Who Is This Man?

Book Review.

Ortberg, John.  Who Is This Man?  The unpredictable impact of the inescapable Jesus.  Zondervan, 2012.  Forward by Condoleezza Rice.

Comment.  Henry.

The list of endorsements is quite impressive.  Condoleezza make this assessment.  “The real power of this book is in its exploration of the paradox of our faith: the acceptance of the Lord Jesus Christ is not a pathway to an easy life but a call to do the hard things if we are to live in the image of our Lord.”  John has done some very thorough research to support his presentation.  Good stuff!

John begins with an intense overview of the historical influence of Jesus during the last two millenniums.  None other has had a world influence that comes close to the influence that Jesus had. 

Jesus “entered the world with no dignity.” (21)  Herod was an example of Roman dignity.  Jesus was responsible for the complete collapse of that kind of dignity.  His criteria for dignity was, ‘become like a child’. 

Jesus began “a revolt in humanity” (33) when he explained what it meant for man/woman to be made in the image of God.  John tackles the delicate topic of the identity of woman.  In the account of Jesus’ interaction with Mary and Martha “Jesus was inviting women to be His disciples”. (54)

According to the Greco-Roman standards of greatness, Jesus certainly didn’t qualify for greatness.  He modeled humility and servant hood.  His command to ‘love your enemies’ was very counter cultural.  It still is. 

The disciple John gives a clear perspective of the kingdom of God as taught by Christ and compares it to the kingdom of this world, i.e. Caesar’s.

 The good life is taught in the Sermon on the Mount.  The good person is modeled by Jesus.  “The Person who changed marriage in the Western world more than anyone else was Himself never married.” (149)  His life has had a huge impact on the arts. 

“Who is this man?”  Heaven and earth intersect in Him.  “Humanity and divinity somehow intersect in this one man.” (200)  “All roads meet; all threads are woven together in the tapestry of this life.” (201)

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