Review: The Surprising Genius of Jesus: What the Gospels Reveal about the Greatest Teacher
The Surprising Genius of Jesus: What the Gospels Reveal about the Greatest Teacher by Peter J. WilliamsMy rating: 5 of 5 stars
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Rating: 5/5
Peter Willaims wrote over the argument that he has seen little literature on how Jesus Christ of Nazareth should be considered a genius. We have seen geniuses in our day and throughout our history. Jesus should be on that list as well with the way he proclaims his parables and how they have such an impact not only on the hearers of it but his enemies as well, who were the scribes and priests of the temple who would know more of the deeper meaning.
Willaims takes on the parable of the two sons and gives an entirely different perspective on the fantastic story of a lost son returning. He hones in on the older brother and how his view of the story shows a son who is selfish and uncaring. He then takes us back to other stories within the scriptures that focus on two brothers like Esau and Jacob or Joseph and his brothers. These stories of brothers who were against each other but rejoined have a complete 180 difference from the story of the two sons in the parable Jesus speaks to sinners, scribes, and Pharisees.
Williams proclaims Jesus as a genius because as Jesus tells the parable of the two sons, He speaks to two different audiences before him. The Sinners are the lost child and are brought back with rejoicing into the Father's arms. The Scribes and the Pharisees are the older brothers and do not rejoice but complain when the younger one returns. As Jesus hones on the story, he expects the scribes to be most attentive since they would know the story of Genesis by heart and, by doing so, would know that they, as the "older brother," are acting unjustly to the sinner's returns and should be like Esua or the brothers of Joseph and be repentant and joyful.
Throughout the book, I can say that the storyline and the writing style were easy to read and understand. On some pages, I even felt convicted because I didn't see both perspectives of the well-known parable. Williams did an amazing job in his book, and it will be one that I will have as a constant read.
Peter Willaims wrote over the argument that he has seen little literature on how Jesus Christ of Nazareth should be considered a genius. We have seen geniuses in our day and throughout our history. Jesus should be on that list as well with the way he proclaims his parables and how they have such an impact not only on the hearers of it but his enemies as well, who were the scribes and priests of the temple who would know more of the deeper meaning.
Willaims takes on the parable of the two sons and gives an entirely different perspective on the fantastic story of a lost son returning. He hones in on the older brother and how his view of the story shows a son who is selfish and uncaring. He then takes us back to other stories within the scriptures that focus on two brothers like Esau and Jacob or Joseph and his brothers. These stories of brothers who were against each other but rejoined have a complete 180 difference from the story of the two sons in the parable Jesus speaks to sinners, scribes, and Pharisees.
Williams proclaims Jesus as a genius because as Jesus tells the parable of the two sons, He speaks to two different audiences before him. The Sinners are the lost child and are brought back with rejoicing into the Father's arms. The Scribes and the Pharisees are the older brothers and do not rejoice but complain when the younger one returns. As Jesus hones on the story, he expects the scribes to be most attentive since they would know the story of Genesis by heart and, by doing so, would know that they, as the "older brother," are acting unjustly to the sinner's returns and should be like Esua or the brothers of Joseph and be repentant and joyful.
Throughout the book, I can say that the storyline and the writing style were easy to read and understand. On some pages, I even felt convicted because I didn't see both perspectives of the well-known parable. Williams did an amazing job in his book, and it will be one that I will have as a constant read.
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