Understanding Jesus: Cultural Insights into the Words and Deeds of ChristModern-day Christians often bring their own presuppositions and assumptions to the reading of the Bible, not realizing how deeply their understanding of Christ's life and teachings is affected by a 21st-century worldview. In Understanding Jesus, author Joe Amaral delves deep into Jewish history, societal mores, and cultural traditions, closing the gap created by geographical distance and over two thousand years of history. Using a chronological approach to the life of Christ, he guides the reader through significant events such as Jesus' birth, baptism, and crucifixion, pointing out illuminating details that that the Western mind would normally miss. Amaral's premise is that to understand Jesus, we must understand the time and place in which he was born, the background from which he drew his illustrations, and the audience he spoke to. Throughout the book he explores specific terms, places, and events for their significance and shows how they add richness and meaning to the text. Topics include the connection between Jesus and John the Baptist, the annual Feasts and why they are important to modern Christianity, Jewish customs such as foot-washing, clean and unclean foods, paying tribute to political governments, and the significance of various miracles. In Understanding Jesus, Amaral draws back the curtain on a way of life that existed during the reign of the Caesars, and in doing so, reveals truths about the way we live more than two thousand years later, half a world away. |
Other editions - View all
Understanding Jesus: Cultural Insights into the Words and Deeds of Christ Joe Amaral No preview available - 2011 |
Understanding Jesus: Cultural Insights Into the Words and Deeds of Christ Joe Amaral No preview available - 2014 |
Understanding Jesus: Cultural Insights into the Words and Deeds of Christ Joe Amaral No preview available - 2011 |
Common terms and phrases
Apostle asked betrothal biblical bride Caesarea Philippi called celebrate the feasts ceremony Christ coming commanded crowd cultural Day of Atonement Day of Pentecost dead death disciples early church Egypt Elijah Exodus faith father Feast of Firstfruits Feast of Pentecost Feast of Tabernacles Feast of Trumpets Feast of Unleavened fence laws first-century fulfilled Galilee Gentiles glory goat God’s Greek groom Hanukkah happened healed heaven Hebrew High Priest Holy Israel Israelites Jerusalem Jews John the Baptist Lamb of God lasting ordinance Lazarus living water look Lord Luke Matt Matthew menorah Messiah Messianic miracle Moses mountain mustard seed Nazareth offering passage Passover Lamb Paul Peter Pharisees Pilate priestly division prophetic rabbis resurrection Sabbath sacrifice Scripture seven days seventh month shofar sins story synagogue tassel teaching tell Temple Temple Mount Testament Torah tradition tzitzit understand Unleavened Bread voice woman word worship yeast