Customer Reviews

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

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*** 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.

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!

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.

This book presents a clear, more nuanced portrait of Jesus and of his mission of proclaiming the Kingdom of God. Mr. Stafford interacts well with Bishop N.T. Wright's theology and presents some of his very helpful ideas very clearly and succinctly. I especially appreciate the excellent explanation of corporate personality that is easily understandable even to us hyper-individualistic Americans. This book is deep and true.

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.

I enjoyed this book a lot the first time I read it. It was a very enlightening and motivating read. I particularly enjoyed how Stafford was able to give me a more topical view of the culture and environs of Jesus' time. I especially liked the affirmation of my own interpretation of the believer's resurrection; that it will be physical, yet immortal, and we will have perfect and glorified bodies to enjoy on the new earth.

However, I do have some quibbles with the book. In the last few chapters of the book, Mr. Stafford says that the Passover meal was eaten at the end of the seven days of unleavened bread, which is actually the reverse of what happens (See Leviticus 23:5-6). Also, while talking about Jesus miraculous resurrection, and how it was unique, he fails to take Matthew 27:52-53 into account: "The tombs also were opened. And many bodies of the saints who had fallen asleep were raised, and coming out of the tombs after his resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many". So Jesus' resurrection wasn't unique, in itself, since Lazarus and others were raised from the dead prior to and after His own. What was unique was that He raised HIMSELF from the dead and, furthermore, predicted it and fulfilled it; the only religious leader who ever has.

I am also a bit concerned that Mr. Stafford is more than slightly influenced by the Historical Jesus approaches of some Emergent movement scholars (so-called). The new hermeneutics, along with things like the skepticism of the Jesus Seminar and other similar movements toward mysticism and cultural immersion ideas remind me that we are warned that "perilous times" would come. I believe we are in the most perilous times ever, spiritually. I think the church would be more godly and more secure spiritually under physical persecution than this new form of intellectual attack.

It made me pause to think that such seemingly obvious errors could occur in a book written by a longtime Christian scholar and writer. I'd appreciate an explanation for these, since they are not typos, but they seem to rather ignore some scripture that may have complicated the point he was trying to make. However, I feel it is not a good practice to exclude the more difficult scriptures from the overall view of what God is showing us.