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The Faces of Jesus: A Life Story

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If occasionally you find that the stories of Jesus found in the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John have become so familiar they fall flat, this book will help you experience the wonder of reading them again as if for the first time.

The faces of Jesus, his "ways of being and being seen" are illuminated in six chapters: Annunciation, Nativity, Ministry, Last Supper, Crucifixon, and Resurrection.

The focus of the faces of Jesus is that whatever else he may have been, he was a man once and had a "man's face, a human face."

The Faces of Jesus is a beautiful art book and an inspirational Christian text written by one of the world's great theologians and authors. Buechner's text highlights the life of Jesus and raises goosebumps as the story comes alive in a new and beautiful way. Surrounded by some of the great artwork of the world and some not so readily known images it captures the face of this mysterious man and brings a sense of the spirit here and now. It will take your breath away and open you to the breath of God anew.

Frederick Beuchner seldom dissapoints. This is true of this delightfully poetic view of Jesus' life. Based on some of the more famous pictures of Jesus by various artists, the paper back edition, while handy to have and easily portable lacks the charm of the larger hard cover original edition which contains reproductions of the art work. Typical of Buechner's immently readable style, this book delights the senses while deepening the faith.

Recalling life of one such as Jesus of Nazareth is ultimate test of faith and creativity. Did He look like us? Any of us? All of us? None of us?

Here, theologican Buechner surveys art collection portraying Jesus in various mediums with running commentary on changing view and expression thereof.

Buechner I think has much for reader/viewer to contemplate. Especially poignant is comments on sentimentalism and realism of some Jesus despictions.

Who is this Jesus anyway? Does one dare try and artist one's thoughts?

Many have and here is one historical grouping.

Interesting thoughtstarters, but in some cases false conclusions made or suggested. Careful with theology interpreted here.

Most of us learned the old, old stories of the Bible as children from our parents or in Sunday school. If we still attend church, the critical few are repeated on an annual basis. And the common scripture readings again cover these moments.

In this book these stories are again repeated. But this time they are combined with a historical view that helps to present a more human view of Jesus, one where we might can view what the man had to go through. In the section on the crucifixion for instance, he talks of how this was a Roman punishment. He adds understanding to the whipping administered beforehand. The Mel Gibson showed this most graphically. But the author points out that the condemned often died under this preliminary punishment, thus being spared the greater one to follow.

Of the crucifixion itself, the whole thing was designed to be as cruel as possible. Death often took two or three days to occur. Jesus was 'fortunate' in surviving only a few hours. And remember that in John, the people involved didn't want the event to continue so the soldiers were instructed to break the legs of the three on the crosses. This put all the weight on the arms and caused suffication to occur quickly.

This little book provides a view that fills in background information to those told in the Bible

This slim volume is vintage Buechner. Six short chapters provide a gentle challenge to meditation for those who are grieving or suffering life's distresses.

Following TELLING SECRETS, this is definitely relief! Reading this biographical material as being heavier. More often his sermons surely lend a hint to his uniquely human, more emotional approach to stories of The Nativity, Ministry, Last Supper, Crucifixion, and Resurrection are quotations of his faith and theology. In the Intro to THE FACES of JESUS Fred begins "He set his face to go to Jerusalem..." One other statement of Fred Buechner's Theology comes in Resurrection, he includes words of a hymn spoken by Jesus at Acts of John. I am deeply impressed by this most mature, fascinating creation of Fredrick Buechner! Retired Chaplain Fred W Hood

I ordered a new book and received a very used book. Many pages were missing, it was musty smelling and it had ink writing on some pages. I was very unhappy. Eventually I received a refund.