Jesus's Identification with the Marginalized and the Liminal: The Messianic Identity in Mark

The first-century Judaic understanding of the identity and nature of the Messiah has been a much-debated topic among biblical scholars and preachers alike. So too has the messianic identity and nature of Jesus himself. Bekele Deboch informs these debates with fresh evidence outside the traditional scriptural references to miracles, and supernatural identifications by demons and God himself, as well as earthly identification by human beings. With thorough narrative criticism and analysis of contemporaneous literature, this book brings insightful new conclusions that transform our understanding of the biblical messianic identity revealed in the person of Jesus.

Jesus not only self-identified with the marginalized and liminal but also experienced extreme marginality himself, to the point of shameful death on a tree. Jesus' church around the world has the responsibility to herald his messianic identity and salvation to the marginalized of today. Bekele Deboch has followed Christ's example of walking with the marginalized and makes here a powerful case for the church to do the same.

BEKELE DEBOCH ANSHISO is an evangelist in his home country of Ethiopia where he returned to after he earned his PhD from Stellenbosch University, South Africa. Dr Deboch is also a part time lecturer of New Testament Studies at Ethiopian Graduate School of Theology, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Prior to his PhD studies, he spent 25 years planting churches and doing evangelism in northern Ethiopia before studying at Spurgeon's College, London, UK, and then teaching at Evangelical Theological College, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Bekele and his wife have three children.