The Parable Of Joy - Reflections On The Wisdom Of The Book Of John [Hardcover]

Michael Card (Author), Keith Mueller (Illustrator), Douglas Gresham (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 24, 1995

Singer-songwriter Michael Card takes an in-depth look at the Gospel of John and offers his own unique insights into the apostle's outlook on life. Includes his own translation from the original Greek text.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Michael Card has recorded over 20 albums, authored or co-authored over 14 books, hosted two radio programs, and written for a wide range of magazines. While he has penned such favorite songs as ""El Shaddai"" and ""Emmanuel,"" sold over 4 million albums, written over nineteen #1 hits, and hosted television's Day of Discovery, the popularity of his work seems a stark contrast to his goal in lifeto simply, and quietly teach the Bible. ""The one thing we strive to achieve is to reach people where they are,"" explains Michael. ""Someone who is impacted by music may not be affected by reading a book, someone who loves reading might not care about talk radio, but by providing all of these things, whether it's my work or the work of someone else, there's a greater chance of reaching more people, who in turn will reach out to others in their own community. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: Thomas Nelson; 1ST edition (June 24, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0785282297
• ISBN-13: 978-0785282297
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,022,395 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A great way to look at the Book of John in a new light, March 24, 1998

By 

M. J. Spinelli "spinman1964" (Clovis, CA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Parable Of Joy - Reflections On The Wisdom Of The Book Of John (Hardcover)

Michael Card gives us insight into the historical and social context of John's Gospel while keeping it winsome and poetical. He tells the story of John's gospel so we gain insight into the place and time of the writer as well as the characters he introduces us to. Well worth the reading and a good resource for study.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great to encourage reflection on John, May 20, 2006

By 

N. Long (Georgia, USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Parable Of Joy - Reflections On The Wisdom Of The Book Of John (Hardcover)

This book is an in-depth look at the gospel of John. Each chapter begins with a translated passage from the gospel, then goes into commentary or reflective writing - some of which imagines the events as they could have been, not necessarily as they were.

When I first read this book some years ago, it made John my favorite of the gospels and infused my thinking about Jesus with all kinds of wonderful images.

According to the introduction, John wrote his gospel last, after the others had been circulated for many years, and when he was an old man. Rather than tell all about Jesus' life, John selects the very few instances that stand out in his own mind to illustrate who Jesus was and why He came. What Jesus did was well-known; John focused on the meaning of His life.

For instance, whereas Luke starts with the events before the Christmas story and Matthew with a geneology of Christ, John starts out with "In the beginning was the Word..." and "the Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us."

This book made the gospel of John more vivid and more dear to me, and in so doing, enlightened my vision of the rest of the Bible, too. It is a great book for reflection and study - and it is a joy.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Waaay to much talent for one person., August 22, 2007

By 

John R. Fitzgerald (Burlington, WI) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: The Parable Of Joy - Reflections On The Wisdom Of The Book Of John (Hardcover)

Michael does a great job looking into the Gospel of John. Using his 'own' translation, he intersperses footnoted commentary with a imaginative narrative style that really helps you visualize the scene. We've used a couple of his books for a small group bible study over the past year; solid teaching to match his fine, bible-centered music.