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Jesus

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"Jesus" is the third in Walter Wangerin's trilogy of novels on the Bible, following "The Book of God" (a fictionalized, edited account of the entire scope of the Bible) and "Paul" (a fictionalized, account of the life of Saint Paul). As in his earlier volumes, Wangerin puts to work his renowned story-telling ability toward the task of dramatizing the life of Christ, retelling the biblical gospel narrative for a contemporary audence. Ever the raconteur, Wangerin evokes the deep and powerful emotions that motivate all human behavior.

In some ways, "Jesus" has the feel of "Wangerin Meets Peterson," that is, "Jesus" is something of a narrative in genre and a Eugene Peterson ("The Message") paraphrase. Such a comparison is not faint praise. Rather, it communicates how beautifully and poetically Wangerin's descriptive prose evokes the very real life of Christ.

For Christians wanting a fresh read on the "old, old story," and for the seeker wanting a post-modern narrative telling of the story of Christ, "Jesus" will provide hours of delightful reading.

Reviewer: Bob Kellemen, Ph.D., is the author of "Soul Physicians," "Spiritual Friends," and "Beyond the Suffering: Embracing the Legacy of African American Soul Care and Spiritual Direction."

If you've grown up in the church, you may have heard the story of Jesus so many times you don't really "hear" it anymore. But in the capable hands of storyteller and National Book Award winner Walter Wangerin Jr., this classic captures our attention in a new way.

Wangerin switches back and forth between the viewpoint of Mary, Jesus' mother ("Mim"), and the disciple John (called "beloved") to tell the story, which opens at the Feast of Passover in Jerusalem when Jesus is 12. A long narrative from Mary to Jesus in italics serves to fill in the details of her unexpected pregnancy, marriage, and the nativity of Christ.

Readers will enjoy Wangerin's imagining what Jesus might have looked like (heavily freckled with a tight cap of curly reddish brown hair!) and his mannerisms (ticklish, accessible but unknowable). In Wangerin's narrative, Jesus is an only child who works as a carpenter with his father until Joseph meets an untimely, accidental death.

But what really sings in this narrative is the relationship between Jesus and his mother, as seen from her perspective. When Jesus returns to Nazareth to begin his ministry by reading in the temple, he's first warmly welcomed, then driven away by his small hometown. We feel Mary's pride in her son, and then her pain at his rejection.

Later, when Jesus goes away alone, she follows him to give him some tragic news. In beautifully crafted prose, Wangerin describes the scene as Mary tells Jesus that his beloved cousin John the Baptist is dead. "Heaven is sandy with stars, the myriad marks of God's promises, the heavenly host all holding their breath --- so Mary imagines --- preparing to weep with Jesus." Later, Jesus whispers to her, "Oh Mother, Mother --- how I loved my cousin." And Mary, who calls Jesus "My baby," (as well as "Yeshi"), comforts him as he falls asleep on her lap.

Wangerin excels at offering specific details about the culture of the time period in which Jesus lived. The wedding at Cana is embellished with a bridal procession where lusty lyrics are sung: "How sweet is your love, O sister, my bride! And sweeter your loving than spices and wine." Wangerin spends several pages explaining interesting details about the wedding ceremony and the honor involved in providing enough food for seven days of celebration. Jesus' miracle, he shows, saved the bridegroom's family from shame and dishonor. Nice details for contemporary readers.

In another retelling of the biblical narrative, he opens a chapter with the terse observation: "Magdala stinks." Wangerin goes on to explain that fish were dried and pickled there, and includes plenty of details about the fishing life. The stage also is set for an encounter with Mary ("Maryam"), whom he will deliver from seven demons. Wangerin fleshes out some of the more practical aspects as well. When Jesus and his disciples are on the road, Wangerin describes how Mary wanders the hillsides and ravines, finding the right herbs to cure the ills and injuries incurred by the little band of believers (Simon has a bad cough, for example). Wangerin is specific in his descriptions, which makes the story richer.

Particularly nice is a short section that imagines some of the interactions between John and Mary after Jesus' death and resurrection. John is now entrusted with Mary's care, and he finds her a bit of a challenge. She can't help interrupting him and correcting the details of his stories as he shares the Good News and the marvelous works of Jesus. "No, not Jericho. He did that near the pool of Siloam...." made me chuckle.

While many readers may enjoy some of the juicy, Wangerin-ish dialogue between the characters, it occasionally creeps over the top. "Calculate before your promise, partner," says a bandit to Simon in response to his threats. Sounds a little bit like a late night western. But if you love Wangerin's style of writing, this sort of thing won't trouble you. It's part of his unique voice and inimitable storytelling style.

This beautiful, unique retelling of the life of Jesus should find a home on the bookshelves of any Christian who wants a fresh perspective on their faith.

--- Reviewed by Cindy Crosby. [...].

Walter Wangerin's book, Jesus, is incredible. Given that its topic is one of the most dissected, speculated-about, and, ultimately, complex and compelling stories ever known to mankind, I was at first skeptical as to what exactly this book would recount.

That skepticism dissolved quickly.

Wangerin does an incredible job of showing Jesus, not only as the divine, but as the humane, as well. Often, Christians forget what made Jesus so appealing to his followers: that he was the divine, alive in a form that they, as mortals, could relate to. This book shows much of Jesus' human side: his laughter and happiness at the wedding at Cana, his terse reproachment of his mother's desire to spare him from the pains that God had placed before him, etc.

Often, it is easy to get lost in the events of the New Testament. Fortunately, we, as Christians, have Wangerin's book to give a clear view on the events of Jesus' life, and of the time period that would forever change the world.

Walter Wangerin continues his Bible-based fiction writing with Jesus. There isn't much description of the plot required here since many people, at least those who would be interested in reading Wangerin's work, are already well-familiar with the events that unfold. Basically, Wangerin uses his own unique style of writing to retell the four gospels of Jesus' life. He includes many of the well-known stories including: the birth of Christ, his teaching in the temple as a young boy, the exorcism of egion,

the resurrection of Lazarus and, of course, the Passion itself. There is very little deviation from the scriptures, which is good considering that Wangerin's fan-base are Christians who would not appreciate any inaccuracies, but he does add his own dialogue and florid descriptions at times. This adds fresh flavor to an already timeless tale. The supporting cast includes Mary and the twelve disciples as well as Barabbas, an energetic rebel who plays a key role at Christ's trial later in the book. Wangerin does little to develop these characters with the exception of John, Peter and Mary. And then, of course, there is Judas, who is portrayed in a way that I've never seen before, basically an immature, annoying tag-along who betrays Christ in an attempt to get Him to reveal His power to the Jews. The story is descriptive, somewhat informative, and shows an intriguing perspective from the author about how he thinks

the events of Christ's life unfolded. Above all else it is a pleasure to read. Simply put, Christian readers will love this book. Anytime the story of Christ is told with beauty and passion it will always please those who worship Him as their savior. However, for someone who doesn't believe, it will likely end up being the same story they've heard before with nothing extraordinary about it. Take that for what it's worth.

Of all the books I've read, this ranks as one of the most enjoyable.

Reviewed on behalf of readandreview.com

OK.....I've never met Walter Wangerin, Jr....but he's managed to embarrass me in public several times!!! I've been a huge fan for well over 10 years and probably should've expected some kind of emotional reaction in reading another one of his great novels...but to have an employee of Subway come up to me at lunch this week and ask if I was crying was a little much...ha. I explained to her that I was reading a wonderful book and she replied..."that's so sweet!".

And it is with great sweetness, amazing tenderness and super-abundant passion for his subject matter that Wangerin tells the tale of the greatest story ever told.

The manner in which he colors so carefully within the lines of the Gospel narratives in telling the stories of, not only Jesus Himself, but most especially Mary, Simon Peter, John, Mary Magdalene and even Judas Iscariot is truly spellbinding. From his amazing interpretation of the reason behind Judas' betrayal (trying to force Jesus' hand in overcoming the Roman and Jewish authorities and establish his "earthly" kingdom)...to the astonishing description of how John came to be known as "The Beloved Disciple"....to his humorous, heartbreaking and absolutely priceless portrayal of Simon Peter, we are treated to some of the most mesmerizing words ever written about the intensely human folk who walked with Jesus.

Perhaps the most vivid words, however, are written about Jesus' incredible mother. Wangerin takes great pains in interpreting the stories of her awestruck and intensely human conflict in watching the drama of Jesus' heavenly mission as He prepares to die for the sins of lost humanity. The beauty of her story lies most profoundly in the myriad ways that Wangerin describes her as a woman swept away by motherly devotion and pain for her precious "Yeshi" as she watches His suffering firsthand. Her bold and seemingly irreverent tirades against God on behalf of Jesus seem totally in synch with a woman who clearly understands that the Almighty -is- the father of "their" son. And some of the most beautiful writing about Mary is from the "pen" of John (Wangerin writes the book -as- the beloved disciple)...as he cares for Mary in the latter years of her life...as he witnesses to the Gentiles...only to have Mary interrupt him with humorous corrections about the life of HER son....to the pet name she gives him to address her...to the earthy humanity of this most amazing of women and lastly in his telling of her final hours...Mary's story is a thing of beauty as told by this amazing writer.

Some of the most famous Gospel passages describing Jesus' life literally jump from the pages...from the Sermon on the Mount to the raising of Lazarus, the Nativity story, the Crucifixion (told, not as graphically as I'd have expected, but with a reverent beauty and elegance that left me stunned) to the Ascension. One of the final stories...Jesus' post-resurrection appearance on the beach as the disciples are fishing (with Mary along as the instigator of the boat trip!)...leading up to Jesus' restoration of Simon Peter....is truly one of the most amazing things I've ever read.

Wangerin's multi-hued and overwhelmingly passionate rendering of the character of Jesus' Himself is so masterful that one is left in awe of his ability to make it perfectly clear that Jesus was man and divine at the same time. The Crucifixion scene followed by the first appearance to the disciples in the upper room concludes with John writing these words to his Lord...."And when one week later, you grant Thomas as the last of all to see your wounds and to receive his peace, he falls to the floor and utters the confession I have never since ceased to sing unto you: My Lord, my Lord and my God!"

So much Scripture is interwoven into the novel from start to finish that Wangerin's words are given a much deeper import and resonance than would otherwise have been possible. These stories are so much a part of the lives of believers that Wangerin's intensely personal renderings of the life of Jesus resonated deeply within my spirit...and made me understand that these stories are truly OUR stories and part of who we are as Christians. After the powerful telling of Jesus' death and resurrection in the novel, it became clear to me, in a way I'd never grasped, exactly WHY the early disciples who lived through all of these things truly abandoned their old fear of death.

I'll conclude with Wangerin's dazzling description near the end...of John the Beloved trying his best to summarize his telling of the life of Jesus.... "Well, then: I cannot lay my pen aside until I've given expression to the mystery inexpressible, the timelessness and the placelessness of the Lord. What I write here, what I indite as last of all, might be sung, could someone give it music. Me? I confess, there is no music in me-except insofar as I love it. I can't sing. I growl below the soaring voices of the blessed. I don't make melodies. And all the singers I have ever known have left me to my poor, inglorious means: a way with words, a memory weighty and comprehensive and dagger-sharp with detail, a knowledge of Greek and the Scriptures, and the spirit that drives me to write things down."

These last words seems almost to describe Wangerin himself. I don't know if Wangerin can sing a note in tune, but I know that his God-given talent with words have the power to bring me to tears. And to make my spirit sing.......

No stories are better known or fiercely treasured than those in the Bible. And the influence of the King James version of the Bible is so pervasive in the English-speaking world that not only can we be said to all know those stories in identical wording but the word choices and phrases therein, to a considerable extent, shaped the very language we all speak today. The writer then who undertakes a reverent novelization of the Gospels, or any Bible story really, must respond to a series of unique challenges. Among them, he must achieve a voice distinctive enough to stand comparison with his source. He must both remain true to that source and, at the same time, depart enough to justify our not just reading the original. And, perhaps hardest of all, he must write a few moments into his text that will move a reader as profoundly as the Gospels do, and manage this despite the fact that we obviously know what's coming. Given the immensity of these tasks it will be the rare author indeed who succeeds, but Walter Wangerin does so brilliantly in Jesus: a Novel.

It probably helps here that Mr. Wangerin's past novels include distinctive fantasies, like The Book of the Dun Cow. That great novel is told almost in the form of a Bible tale and in a rich language that is freighted with significance yet totally accessible. In a sense then, where Dun Cow is a fantasy influenced by the Bible, Jesus can almost be said to reverse the process, with fantasy influencing the Bible story. This makes the familiar stories seem fresh and the author's mastery of language and tone give his storytelling the mythic quality the undertaking requires. Where he really reached greatness in my eyes though was in the scene where he depicts the Last Supper. The narrator at one point says that the bread was so dry as to suck all moisture from the mouth and that His words left them breathless. Easy enough for an author to say, but as I reached the end of the episode I found my own mouth had dried out and I'd not been breathing. Such communion with an author's purposes is so rare that it was downright spooky, or, rather, a moment of transcendence. I obviously can't guarantee you the same, but for me, at least, reading this was itself a religious experience and a beautiful one.

Although I found this book to be difficult in adjusting to Walter Wangerin Jr's writing style, I was captivated by the flow or the segmented Character naratives that seemed to keep you wanting more.

I read this book after reading Rob Bell's Velvet Elvis, and this has enhanced my view of historical Judea, and it's leaders of the time. I felt angry when the characters felt angry and sad when the characters felt sad.

It is unlike any story of Jesus or movie I have encountered. It takes 2 people Mary and John, then leads both there Stories into a combined journey by it's end...what makes this book so fantastic is that the author cleverly keeps Jesus as the centre.

One flaw I have with the book is the lack of joy in his discriptions of Jesus implied. If you have seen The Visual Bible Matthew series, you will understand my point.

Jesus rarely smiles in the story. I found the plot and sub plots to keep my interest enough to say that I enjoyed the book and while I do not appreciate Walter Wangerin Jr's writing style overall I did appreciate the Passion of it & the wisdom it enhances in a day & age of deceit, hate, corruption & contempt for Love.

It could even be described as the Passion of the Disciples :-). One final quote from the book I have noted was this "pg 85; Things remain the same. Things change.And the bewilderment is: they do so both at once".-Mary There is a strange comfort in these words.

GS

This book is superbly written. In his typical style, Wangerin uses fairly florid language and extensive physical descriptions to retell the life of Christ, which lends the account the distinct figurative feel of a fable.

Despite the fictional tone, his creativity stays within rather strict boundaries. His purpose in the book is clearly to remain faithful to the scriptural accounts, so he mostly adds descriptions of the surroundings or of disciples' emotions to events already documented in the Bible. His only considerable departure from the gospels is his understanding of Judas' motivations for his betrayal.

The beauty of this work is in its constant balance between creative vitality and spiritual reverence. Wangerin's mastery of allegorical language gives the story all the respect it deserves, but it also adds color, life and the unexpected to powerfully retell a tremendous story.

This is another book which really puts you in the presence of our Lord. You feel as if you have experienced actually walking and entering into the conversations that took place during the earthly life of our Savior. You laugh, you smile, you cry when reading this journey through the life of Christ. Please read and enjoy.

A historical fiction book on life of Jesus, told primarily from the point of view of the apostle John and Jesus' mother, Mary. The outline does not deviate from the Gospels, however, it goes beyond the familiar story. Wangerin takes the skeletal style of first century authors and gives it flesh, bringing the Gospels to life on the page with gestures, facial expressions and historical background. It delves into what scenes of life from Jesus' home village may have inspired a certain parable; makes a compelling, creative exploration of the motives of Judas Iscariot; and more. The storyline remains true to the Person you find in the Bible while transporting the modern reader to first-century Palestine with its colorful additions.

If I were stranded on an island, this be a great candidate for the one book I'd want to bring. Jesus Himself seemed more living, more alive, as I read the words of a writer with God-given talent and insight. This was the book I have always been longing for since knowing Jesus - the Gospels tell us everything we need to know about Him - but this moving narrative shows us what it may have been like to be right there with Him.

I felt Wangerin's portrayal of Jesus was on occasion a bit harsh as compared to my understanding of Him. In the audiobook read by the author (www.Audible.com), the tones of voice are tougher still. Then again, we are all slightly different in each of our distinct relationships - if you're a parent, maybe you don't use the same tone of voice to convey the same message to two of your children - my parents certainly don't. Likewise, I believe we all see God a little differently too, and that's fine. Most Christians I converse with in depth (primarily conservative evangelicals) see Jesus as more strict than I do, so perhaps not all readers will agree with me on this bit. But I would still recommend the written version above the audio, to better allow the Jesus you know (and the side of Himself He wishes to revel to you) to come through to you personally. I hope you will fall in love as I did with this loving, caring, deep person and all His complexities in this moving portrait Wangerin paints.