Jesus I Never Knew, The MP3 CD – Unabridged, April 8, 2014

Over the past two thousand years, Christianity has grown as a religion, not only in the number of Christ's followers, but also in the breadth of its traditions. In many ways a mythology of sorts has developed around Christianity and even Jesus Christ himself. Stories and assumptions about Jesus and his life abound, but how much of many traditionally held beliefs are grounded in actual scripture, which we cling to as the ultimate unblemished source of facts and enlightenment about Jesus? For example, was Jesus tall and slender and handsome? Was he kind to everyone he met? Was he always unshakably confident in everything he said and did?In researching and composing The Jesus I Never Knew, author Philip Yancey chronicles a journey of discovery, looking past traditionally perpetuated beliefs about Jesus and reporting facts about him and his teaching as recorded by the authors of the gospels. Yancey's purpose in presenting this book is to reintroduce readers to Jesus by focusing the reader's attention on Jesus as a man who was born human, lived a fantastic and unpredictable life, taught how to live against the grain, offered paradigm shifts in the understanding of God, loved the simple and despised the self-righteous, and ultimately died to fulfill his mission. Walter Wink sums up the complex, incredible life of Jesus by saying, "If Jesus had never lived, we would not have been able to invent him" (Yancey, 1995, p. 23).Candidly recalling his own journey of rediscovery of Jesus, Yancey demonstrates to his audience the arc of many Christians' intellectual faith walk. After the initial Sunday School felt-board lessons have been ingrained, often there is a time of reevaluation and seeking the real authentic Jesus. He sincerely questions preconceived notions about who Jesus was and is, drawing from a multitude of sources including many of Hollywood's various celluloid representations. Some examples will make the reader snicker at their silliness, but many will cause the reader to deeply reconsider what they thought they knew. More than once, Yancey references Jesus' reputation among his contemporaries as "a wine-bibber and a glutton" (p.15, p.86-87), which certainly must fly in the face of any contemporary Christian's beliefs about Jesus' actions and character.Over the next several chapters, Yancey creates what is essentially a prose harmony of the Gospels, reconstructing Jesus life, challenges, and teachings in easy to comprehend language. Throughout each meticulously and diversely researched (but not academically dry) section, he explores, asks vital questions, and reminds us of significant details of Jesus' life we may take for granted: "Distrusting crowds and public opinion, he spent most of his time in towns of small size and little importance" (p.92). While Yancey could have speculated about how Jesus' ministry would have been different had it been centralized in a major metropolis (ultimately a moot point), his reminder of this detail shines additional light on the wonder that Jesus' ministry became a worldwide phenomenon. The portrait Yancey presents in chapter five fleshes out our understanding of Jesus brilliantly from multiple angles. First he addresses our possible misconceptions about Jesus physical appearance (probably not tall and lanky, based on what we know of Jews of the time), moves onto his character, and his interactions with people and his disciples."Part Two" is an examination of Jesus' mission on earth. Line by line, Yancey analyzes the Beatitudes and the rest of the Sermon on the Mount, giving vibrant, modern-day applications for each lesson. Yancey then examines the role of miracles in Jesus' ministry, highlighting how "outstanding faith never failed to impress him" (p.174) and how Jesus was moved with compassion to heal those who had faith. Yet, Jesus' priorities weren't with becoming a physical healing ministry. He is far more interested in the health of human souls. Yancey concludes that miracles were signs "to prove that he was `the one'" (p.182) and a physical demonstration that God is not satisfied with a broken, sinful world.The core theme of "Part Three" is the aftermath of Jesus' time on earth. Jesus' legacy and Christianity's mission is featured, along with some subsequent and saddening misinterpretations of Jesus' teachings. The chapter "The Difference He Makes" is an intensely personal conclusion where Yancey brings the story of Jesus full-circle, expressing the Bible as a "story of a God reckless with desire to get his family back" (p.268). The human condition is then summarized well by novelist Reynolds Price: "He says in the clearest voice we have the sentence that mankind craves from stories - The Maker of all things loves and wants me..." (p.269).Concluding Personal Reflection:Sticking to scriptural descriptions and avoiding established popular theories about Jesus, Yancey unveils Jesus' complex character with such vibrancy it's nearly impossible to not catch his enthusiasm and want to explore more of who Jesus is and what his teaching is all about. In the opening passages when Yancey frankly shares his personal experience of having the sheen come off his understanding of "traditional" Jesus resonated deeply with me, as his journey closely mirrored my own. Yancey's personable and straightforward style, openly unafraid to ask legitimate questions that many in the church might try to marginalize for the sake of Christian customs is refreshing and gives this book a good dose of credibility. He is never disrespectful, merely seeking truth and always using the actual Gospel texts as his measuring stick.I am left with a fuller, more relatable, more applicable, more "life-like" understanding of Jesus after reading this book. The Beatitudes chapter has caused me to fully reconsider whom Jesus finds precious, of what character traits he wants to see exalted, and how they are in stark contract to the "Beatitudes" of the world: "Happy are the `pushers': for they get on in the world" (p. 113) is an example of a character trait celebrated in the world but would not please God's heart nor advance His kingdom. Jesus said that there are no greater commandments than loving God and loving your neighbor (Mark 12:30-31), and Jesus was the living embodiment of both. He loved and honored his father by submitting to die for our sins despite his own misgivings (Matt. 26.42), and he loved us enough to "go to any length to win us back" (p.269). Jesus is a sinless friend to sinners. That's great cause for celebration and reason enough for me to spend a lifetime endeavoring to return his gift of love.I cannot recommend this book highly enough to, well, pretty much everybody. It's an easy read, full of fascinating insight and open, candid exploration of Jesus. Please read it and (re)discover Jesus.

For seven weeks, taking two chapters each week, nineteen women met for two hours once a week to discuss this book . We can highly recommend the group study concept. These comments were turned in during the last session to be sent to AMAZON.1. The JESUS I NEVER KNEW by Philip Yancey presents to the reader an "uncomfortable" view of Jesus. Uncomfortable because, though am I called to emulate Jesus, I find that after reading this book, I more often reflect a counter portrait, a fake view of the Christ. This book, which involves technical reading, vast references, and extensive research presents an earthy view of Jesus not often considered. 2. WANTED - TRAVELERS: 5 stars The extraordinary expedition that Yancey takes anyone who wants to learn more about Jesus on is most rewarding adventure, drama, exploration, spiritual and historical enlightenment. Thought provoking, questionable,and informative are words that could be descriptive of this honest presentation. Yancey has done extensive research and allows, not sways, the reader to form concepts and opinions about Jesus as written in the gospels. The reader is enlightened as to His being a man of many moods, emotions, feelings and actions. As one reads about Jesus the man and Jesus the Christ he or she will be surprised, informed, saddened, awakened, happy and there will be a new and/or deeper relationship formed.3. Philip Yancey has given me much food for thought and has encouraged me to examine "the way we've always done it." I have come to know a much more human Jesus who would probably feel very much out of place in my church. How sad!! 4. Of all the books that I have read in recent years THE JESUS I NEVER KNEW best describes the Jesus that I know and love. 5. 5 stars As a group, we really entered this study expecting to find many answers. We found answers to some of our questions, but others remain as distant as ever. We learned so many new things about Jesus. Jesus also became so human and His presence was so powerful in our group. Yancey brought out so many wonderful messages that really made the group stop to ponder, such as "Where is the church when it hurts." He also brought to the forefront quotations from other notable authors such as Flannery O'Conner's "Church is founded on Peter who denied Christ three times and who couldn't walk on the water by himself. You(we) are expecting his successors to walk on the water." I am sure that we all walk away better Christians because of this study.6. Yancey does a good job helping us to understand the human side of Jesus. If this understanding is not balanced with knowledge of Jesus' deity, our perception of Jesus will be just as warped as Yancey's flannelgraphs. 7. 5 stars This book brings us face to face with Jesus. 8. 5 stars THE JESUS I NEVER KNEW has truly been an inspiration for me. It has been thought-provoking and caused me to think about what I believe. Yancey did an excellent job of recreating situations that happened almost 2,000 hears ago - making them seem real. I come away feeling as if I know Jesus in a much more personal way. 9. Philip Yancey's THE JESUS I NEVER KNEW is a fresh way of bringing the mystery of the human Jesus to the forefront. As I read his statement, "God gave himself to us in the form of a person", I now look at that person with a new concept-more human, more compassionate, merciful and gentle, yet holy and awesome as the divine King of Kings and Lord of Lords-and still my very personal Saviour-all mine and yet for everyone the same. My concept of Jesus has been forever changed, enlarged and enlightened by this study. It was a wonderful spiritual study and a Kingdom Experience. 10. This book has shed some light on who Jesus was, is. It opened my eyes to his Jewishness and helped me understand their customs , traditions, religions, and more. It has helped me to realize he was human, to see his human side but, also worship his as God-head. He was God and also man. I've grown to understand the beatitudes more and have seen how they are to be applied to my life now. The miracles were not just miracles then but are miracles that still happen today. I have taken on a whole new view of the crucifixion. death, and resurrection of Jesus and know it is a triumphant victory to be celebrated every day! As Yancey put it "He is who I want my God to be!" Jesus is everything I want my life to be. 11. In his book, The Jesus I Never Knew, Philip Yancey was scripturally accurate in describing Jesus as a man and also very much God. He reminds me that the ultimate necessity is to know Jesus in a personal way. The book was very thought stimulating and made me more aware of all that He did for me. 12. Philip Yancey exploded all my pre-conceived ideas about Jesus and made me actually take a hard look at my beliefs. I came to appreciate Jesus so much more as God-man who embodies total love and acceptance and a desire to save all mankind. I fell in love with Jesus all over again as I did when I was a child....total acceptance. Thank you, Philip Yancey, for your marvelous book!

I so enjoyed this book and seeing Christ through a different perspective. An eye opener and interesting insight into Jesus’s purpose and humble calling on earth among us and for us!!!

This book is a fantastic uplifting read. I really enjoyed it. Although I was saddened to reach the end of it, the book truly filled the hole I had of the ‘what is the point in life’ malarkey. I feel totally different after reading it. Please read this book. I can’t recommend it enough. And when you’re done with it you’ll know exactly what I mean. ❤️🙏🏼😊

This is quite a dull book until you get to page 232 where it speaks about the missing God. There are times in a Christian's life when God seems absent. However, Philip Yancey says that God is not absent but in disguise as the poor, the stranger and the hungry. In other words, we need to turn our attention from what is missing in church to evangelism out in the world. This makes sense because we need to be outward looking as a church. When Jesus departed, he gave his disciples authority to take his place. When the joy of salvation and fellowship seems absent in the church, it is time to go out into the world and evangelise for lost souls.The gaping hole in our church life is that we need to focus more on outreach so that we can lead others to Christ.

For me this is one of those books that just has to be in the bookshelf and which periodically requires reference. Philip Yancey's writing is accessible, eloquent and honest, both in terms of his own shortcomings as a believer and his personal misunderstandings of Jesus in his younger days. He puts into a rich perspective from his experiences and study what he interprets (along with a variety of sources) as the meaning and significance of the life of the central figure in the Christian faith. It puts into a whole (if that is possible) the overarching themes, complexities and nuances of what is pointed at in the Bible about Jesus in a way that is thoroughly accessible to the modern reader. What you will find is refreshing, surprising and new and will lead you into deeper understanding of the significance and importance of Jesus. This is an absolutely outstanding book.

I could not put this book down, and as soon as I finished it, I went right back to the beginning to read it again. I became a Christian at the age of 32, after a childhood not knowing anything about church , or Jesus. But the 12 years that I have been a Christian have not been straight forward, or easy, and I have often been beset by "but why?" questions and have had many doubts along the way. What I love about this book is that the author is not afraid to talk about his own doubts and I could relate to many of the things he wrote about. I felt as though he has opened my eyes, and taught me so much about Jesus, far more than I have learned going to church on a Sunday. I want to understand the man, Jesus, and this book has been the best thing that I have read on the topic. I loved the style of writing, yes it is deep and it is intellectual, and sometimes I needed to read something several times over, but I am now very keen to read all of the authors other books. I am so glad I found this book, and have been recommending it to all my friends, Christian or not.

I thought I knew Jesus fairly well having read, loved and believed the Bible from childhood and committed my life and future to Him decades ago. Reading this book challenged my inner portrait and helped me to see another perspective which I hope will make it easier for me to introduce my old friend Jesus (who hasn't altered in the least) to friends who have no idea who He is. Recommended reading for everyone.