Book Description
Top Jesus scholars Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan join together to reveal a radical and little-known Jesus. As both authors reacted to and responded to questions about Mel Gibson's blockbuster The Passion of the Christ, they discovered that many Christians are unclear on the details of events during the week leading up to Jesus's crucifixion.
Using the gospel of Mark as their guide, Borg and Crossan present a day-by-day account of Jesus's final week of life. They begin their story on Palm Sunday with two triumphal entries into Jerusalem. The first entry, that of Roman governor Pontius Pilate leading Roman soldiers into the city, symbolized military strength. The second heralded a new kind of moral hero who was praised by the people as he rode in on a humble donkey. The Jesus introduced by Borg and Crossan is this new moral hero, a more dangerous Jesus than the one enshrined in the church's traditional teachings.
The Last Week depicts Jesus giving up his life to protest power without justice and to condemn the rich who lack concern for the poor. In this vein, at the end of the week Jesus marches up Calvary, offering himself as a model for others to do the same when they are confronted by similar issues. Informed, challenged, and inspired, we not only meet the historical Jesus, but meet a new Jesus who engages us and invites us to follow him.
Download Description
"
Top Jesus scholars Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan join together to reveal a radical and little-known Jesus. As both authors reacted to and responded to questions about Mel Gibson's blockbuster The Passion of the Christ, they discovered that many Christians are unclear on the details of events during the week leading up to Jesus's crucifixion.
Using the gospel of Mark as their guide, Borg and Crossan present a day-by-day account of Jesus's final week of life. They begin their story on Palm Sunday with two triumphal entries into Jerusalem. The first entry, that of Roman governor Pontius Pilate leading Roman soldiers into the city, symbolized military strength. The second heralded a new kind of moral hero who was praised by the people as he rode in on a humble donkey. The Jesus introduced by Borg and Crossan is this new moral hero, a more dangerous Jesus than the one enshrined in the church's traditional teachings.
The Last Week depicts Jesus giving up his life to protest power without justice and to condemn the rich who lack concern for the poor. In this vein, at the end of the week Jesus marches up Calvary, offering himself as a model for others to do the same when they are confronted by similar issues. Informed, challenged, and inspired, we not only meet the historical Jesus, but meet a new Jesus who engages us and invites us to follow him.
"
Customer Reviews:
Not be confused with the facts..........2007-05-28
My main objection: The authors first adopt an idea and then reconstruct their story to fit that idea. I am aware that we are dealing with a popular, NOT an academic book, but still I consider that unfair, since most of us are learning from such books.The authors made several contradictions, assumptions, false statements and omissions. They contradict themselves by writing in the preface that they will use Mark's Gospel only and they present good reasons for it. However, in the subtitle it is printed: "What the Gospels REALLY Teach About Jesus'...".This contradiction allows them to use other Gospels when the authors can support their objectives. What is worse, they omit the passages in Mark which do not support their objectives. Throughout the book Pilate is described as a sovereign ruler having the Jewish hierarchy under his control. However, even from the authors' quotes taken from the Mark's Gospel the Pilate's questions to Jesus are NOT what one would expect from a supreme commander. Furthermore if Pilate were convinced about Jesus' role as a leader of an actual political insurgency, he would have executed at least some of his disciples. Among the farfetched assumptions: :"Two processions entered Jerusalem on a spring day in the year 30". However, Mark's gospel says NOTHING about this coincidence or a planned thing. Moreover, there is NO support elsewhere that it happened the same day. Among the false statements I would classify the authors' conclusion that Jesus had to be executed since he was a revolutionary, although a non violent one. It is well established truth from the other reliable historical documents that the Romans were rather tolerant occupants with regards to the religious beliefs; they even accepted Greek gods. Therefore one can assume that only violent uprisings were recognized and considered dangerous for the Romans. The itinerant rabbis proclaiming nonviolent utopias were probably taken for "religious cranks" and posed no danger to the Romans.Indeed such a view was taken by Pilate at the beggining of the trial, as recorded by all four Gospels.
In conclusion one can say that the authors by focusing on the Jewish high-priestly collaboration with Roman imperial control lead us to regard Jesus as an earthly revolutionary, although a non-violent one. This is in my view a dishonest simplification and selling Jesus short. It is well known that according to the MARXIST philosophy we were born into two certain antagonist social ranks, rich and poor and the history is progressing through this irreconcilable class struggle. However, Jesus gave us an example NOT to follow so called "history necessity", but to "die to ourselves", to be "born again" and that way to transcend that class awareness and to build the "Kingdom of God " regardless of the class, race, nationality AND religious differences.
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Useful for Bible teaching, preaching.......2007-05-13
A scholarly, but accessible treatment of the biblical account of Holy Week. Well worth it: either to read straight through, or to use it as a reference book.
A Loving account by non-believers.......2007-05-07
Two deep friends and New Testament scholars combine to review this last week of Jesus. Both have previously written extensive scholarly works clarifying their non-belief in the supernatural story of Jesus. In this work they are not challenging the main account in Mark, but adding simply written expansions of what happened. While denying the divinity of Jesus, they clearly love the man and are advocates for his intent to establish "The Kingdom" on earth--a wish for fairness and justice.
Interactive Christianity: transcendence through service and justice.......2007-04-08
"The Last Week" by Marcus J. Borg and John Dominic Crossan address several problem areas in the traditional interpretations of the Passion of Jesus Christ and the events of Easter Week. Rather than seeing his teachings and purposeful orchestration of his last week as metaphor, most Christians have come to accept Jesus himself as metaphor. His suffering, death and resurrection have become a "passion" sacrifice or atonement for the failings of humankind. Crossan and Borg re-examine this metaphor. These authors describe the passion as an intensely and profoundly fundamental belief that the current, normal societal norm of political and economic dominance of government (legitimized by religious authority) be challenged and replaced. What Jesus offers in its place is human compassion and human service -- resulting in a transcendence of humanity itself. It is a solution that replaces man's kingdom and priorities with those of God and his kingdom, stressing that the work is not done by Jesus alone, but by Jesus as he inspires and transforms others to be him. As transformed, humans recognize "the dominant life of human normalcy versus the servant life of human transcendence." Focusing on Mark as the earliest and "cleanest" version (before the elaborations added by Matthew, Luke and John), Crossan and Borg stress a second theme: to quote St. Augustine, "We without God cannot, and God without us will not." The key to the mystery of Easter Week is identification of God as within humans and the acceptance of responsibility by humans to take on Jesus' role. No doubt, this is a radical interpretation and one that requires the most of our time and effort on this earth. The one drawback of the text (why it rates a four and not a five star standing) is that points made are often repeated. Perhaps, however, they need to be restated to bring full attention to them.
Jesus's last eight days.......2007-03-15
In this simple exposition written for a general audience, two leading New Testament scholars use the Gospel of Mark to explain what happened to Jesus during his final week. They use Mark because most scholars consider it the earliest of the four Gospels, the primary source for Matthew and Luke, and because when you read carefully you see that Mark details the last eight days of Holy Week, from Palm Sunday through Easter Sunday. He even specifies "morning" and "evening" for three of these days:
Palm Sunday: "When they were approaching Jerusalem" (11:1)
Monday: "On the following day" (11:12)
Tuesday: "In the morning" (11:20)
Wednesday: "It was two days before the Passover" (14:1)
Maundy Thursday: "On the first day of Unleavened Bread" (14:12)
Good Friday: "As soon as it was morning" (15:1)
Holy Saturday: "The Sabbath" (15:42, 16:1)
Easter Sunday: "Very early on the first day of the week" (16:2).
Mark even describes what happened at five three-hour intervals on Good Friday (pp. ix-x). The book, then, consists of eight chapters, one for each day of Holy Week.
For Borg and Crossan the gospels are not records of straightforward historical facts remembered by the author, but stylized interpretations of the believing community. There's an element of truth in this, of course; you could say the same about nearly all written history. But I'm sometimes dubious about historical reconstructions two millennia after the events that claim to know more and to know better than the first witnesses, or that do not give compelling explanations about how and why the first recorders got things so badly wrong and yet attracted the allegiance of so many converts (who must have known they were "wrong" about the literal facts).
Borg and Crossan do a wonderful job of illuminating the religious background of first century Judaism and especially the centrality of the temple, and the cultural and political background of the Roman empire, showing how the Biblical texts and these two contexts interact. If you've read any of Borg's many books, it will come as no surprise that the authors understand the "passion" of Jesus not as a sacrifice or substitution (as it has been understood by much if not most of Christendom), but as an incarnation of God's justice which subverts the status quo of political oppression, economic exploitation, and religious legitimation. The 2007 edition of this book has the sensational sub-title What the Gospels Really Teach About Jesus's Final Days in Jerusalem.
Average customer rating:
- Good Background Information
- A Christian history teacher's review
- Surprisingly historical
- A Must read.
- Interesting, non-biased work by a scholar of ancient history
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In the Fullness of Time: A Historian Looks at Christmas, Easter, and the Early Church
Paul L. Maier
Manufacturer: Kregel Publications
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ASIN: 0825433290 |
Book Description
This engaging and beautifully written narrative sheds a brilliant new light on the life of Jesus and the courageous men and women who carried His message throughout a hostile empire. Full-color photos and illustrations.
Customer Reviews:
Good Background Information.......2007-10-01
Maier does a good job putting Christmas and Easter into their appropriate historical contexts. Lots of good information that helps to place both into perspective.
The third part of the book, on the early church, is not as well done. There is less historical and archaelogical information brought into play. It was still pretty good, just not as good as the first two sections.
Still, I would recommend this book as one to help build a foundation.
A Christian history teacher's review.......2007-05-14
Paul Maier is a truly gifted lecturer. I've had the pleasure of watching two of his videos and if I lived anywhere near Western Michigan University, I'd sneak into the back of his classroom (he is a member of the history faculty there) on a regular basis - he has a gift for making the First Century A.D. accessible.
"In the Fullness of Time" continues this tradition. Maier has basically consolidated 3 other books into one larger volume (with a few changes) and he discusses the first Christmas, the first Easter and the ministries of the early Apostles, especially Paul and Peter.
Maier does a great job of bringing actual documentation that supports the stories of Christmas, Easter and the Book of Acts. He includes the works of Roman and Jewish historians, explains Roman and Jewish religious and political practices and deals with alternate theories that have been proposed. While this could be dry reading, Maier makes it lively and this volume reads more like a novel than a textbook.
So, who is this book for? If you are a well-read Christian who has looked into many of the facts that back the New Testament as it is written on your own, you won't find much new ground covered in this book. The internet has lots of this information scattered about. However, you are unlikely to find sources as concise and as well-written as this one. Plus, if you are interested in further research, it is well-documented with tons of footnotes.
If you are a new Christian or are newly interested in the history behind Christianity, this is a powerful introduction.
I give this one a grade of "A"
Surprisingly historical .......2006-07-30
Maybe it's because I enjoy reading historical literature... or maybe I am facinated by the notion the Gospel accounts are historical in nature. Paul Maier has done a wonderful job combining backround historical context, archeological artifacts, and a clear logical approach into a credible and refreshing look at what is was like to: experience the first Christmas, the first Easter, and what it was like for the early Christians after the resurrection. This is surprisingly enjoyable read.
A Must read........2005-05-20
Pail Maier, a expert in ancient history, has written a great book. from my understanding is that, this book was three different books now put into one. If you are a new Christian, you need this book. If you read this book as a new believer, you will have a better grasp of the background of the NT in reading this book, than going to a expositional preaching church for two years. It will lay a great foundation for your walk with the living Christ. If you a long time believer, and have not read this book, you should, for it will open your eyes, to the NT. Dr. Maier goes into the Christmas story, Easter Sunday and the early church. Great book.
Interesting, non-biased work by a scholar of ancient history.......2002-03-14
When I saw Paul Maier interviewed in a documentary on the life of Jesus, I searched for titles by this author, and when this book was listed, I immediately ordered it. I wasn't dissappointed.
Maier is a professor of ancient history at Western Michigan, and brings credibility and scholarship to a subject that is frequently approached with bias, often from polar perspectives. Professor Maier is one of the leading scholars on the writings of first century Jewish historian Josephus, and this book includes appropriate and informative references to this ancient source. As a student of history and an attorney, I found the book stimulating and thought provoking. However, the book most certainly does not read like a history text, and is interesting to both the historian and the person simply looking for some information on the historical context of the birth of Christ, his crucification and the biblical account of his resurrection. The book also examines the early church and the spread of Christianity. Anyone with an interest in these topics should read this work.
I very much recommend this book, and look forward to reading other works by Paul Maier.
Book Description
Denying that Christ suffered and died is like denying the Holocaust. For some it is simply too horrific to affirm. Others suspect it is an elaborate religious conspiracy to coerce sympathy. Those who deny either event live in a historical dreamworld. Jesus suffered unspeakably and died.
The Passion of Jesus Christ shows that the gore of Christ's suffering is turned to glory by the enormity and diversity of what his death achieved. To do this, John Piper uncovers fifty accomplishments of Christ's suffering. He shuns embellishment and shows from the Bible key evidence for each outcome of Christ's death.
When it is all said and done, the most crucial question is: Why? Why did Christ suffer and die? The answer has everything to do with you.
Customer Reviews:
Good witnessing tool, good for Christians too.......2007-08-03
Whether you're a new Christian, an old Christian, a "seeker," or just curious about Christianity, this is a good book to read. In particular, if you saw Mel Gibson's "Passion of the Christ," this book is a good companion. As other reviewers have mentioned, the movie shows THAT Jesus suffered, this book explains WHY He suffered and what it accomplished. Too often Jesus is viewed as a good moral teacher but little else; this book shows that Jesus is much more significant than that.
This book is great for witnessing. I have personally used it in evangelism and would recommend giving it to your non-Christian friends. It's great for you too; even if you think you already know why Jesus died, it'll still be beneficial. It will give you reasons for Jesus' death that you never thought of and it will help you stay focused on what Jesus did for you. This is a great book to read around Good Friday (or any other time, for that matter).
What Christ accomplished for us is obviously critically important for the Christian, and this book will help you understand that better. Dr. Piper job avoids getting bogged down in jargon or technicalities and writes in a way that laymen, including those with little theological training and non-Christians, can easily understand. It is also very concise, so you can read it fairly quickly. It is also structured such that each point is exactly 2 pages, which makes it good for devotional reading. I highly recommend this book.
Good for those still "Searching".......2007-06-24
Having just finished this book, I quite enjoyed it, though I believe it is most suited to those who have yet to find the Lord and are intellectually curious. I say "intellectually" because this book is not one to be read lightly or breezed through in quick little jaunts. Mr. Piper gives 50 different reasons why Jesus was crucified ("why" as in the "purpose" and "meaning" of His death). Each reason is short and well explained and supported by many references from the Bible. But sometimes the logic is difficult, especially for those not already steeped into the life and death of our Savior. However, it is great for newer Christians to help them more clearly see the glory of the Lord and would also be suitable for the more intellectually-minded deep-thinkers who have yet to give their lives to God.
Adding My 5 Star Review to the Pile.......2007-03-12
Here we have an excellent book! John Piper's "The Passion of Jesus Christ" is amazing because it is simple. So simple that we often skip over the "basic" reasons that Christ came to earth. Not only does this book explain the plan of salvation to non-believers and new saints, it also is exquisite for long time Christians who are rooted in their faith. It is an excellent reminder of the top fifty reasons that Jesus Christ died for us because He loves us. Each chapter is short, sweet and to the point. The book seems to coincide exactly with scripture, not straying away with personal or "interpreted" passages from the Bible. Piper uses many cross references from scripture in his work to ensure that what he states is true and accurate. Highly recommended!
Christian Fobian, Author of Why Christ?
Excellent Devotional.......2005-10-06
"The Passion of the Christ" contains fifty chapters that are two pages long. The doctrine in this book is thought provoking and is great for starting a discussion; making it a great devotional for a group, family worship, or an individual. Enjoy!
Simple yet profound.......2005-07-31
In this age Simplicity usually means watered down. Not with this book. Piper simply yet powerfully examines the Cross of Christ. Looks at the reasoning. Joins his argument with the scriptures.
Excellent book for a young Christian or young at heart.
Book Description
An acclaimed authority shows Christians how to discover and apply their unique passion, spiritual gifts, and relational style within the church. Expanded Edition.
Book Description
In this compelling quest for the Messiah, best-selling author Max Lucado invites readers to meet the blue-collar Jew whose claim altered a world and whose promise has never been equaled. Readers will come to know Jesus the Christ in a brand new way as Lucado brings them full circle to the foot of the cross and the man who sacrificed His life on it.
Customer Reviews:
A must read for everyone..........2007-05-22
This is one of the most beautiful books ever written and is necessary in everyone library. I have bought this book many times because I'm always finding perfect times to pass it along to others. It is a treasure and a must read, simply beautiful. Magnificent Messengers favorite chapter...
Book Description
As Jesus entered His final days and faced Golgotha, He acted with loving purpose and deliberate intent. Each step was calculated. Every act premeditated.
And the Angels Were Silent allows you to enter and observe a revealing and intimate view of our Savior's last week.
Customer Reviews:
Amazing!.......2007-01-08
This book was very moving and had great stories to tell. I really enjoyed reading it and I was moved to tears several times!
A Great Book.......2006-12-13
I have read this book now for the second time. This is very well written. Max Lucado really did a wonderful job when he wrote this book. I have looked back throught it and plan to read it again one day. You will enjoy it, so do not delay buying it, go ahead and get it. You will not be sorry for this purchase.
Customer Reviews:
paradigm changing.......2007-05-07
As the thought of von Balthasar starts to be absorbed now by the attentive public (like me), we will see that here is something nothing less than thrilling. We can see theology actually developing in the most radical and foundational way, in utter and profound faithfulness.
Brilliant.......2005-09-07
This is a brilliant piece of scholarship drawing from the deepest wells of Biblical interpretation, traditional theology, and rigorous philosophical thinking. Balthasar confirms for me that the most sophisticated and original thinking is done 'on route' of tradition rather than in wandering away from it. Thinkers and believers of all sorts, especially Protestant Christians (which I am) will find serious intellectual protein in this masterpiece.
The Paschal Mystery.......2005-02-19
This is quite a brilliant and intriuging book. Von Balthasar, is in my opinion the most important Catholic theologian of the 20th century. His work is always quite engaging and profound. In this theological treatment of three-day narrative of the Cross (Good Friday, Holy Saturday, Easter Day), Balthasar offers up some amazing reflections on the importance of the crucifixion of Christ, his burial and resurrection.
His first two chapters are somewhat preliminary, but no less fascinating as he explores the idea that the "death of God" is the source of all Christian life and Theology. He then moves into three chapters, on Good Friday, Holy Saturday and Easter Day. All of these are quite engaging as Balthasar frames a nuanced Kenotic and Trinitarian reading of the narrative of the cross and grave. His discussion of Holy Saturday is particularly helpful. He explores at length the idea of God's "solidarity with the dead" and all its implications for our doctrine of God and practical theology.
This book makes for fascinating Lenten reading and preparation to experience the drama of Holy Week. It also serves as a helpful contribution to the various 'theologies of the cross' that have multiplied in the last century. I highly recommend this book.
Book Description
The last four days in the life of Christ are portrayed with extraordinary realism in this deeply moving, visionary account. The Last Supper, Jesus's agony in the garden, his arrest and trial, and his crucifixion and resurrection are described in meticulous detail. Each episode is recorded as an eyewitness account, with dramatic tableaux enacted by characters like Mary, Peter, Pontius Pilate, and Judas, whose emotions and motivations are explored in depth. The author, a German nun, witnessed the events in a vision that lasted over 40 days during the Lenten season of 1823. That vision was transcribed and edited by famed poet Klemens Maria Brentano, and first published in Germany in 1833. Considered one of the great works of Catholic mysticism, The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ has been updated for modern readers as an inspiration not only to Christians, but also to all who seek spiritual guidance.
Customer Reviews:
poor customer service - great recording.......2007-03-23
We recently purchased this set of audio cd's to listen to as a family for lent. We were disappointed when the second cd stopped playing about halfway in. We contacted the company, and they assured us they would send out a replacement right away. Well, it has been a few weeks now and we are still waiting.
The Dolorous Passion is a wonderful tool to deepen your experience of praying the Stations of the Cross. Very powerful!
Revealing and Inspiring.......2007-01-04
This is a wonderful book causing the reader to pause and contemplate the magnitude of the suffering and selflessness of Our Lord Jesus Christ. This is a book that one never "finishes" reading. Like the bible, the reader can return to it for contemplation and meditation.
Mystic, Graphic Retelling of Time's Greatest Moment.......2006-12-17
Jesus Christ's Passion, death, and resurrection is time's defining moment. Its events, retold in all four Gospels, became life's purpose for millions who in turn told it to the world. Each person hearing or reading it would have to accept or reject it, living by that decision. But no one could be the same after knowing it.
That's why Anne Catherine Emmerich's visions of the final 12 hours of Christ's life and love, compelling and powerful as they are, are ultimately ancillary. Scripture accounts are as nourishing as terse: "But these have been written so that you may believe Jesus is the Christ..." But this simple German nun, devoted to the Blessed Sacrament and allowed to vicariously receive some of Christ's mystical pains and wounds, was allowed this chilling, exhausting retelling.
Those aware of "The Passion" as inspiring Mel Gibson's landmark 2003 film, and thinking his film graphic, will learn from this book. Sr. Emmerich's goal, or God's goal through her, was bringing the reader as close to Jesus and Mary's deep, shared love and physical pain as any written work could other than the Gospel. The book is separated into daily meditations of a few pages each (perfect for Lenten devotions), walking deliberately and painfully through Christ's interminable suffering with overpowering detail. It is meant to be over the top, to bring a reader to tears, guilt, amazement, and repentance.
It's for fault of familiarity we cannot read the original Gospels and see the events and characters in as rich detail, with the character motivations Sr. Emmerich provides. But not one word conflicts with the Gospels: Judas, the Pharisees, and Pilate are more villainous for the extra words about them, with Satan the ultimate force of evil in battle with Christ. (Sr. Emmerich's vision of hell, Lucifer's chaining and release date, are frightening for their correlation to World War II and the Holocaust.) Jesus says precious little other than His words from the original Passion.
Emmerich's life, summarized at book's end, shows a woman in love with the Savior she called "my spouse," and who heeded Christ's commandment to love God with her whole soul, strength, and mind. Her visions do not replace the Gospels, nor were intended to. But they place them in a near-cinematic backdrop, with the microscopic precision and drama needed to bring this timeless truth to the most callous reader.
Worth reading.......2006-07-03
I had always wondered about the details of the Passion of Our Lord. Have you ever wondered were the Apostles remained during the days before the Resurrection? where Mary was? Did you know that Mary Magadalene was Lazarus youngest sister?. Besides what is told in the Bible, very little else was known about this time. Anne Catherine Emmerich gives an insight into the Passion that I had never dreamt possible; all of the sudden, that far away time and the all-too-high-to-reach and understand characters of the Passion, come to us as people (without taking away the Divinity of Jesus) with the suffering and reactions of real persons.
This book gives all the detail that one could ever ask for. Of course, as they are personal revelations, one is not obliged to believe in them, but after reading the life of ACE and her other visions, is very hard not to believe in them..... they are incredibly rich in detail and knowledge.
I highly recommend this book. It's great reading and a big boost to our Faith.
Also very worth reading is the life of The Blessed Virgin Mary according to A.C. Emmerich's revelations.
If you Thought Mel Gibson's Movie was Touching, Read This!.......2006-06-30
I can't think of the last book that I'd read that has moved me emotionally as much as this book. I had heard about this being at least part inspiration for the movie and so I got this soon after watching it. The incredible amount of detail that Blessed Anne Emmerich describes truly brings to life the sufferings and torments of Jesus to the point that you can almost feel the pain and tortures just by reading this. It is impossible to not feel some remorse and sympathy for Jesus when you read this and for me, it made me ponder and contemplate more deeply the meaning and the great depths of God's love to undergo all this for all of us. This is clearly one of the best books I have ever read period. Highly recommended for all Christians and anyone interested in the Passion of the Christ.
Product Description
2004 updated reprint from the older red-covered edition. One of the most extraordinary books ever published. These four volumes record the visions of the famous 19th-century Catholic mystic, Ven. Anne Catherine Emmerich, a nun who was privileged to behold innumerable events of biblical times, going back all the way to the creation of the world. She witnessed the fall of the Angels, the sin of Adam, Noe and the Flood, the lives of St. John the Baptist, St. Anne, St. Joseph, the Blessed Virgin Mary, and St. Mary Magdalen. Also includes the birth, life, public ministry, Crucifixion and Resurrection of Jesus Christ, as well as the founding of His Church. Besides describing persons, places, events and traditions in intimate detail, Anne Catherine Emmerich also sets forth the mystical significance of these visible realities.
Customer Reviews:
What these revelations meant to me.......2006-02-25
I read these books 45 years ago but gave them away when we moved to another location. After finding out that "The Passion of Christ" movie was based on Catherine Emerich's cloistered life of visionary expierience, I wanted to read them again. As they had been out of print 45 years ago - I didn't expect to find them now - but God bless Amazon.Com for having them available. The details contained in the Life of Jesus Christ revealed in these documents are awe inspiring and deeply revealing to the true nature of Christ and His Mission. This knowledge balances out that of an anti-christ philosophy that one finds prevelant in today's society. I recommend them highly!
A must read for all Christians.......2005-11-08
This four volume set is an absolute must read for all Christians.The information in these four books is so amazing that you will not put them down.These books answer all critics of the bible who say that the information in it is not reliable. Bl. Anne Catherine Emmerich gives a detailed account of the ministry of Christ with a tremendous amount of information not given in the New Testament. Among the things that she reveals is Christ's journey to Cypress and his preaching the Gospel to Jews and Pagans there. When reading these four volumes you feel like you are watching a video of Christ's life with so much detailed information about people and places not mentioned in the New Testament. A detailed history of Salvation is given from the time of Adam to Mary's death. An absolute must have for your library.
An excellent book that provides many answers.......2005-10-21
This book is simply great! It fills in a lot of gaps in the Bible accounts of the prophets and Jesus. The energy expended by Jesus and John the Baptist in their ministries is captured in full colour with details of places, the customs of different peoples, in rich description, which makes it all the more convincing since the visionary had never known to have been at those places or known these sitting in Germany! At the same time there is no indication of someone else of more sophisticated knowledge having written these things as her simplicity shines through at times that only serve to authenticate the book. I was particularly touched by the accounts of John the Baptist and came across with a feeling of awe for the tremendous workaholic (if you can call it that) spirit of our own Lord who never seemed to tire of doing His work. A book that will definitely deepen your faith and give wonderful and beautiful details not found anywhere else. When I first started, I found the initial accounts between creation and Abraham a little hard to believe but found that the author actually cross references the same later on in the next three books, in another period as actually influencing pagan beliefs. But the rest is such easy reading especially when trying to understand the gaps in the four Gospels. I also found the reason that the visonary "sees" for God allowing creation to continue uptil the present time from the fall of the angels very convincing. An excellent set of books worth every penny, absolutely worth reading over and over to understand the contributions of the holy men of old.
Second reading.......2005-08-24
I read this book set 15 years ago, when it was in a smaller print. I was half way through when I resolved to mark the most interesting things the next time I read them (highly recommended). These books are some of the most unique reading that I have ever done. The books start with creation and the fall of man, and end with redemption, but with details that are nowhere else available. The names and relationships of many, many people are given, along with customs, dress, landscapes, colors, smells, temperatures, and many other details that are available only to one who was actually present at the time. Many times, the current state of things are compared to what they were 1900 years prior. The biggest impact of reading these books is the realization of the incredible energy that Jesus expended in teaching, exorcising devils, and curing all sorts of diseases of both body and soul; and how His enemies, the Pharisees, chose to kill Him, rather than lose their cushy, powerful and prestigious positions. The Biblical revelations are nothing short of incredible. The most interesting Biblical revelation for me is the detailed description of the contents of the Ark of the Covenant, and how one item from the Ark was used at the conception of Mary.
Making the Gospels Come to Life.......2005-07-11
Jesus told Anne Catherine Emmerich that she is the greatest visionary to ever walk the planet, but this did not effect her humility. She is a very holy nun who gives us a new perspective on Jesus and fills in the information the bible leaves out. For instance, the sinner who Anoints Jesus with costly perfume is Mary Magdelan, and she is the sister of Martha and Lazarous. Buy the books they are worth every penny. I am living in Germany and paid the international shipping. My order got messed up and I only received the second book. It took me a week to read it. Amazons customer service was great, they reordered the four volume set and paid the shipping, the next time I only received the first book, finally they reimbursed me and told me I could keep the two books. Hopefully they have fixed the problem by now. I am waiting for a reseller to sell the 3rd and 4th books singularly. If this doesn't happen, I plan on reordering the entire set.
Book Description
WHAT’S THE KEY TO HAVING MORE PASSION FOR CHRIST, THE CROSS, AND THE GOSPEL ?
The answer is to look at the death of Christ not from our point of view, but from God’s. That’s what this book helps you do in a profound, strategic, and life-changing way.
Author C. J. Mahaney exposes our human tendency to look at the Savior’s death (and at everything else!) through our own subjective feelings and impressions, rather than from the standpoint of objective truth. By nature we always begin with ourselves rather than with God. But by following the God-first "Divine Order" in how we think—and by asking "What do I believe?" instead of "How do I feel?"—we’re freed up to embrace the right truth in the right way. The right feelings quickly follow, and they’re reliable because they’re anchored in truth.
The Secret to Sustaining Joy
Do you desire more passion for Christ? Then learn to see His death not from our point of view, but from God’s.
Author C. J. Mahaney puts you at our Savior’s side—and into His soul—during the most emotionally wrenching moments of His final hours. As you better understand the true nature of His struggle, you’ll grasp more than ever the staggering significance of why Jesus died…and fully experience His sacrifice as a personal act of love for you.
Allow the deepest truths of Calvary to stir your passion for Christ our mediator into a flame that burns your whole life long.
Story Behind the Book
There’s nothing more overpowering than to climb Calvary ’s hill in childlike attentiveness and wonder, with all our distractions and wrong assumptions cleared away. This book was written that we might be gripped by gratitude and enflamed in passion for the Savior, Christ our Mediator, who suffered the Father’s righteous wrath for us.
Customer Reviews:
Focusing on the Cross..........2007-04-26
This little book is a very powerful one. The book is summed up in one of C.J. Mahaney's quotes when asked by a Starbuck's barista, "How are you doing?" C.J.'s response? "Better than I deserve." This quote is the essence of this book. C.J.'s focus is entirely on the cross and what Christ went through spiritually as He prayed in the garden and left alone and forsaken on the cross.
C.J. hammers home the point of quite the opposite of what is usually focused on: Christ's physical suffering to refocusing us on Christ's spiritual suffering. C.J. then applies this to the reader's suffering in life, joy and proclamation of the Gospel.
There is absolutely no fluff in this book, it keeps coming straight at you over and over again. One quote I absolutely loved is:
"If one were to weigh their suffering in this life, their sin would far outweigh it."
C.J.'s point is that when we go through suffering we should not focus on ourselves but in the redemption and suffering at the cross.
I whole heartily recommend this book to all. Return to the cross
How to live a Cross centered life.......2005-09-24
CJ is one of my modern day heroes. Through his humility and teaching, the Lord has given me a new vision of the Cross. This book can help you no matter where you're at in your spiritual life. Whether a new believer (easy to understand), someone who doesn't believe (life changing), someone who doesnt like to read (only 95 pages), or a scholar who thinks this is below him (very deep and penetrating). If you're serious about God, this is the kind of book to help you love your Saviour more. "Let the cross always be the treasure of your heart, your best & highest thought...and your passionate preoccupation." page 94.
Editorial Review has it right!.......2005-08-24
I won't try to add much to what the Editorial Review says, because it really does cover a lot. Mr. Mahaney's book certainly does approach the cross of Christ from a God-centered viewpoint, not a man-centered one, which is exactly right (cf. Martyn Lloyd-Jones' pamphlet called The Cross: The Vindication of God). What Mahaney does so well is to walk the reader through Gethsemane and onwards to Calvary; to evoke a sense of some of the physical and spiritual pain Christ was experiencing as he took these steps towards his substitutionary death on our behalf. It's a book that demands many more re-reads than Mahaney's little book The Cross-Centered Life, as good as that one is. Christ Our Mediator must be read many times in order to soak in all the subtle nuances of our Saviour's sacrifice on the cross.
Another Cross-Centered Book.......2005-08-24
Having written The Cross Centered Life, in which he exhorted believers to keep the gospel the main thing - the central focus of the Christian life - C.J. Mahaney now stops to reflect on Christ's sacrifice. Christ Our Mediator follows hard on the heels of many similar books timed to coincide with the popularity of The Passion of the Christ. Mahaney begins the book by asserting (correctly, it seems) that a visual presentation of Christ's crucifixion simply is not enough - we must also be told about the content of the story of the gospel. "The gospel message isn't visual; it's truth. It is truth to be believed, not simply a collection of images to be viewed" (page 10). Knowing that many people have seen the how of Christ's death, Mahaney sets out to bring sense to the why of it.
To explain the cross, Mahaney presents a handful of reflections or meditations on Christ's suffering and death. Drawing on Scripture and the teachings of great Christians of our day and days past, he presents the gospel in all its force and power. He presents the message that people hate to hear, yet so badly need to hear. This message is the only thing that can save the soul, and Mahaney presents it with that sort of urgency.
This little book, weighing in at only 95 pages, will stir your heart with renewed love for Christ. We could wish that it was a little bit longer, but clearly it was meant only as an introduction to this important topic. Mahaney is sure to recommend, as further reading, other excellent books dealing with the subject. He recommends The Gospel for Real Life and The Discipline of Grace by Jerry Bridges, The Cross of Christ by John Stott, Saved From What? by R.C. Sproul, The Passion of Jesus Christ by John Piper and The Message of Salvation by Philip Ryken. To that list I would add The Cross He Bore by Frederick Leahy, a wonderful book of meditations upon the cross.
Another challenging little book by C.J. Mahaney, Christ Our Mediator is a welcome sequel to The Cross Centered Life and one I heartily recommend. It provides a great introduction to the importance of the cross and will lead the reader not only to understand why Christ had to die, but to want to know more.
Cross-Centered .......2005-03-06
This short cross-centered book (you can read it in one sitting)is a helpful reminder of the glory of God's rescue of sinners from his own righteous wrath through the gift of his precious Son. Mahaney reminds us that it was our own personal sin that nailed Jesus to the cross and our own face in the crowd that cried "crucify him! crucify him!" And he points us to the joy and assurance that comes from trusting the love and grace unleashed through Jesus's substitutionary work. One piece of advice: combine your order of this book with "Songs for the Cross-centered Life," a CD produced by the ministry which C. J. Mahaney leads. Your heart will soar with the songs which express the truth of this book.
Books:
- The Little Black Journal Of Wine: A Wine Lover's Record Keeper (Guided Journal Series)
- The Little Book of Bleeps: Excerpts from the Award-Winning Movie What the (#$%&) Bleep Do We Know
- The Lord of the Rings Sketchbook
- The Martini: An Illustrated History of an American Classic
- The Measure of a Man: A Spiritual Autobiography (Oprah's Book Club)
- The Narrative of Arthur Gordon Pym of Nantucket, and Related Tales (Oxford World's Classics)
- The Natural Vision Improvement Kit
- The Nature of Consciousness : The Structure of Reality: Theory of Everything Equation Revealed : Scientific Verification and Proof of Logic God Is
- The Neddiad: How Neddie Took the Train, Went to Hollywood, and Saved Civilization
- The New Media Reader
Books Index
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