Surprised by Jesus: His Agenda for Changing Everything in A.D. 30 and Today [Hardcover]

Tim Stafford (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 23, 2006

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.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"In an age when much of Christian truth is obscured from view in the church because of its accommodation to the prevailing culture, we need prophetic voices that direct us back to the message of the Bible. Tim Stafford meets this need as he brilliantly exposes the implications of Jesus' life and teaching to us today. This may not be a message the church wants to hear; but it is one the church needs to hear. I have written two books on Jesus, but several times when reading this book I found that God was speaking to me specifically with comfort and challenge and giving me many refreshingly new insights. Yet the book is written in such an understandable style that it would be an excellent resource to give to an inquirer wanting to know who Jesus really was." (Ajith Fernando, national director, Youth for Christ/Sri Lanka, and author of Jesus Driven Ministry )

"Each decade deserves a fresh look at Jesus, and Tim Stafford has presented us with this one's--one answering questions of current thought, yet remaining consistent with historic truth. Jesus IS--and we can supply our own adjectives--but here you can't escape being surprised! In sequence, I believe you'll be surprised by the lilt of the book's style, by the lift it brings to your own soul and, most significantly, by the life that breathes through your mind's exposure to the reality of Jesus' person, power and purpose." (Dr. Jack W. Hayford, founding pastor, The Church On The Way, and chancellor, The King's College and Seminary, Los Angeles )

"When I pray, 'Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven,' I am asking God to do, well . . . what Tim so powerfully describes in Surprised by Jesus. As a kingdom-hearted Christian, my relationship to Christ simply must 'connect' to other believers, as well as make a difference in this hurting world. No doubt about it, the kingdoms of this world will become the kingdoms of our Lord--and the book you hold in your hands shows you how to be a part of God's strategy to make it happen!" (Joni Eareckson Tada, Joni and Friends )

"With the grace of an experienced and kindly guide, Tim Stafford helps us scale some of the high peaks and rare air of the Gospels. By making accessible and relevant some of the most important scholarship on Jesus today, Stafford allows all of us--even pastors, professors and layleaders--to be genuinely 'surprised' and challenged by Jesus anew. The chapter on preaching alone should be required reading before any attempts to teach from the Gospels today." (Dr. Tod Bolsinger, pastor, adjunct professor and author of It Takes a Church to Raise a Christian: How the Community of God Transforms Lives )

"Why am I surprised to be, well, surprised, at Surprised by Jesus? My immediate response is how livable the life of Jesus is for us--livable in secularized North America and in our much-maligned church. Tim Stafford has given us Jesus without clichés, without moralisms, without polemic. And accurate. Jesus not only as he was, but as he is." (Eugene H. Peterson, translator of The Message, and Professor Emeritus of Spiritual Theology, Regent College, Vancouver, British Columbia )

"An open reading of the Gospels reveals what has always been true: Jesus is awkward to deal with. Jesus is compelling but not comfortable. Jesus is familiar but not pegged. Jesus is compassionate but not sentimental. Jesus is Jewish but not exclusive. Jesus is provocative but not reductionist. These and many other extremely important things shine out through Tim Stafford's Surprised by Jesus. By all means, read it--but watch out!" (Mark Labberton, Senior Pastor, First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley )

From the Publisher

Features & Benefits

* Helps general readers appreciate the historical and cultural background of Jesus' day

* Offers perspective-changing insights on what difference Jesus' actions mean today

* Touches on all the main aspects of Jesus' life, from his baptism to his teaching to his miracles, to his death and to his resurrection

* Includes a group discussion guide

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 253 pages
• Publisher: IVP Books; Print On Demand Edition edition (June 23, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830833404
• ISBN-13: 978-0830833405
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.6 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 11.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #993,154 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tim Stafford is an award-winning author, a regular contributor to Christianity Today and Campus Life magazines, and co-editor of The Student Bible.

Tim Stafford is a freelance writer, Senior Writer for Christianity Today Magazine and a regular contributor for Campus Life magazines. He's written more than twenty books, both fiction and non-fiction. His most recent works are Personal God: Can You Really Know the One Who Made the Universe, and Shaking the System: What I Learned from the Great American Reform Movements. Stafford is also a co-editor of The Student Bible.
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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars 3 stars, August 1, 2006

By 

AK "Bro" (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Surprised by Jesus: His Agenda for Changing Everything in A.D. 30 and Today (Hardcover)

*** The Post Modern version of Jesus is a very tame figure, not one that could be described as "dangerous, but good" to paraphrase C.S. Lewis. However, contrary to the warm fuzzy version that has become popular, the Bible paints a different portrait, one that will startle readers who have not taken the time to study the Scriptures. The author highlights several points that the New Testament makes clear. Included in his discourse is a chapter that sheds new light on the Lord's Prayer and exhortions to warn people about judgement. If you've read the Bible, then there is nothing new here, but it might give you some idea of how to make these points part of your daily walk. ***

Reviewed by Amanda Killgore for Huntress Reviews.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Yes I was surprised, November 3, 2006

By 

K. Derbyshire "Jesus Rules Me" (LaSalle, Ontario, Canada) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Surprised by Jesus: His Agenda for Changing Everything in A.D. 30 and Today (Hardcover)

As a new Christian this book brought home who Jesus is. I wanted to know more about him as a man and this book provided great insight to that. The writing is awsome as well. Funny and serious at the same time. Knowledgeable and thought provoking.
Also remember that to know Jesus better the Bible is a wealth of information that can never be replaced by books explaining the bible. Beware to check yourself and do some more praying and research. Never believe what only one person has to say. Know your stuff before you pass it on!
Great book -- recommend it to all. Enjoy!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Contextual Jesus, March 22, 2007

By 

Jamie Johnson "NE Friend" (Wenham, MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Surprised by Jesus: His Agenda for Changing Everything in A.D. 30 and Today (Hardcover)

Stafford has done a great job of putting the historical Jesus in his Jewish context. The surprise is that what you find is antithetical to the Jesus of the western world. I liken it to the time, as a child, you first see your teacher in the grocery store. You can't believe they ever leave the school, and yet, there they are. You then redefine your view of your teacher, and it allows you to know them more deeply. For Stafford, Christ is not the predominantly health and wealth character of our materialistic society, but one who redefines community, and therefore redefines who we are in that community - historically, presently, and in the future. This is a great read, and one all should read to better understand what it is Christ is calling us to today.