Surprised by Jesus: His Agenda for Changing Everything in A.D. 30 and Today - Hardcover

Stafford, Tim

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0830833404 ISBN 13: 9780830833405

Publisher: IVP, 2006

Synopsis

We all know who Jesus is--or think we do. We see children flock to him and gentle wisdom lovingly pour from him. We see the kindest man in the world. But these pictures are deceptively familiar. In the Gospels Jesus says and does many puzzling things--like shriveling 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 followers--like urging them to be as perfect as the Father in heaven. Tim Stafford, informed by acclaimed New Testament scholars such as N. T. Wright, takes us behind such two-dimensional images by unearthing the specific historical and cultural situation of Jesus' day. What Jesus said about the kingdom of God, about sin, about Satan, about prayer, about the temple, about Israel and the people of God were all profoundly affected by his being a Jew in a land dominated by the ancient Romans. In fact, through his message and actions he meant to change things far more profoundly in his day and ours than we can ever imagine.

About this title

About the Author

Tim Stafford is a senior writer for Christianity Today. Among his many books are Knowing the Face of God; As Our Years Increase; The Student Bible (with Philip Yancey); Love, Sex and the Whole Person; a trilogy of historical fiction (The Stamp of Glory; Sisters; The Law of Love), and Never Mind the Joneses. He and his wife, Popie, live in Santa Rosa, California.

Edition details

• Publisher: IVP
• Publication date: 2006
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 0830833404
• ISBN 13: 9780830833405
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 253