God has been presented too frequently as an authoritative father image-merits out consideration. The Japanese have a traditional saying to the effect that the four most dreadful things on earth are “fires, earthquakes, thunderbolts, and father.” Despite the rejection and pain inflicted upon Endo, his primary mission was to reach the Japanese people and introduce Jesus to them in a way they could relate and understand. First I would like to address the theme of A Life Of Jesus, which I came to understand as Endo’s unique picture of Jesus, as a man who experienced very human conditions, such as weakness, rejection, failure, shame, embarrassment and guilt. It is in these “grotesque” conditions that he is able to accompany his people through their own rejection and pain. Endo identifies Jesus as one who has himself endured the “grotesque realm” of life. Also of significance, Endo portrays Jesus as a mother figure, rather than a dominant father figure, which is the portrayal of Jesus in most of Western culture. Endo suggests that this maternal figure accepts one’s total dependence upon God, therefore in Jesus’ eyes it is acceptable to be vulnerable and weak, to be fully dependent upon God. This provides people with a renewed sense of self-acceptance, where they can be released from feelings of shame and guilt. This addresses Endo’s theme, that Jesus himself experienced the grotesque realm of life, so it is acceptable to be dependent upon God during periods of rejection and shame, because God has in fact been their as well. The scene that held the most significance for me was of the Last Supper, mainly because Endo’s portrayal contradicted what I have pictured my entire life. Firstly though, Endo’s portrayal of a “crowd of people pressi...