The Cross & the Prodigal: Luke 15 Through the Eyes of Middle Eastern Peasants (Paperback)

~ (Author) "In Luke's Gospel, Jesus begins his final journey to Jerusalem in chapter 9 and arrives in chapter 19..." (more)
Key Phrases: costly love, older son, Middle Eastern, New Testament, Good Shepherd (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description

Honored in 2006 as a "Year's Best Book for Preachers" by Preaching magazine.Where is the cross in the parable of the prodigal son?For centuries, Muslims have called attention to the father's forgiveness in this parable in order to question the need for a Mediator between humanity and God. In The Cross and the Prodigal, Kenneth E. Bailey--New Testament scholar and long-time missionary to the Middle East--undertakes to answer this question.Drawing on his extensive knowledge of both the New Testament and Middle Eastern culture, Bailey presents an interpretation of this parable from a Middle Eastern perspective and, in doing so, powerfully demonstrates its essentially Christian message. Here Bailey highlights the underlying tensions between law and love, servanthood and sonship, honor and forgiveness that grant this story such timeless spiritual and theological power.

Product Details

• Paperback: 151 pages
• Publisher: InterVarsity Press; 2 Rev Exp edition (July 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0830832815
• ISBN-13: 978-0830832811
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #121,663 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, Cross-Cultural, Eye-opening, September 27, 2006

By	Paul Grant "Blessed Are the Uncool" (Madison, Wisconsin, USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

One of Jesus' most astonishing stories, a story that has resonated down through the ages, is commonly known in English as The Prodigal Son. In this book, Kenneth Bailey retells this familiar story through the eyes of Middle Eastern peasants.

Bailey is a longtime missionary, a man who has spent his life among the peasants of the Middle East. Bailey really knows village life. And that makes all the difference in understanding Jesus' story.

But this book is much more than another commentary. Bailey (along with IVP) has made a beautiful book. There are several plates decorated with Arab calligraphy, and half the book is a four-scene drama - a retelling of the story in a small village, complete with the score to one of the characters' songs. This is an exemplary work, engaging heart and mind at once.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars meticulous and eye opening, July 8, 2006

By	Scott W. Peterson (Newberg, Oregon) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Ken Bailey is the best New Testament scholar around today because he brings deep insight and experience from the Middle Eastern culture combined with attention to form criticism. The result is an eye opening and inspiring work on the Prodigal. You will not be disappointed in this book or any of his work.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Thoughts from a regular gal, December 30, 2008

By	Yvonne Frender - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I'm just a regular gal - I'm not a biblical scholar, pastor, or friend of the author (although I wouldn't mind meeting him!). This is the 2nd Baily book that I've read (the other being 'Jesus through Middle Eastern Eyes'). I throughly enjoy his works becuase they are insightful, colorful, scholarly (I don't often see academia and faith beautifully melding with one another) and plainly written. From this book I got a better sense of the pouring-out redemption of God toward mankind. I could write a million words and not do it justice. If you are interested in having a more complete understanding of this parable, I highly recommend that you read this book.