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For Christians across the World, this week is a time of reflection, and finally, joy. One of my favourite authors (and I don't even use the qualifier 'Christian') is Philip Yancey. I have just finished lapping up his book, "The Jesus I Never Knew". Yancey is a journalist-- that's his actual 'day job'. In "The Jesus I Never Knew", Yancey invites the reader along on one of his forensic trips into the meaning of life, this time, Jesus's life. Jesus's life as it impacts upon everyone's lives. Yancey grew up in a bigoted Southern American town and was enmeshed, with his family, in a bigoted Southern Church. He was steeped in the Bible from early on, but realized as an adult that his ideas of Jesus were more the product of his upbringing than they were of the God Jesus who is at once sovereign Lord and personal, very personal, Saviour. His childhood Jesus was "meek and mild", often depicted as holding a lamb and wearing a neatly draped cloak. Yancey's intermingling of his own experiences with Christianity and his anthropological research into the Word are a winning combination for anyone who wants to read a book where they feel like they actually know the author personally. You know, remember when your Grade 8 teacher took your class on a field trip, and he was transformed from that stuffy person at the front of the room, to someone who actually reacted to mosquitoes and spilled potato salad down his shirtfront at picnic time? And remember how much more you learned from him because his suddenly becoming 'more human'? Well, that is what it is like to read a book by Yancey about Jesus-- both Yancey and Jesus become familiar, understandable, and very personal. Jesus was a man. He may occasionally have held lambs, but more often he was likely striding about his business for his Father, demonstrating great passion and energy. Yancey follows the chronology of Jesus's life, what is know of it, and ministry as described in the Bible and through linkages in other historical literature (example: Josephus' Writings). Yancey also includes eclectic quotes and information from various Christian writers, mystics, and others. This book satisfies those who enjoy a good historical book and those who would personally prefer to read a historical novel or, really, just watch the video . God has honoured Yancey's focus upon Jesus by translating it into a work that will take us to the Word to do our own personal search. I did not realize how impactful this book would be for me to read at this particular time of the year. Actually, I didn't consciously decide to read it as a lead-up to Easter. The fact is, though, that I could not have chosen a more fascinating and motivational and reflective book if I had gone to Amazon.com and ploughed through a long list book reviews of this genre. I am excited about reading the Gospels over the next few days, and re-reading the final chapters in "The Jesus I Never Knew". Yancey talks in the book about one method he used to study the life of Jesus with seminary students and other adult seekers. He brought together movie clips of various similar Gospels passages (say, the Last Supper), and he and his students would watch these several 'treatments' of the same theme from Christ's life. They would go back to the Bible to see which films were more faithful to the Word. Yancey would provide theological, cultural and historical background that would further either confirm the film's version, or show it to be as anachronistic as the recurring references to 'lampstands' in the King James Version of the Bible. I would have loved to be in one of those classes! Fortunately, Yancey's writing is so descriptive and friendly, that it is almost like being there. My dear friend Anne Williams sent me a FW taken
from the Globe and Mail talking about the upcoming film "The Passion of
Christ" directed and financed by Mel Gibson. You can read the interviews
at
http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/ArticleNews/ The Canadian Bible Society recently advertised
that the film "Gospel of John" had been completed in Toronto and was ready
for release. You can read about it at: It seems that "The Passion of Christ" is being presented in the ancient languages of Aramaic, Hebrew and Latin, and that there will be no subtitles. The "Gospel of John" will apparently stay as faithful to the Biblical text from the Gospel of John as possible. I will look forward to seeing each of these films with an eye to getting to know Jesus better when I go back to the Word. Have a great week! -Cynthia
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