SURPRISED BY JESUS PB

We all know who Jesus is or think we do. Children flock to him and gentle wisdom pours from him. He’s the kindest man in the world. Such pictures may be familiar, but they are deceptive. In the Gospels, Jesus says and does many surprising and puzzling things like shrivelling a fig tree, or telling followers to keep his miracles a secret. He is hard on his opponents, the Pharisees, but also makes extreme demands on his disciples like urging them to be as perfect as the Father in heaven. Tim Stafford takes us beyond two-dimensional images and false stereotypes by unearthing the specific historical and cultural situation of Jesus’ day. What Jesus said about the kingdom of God, sin, Satan, prayer, the temple, Israel, and the people of God was all profoundly affected by his being a Jew in an ancient land dominated by the Romans. In fact, through his message and actions, he intended to change things far more profoundly than we probably ever imagined in his day and in ours.