Surprised by Jesus

by Stafford, Tim

• ISBN13: 9780830833405
• ISBN10: 0830833404
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2006-07-30
• Publisher: Intervarsity Pr

Summary

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.

Table of Contents

1 The Deceptively Familiar Jesus	9	(8)
2 Why Repentance? For What Sins?	17	(13)
3 Joining People Who Disappoint You	30	(12)
4 Jesus' Temptations	42	(24)
5 Jesus' Message—and Ours	66	(10)
6 The Kingdom of the Improbable	76	(20)
7 Preaching for a Movement	96	(11)
8 The Radical Center	107	(10)
9 Works of Power	117	(21)
10 Praying	138	(9)
11 Warnings	147	(15)
12 Going to Jerusalem	162	(15)
13 Symbolic Language	177	(15)
14 Gethsemane	192	(14)
15 The Risen Lord	206	(18)
16 Resurrection Life	224	(15)
Discussion Guide	239	(8)
Acknowledgments	247	(1)
Notes	248	(3)
Name and Subject Index	251	(1)
Scripture Index	252