Every now and then I feel the urge to read a book on Jesus, just to remember again why I love him, the Gospels, and the Church. Last month, I picked up Tim Stafford’s Surprised by Jesus: His Agenda for Changing Everything in A.D. 30 and Today.
Surprised by Jesus follows the story of Jesus from the outset of his public ministry to his resurrection, offering along the way practical insights for the Christian life. The book’s subject matter resembles Philip Yancey’s The Jesus I Never Knew and even Brian McLaren’s The Secret Message of Jesus – a message that goes something like this. We have missed the audacity and shocking nature of Jesus’ ministry because we have become too familiar with a look-alike Jesus that everyone seems to know. Stafford stands out through delving deeply into historical research. Building on the work of N.T. Wright and other New Testament scholars, Stafford introduces us to the historical Jesus by giving us fresh applications of old Gospel truths.
Take for example the two chapters devoted to Jesus’ baptism, an event that today receives little evangelical attention. Stafford shows how in this event, Jesus identifies himself with sinful Israel by entering baptismal waters that represented “repentance” and the need for forgiveness. Even though Jesus was innocent, he willfully identified with the sinfulness of his people. Stafford then shows how Christian baptism today is not merely an individual affirmation of faith, but a declaration of corporate identity. In baptism, we give ourselves to the people of God.
Surprised by Jesus emphasizes Christ as the ultimate example for Christian living. For me, one who typically reads books from a Reformed perspective that focuses on Jesus’ work for us, Stafford’s emphasis on Peter’s command to follow Christ’s example is a refreshing change of pace. I heartily recommend Surprised by Jesus.
written by Trevin Wax © 2007 Kingdom People blog
