JESUS, THE LIFE-CHANGER
Exclusive: the people Jesus met – in their own words
By Simon J. Robinson. Day One. 126 pages. £7.00
ISBN 978 1 846 251 238
A strange book! The author takes familiar stories with lesser-known Bible characters and gives a fictional background to them. So, for example, the woman with the issue of blood, of whom we actually know very little, is portrayed in a fictional way. Drawing on the culture of the day and the information we are given in the Bible, the author speculates about her personal situation and builds a story around her.
At first I found this very frustrating. The approach seemed to be ‘reading into the text’, which I felt might prove confusing to someone from a non-church background. However, as I read on I found myself engrossed in the stories and really enjoyed the accounts built around the Bible characters.
I found it refreshing, throwing new light on familiar stories. The book gives some helpful insights into the cultural background which enables the reader to understand the character more fully.
I liked the fact that the Bible passages from which the characters had been taken were printed out fully so that you can easily see what is fictional and what is actual.
There are heart-searching questions at the end of each chapter, which give opportunities to think through what has been read, delve deeper into Scripture and make application to your own personal situation.
The book has its drawbacks, but, on balance, I think it is a good book for any Christian or serious seeker to read. It would be especially helpful for those who are not seasoned readers as it is very accessible, with short chapters which keep the reader engaged. The cultural insights will prove helpful to young Christians and refreshing to more established believers.
Gail Curry, director of Baptist Women for the Association of Baptist Churches in Ireland, is married to Steven, pastor of Bethany Baptist in Bangor, Northern Ireland
