The First Time We Saw Him: Awakening to the Wonder of Jesus
Scripture tells us that the words of Jesus made people uncomfortable, confused, angry, repentant, worshipful, and riotous.Today, we read the words of Christ in a steady, even tone and find ourselves wondering if maybe we're missing something. Could it be that we've lost the emotional power of Jesus's words simply because we're too familiar with them?With incredible insight into the surprising and unsettling aspects of Jesus's parables and life, Matt Mikalatos reimagines familiar stories and parables in a modern-day setting, bringing alive all the controversy and conflict inherent in the originals. Emotional, sometimes humorous, and even jaw-dropping, these stories raise provocative questions and offer a glimpse of Jesus as his contemporaries must have seen him."Matt Mikalatos retains the scandal and surprise of the most famous Gospel narratives while recasting them in modern language that ignites the imagination and awakens the soul. This book will have you seeing aspects of the gospel anew and leave you wondering, 'Who wouldn't want to know a Jesus like this?'"--Jonathan Merritt, author ofJesus Is Better Than You Imagined; senior columnist for Religion News Service"Matt Mikalatos extracts the best-known stories of the Gospels from their ancient setting and inserts them boldly into a modern context. This is a must-read for those seeking a fresh look at the living, breathing Christ."--Josh D. McDowell, author and speaker"In this highly original book, Matt Mikalatos ups the ante in our understanding of Jesus in ways that are unsettling, challenging, poignant, and inspiring all at the same time."--Tom Krattenmaker, contributing columnist forUSA Today; author ofThe Evangelicals You Don't KnowMatt Mikalatosis the author ofMy Imaginary JesusandNight of the Living Dead Christian, and has been on staff with Cru for fifteen years. He has a master's degree in biblical theology from Western Seminary and lives with his family near Portland, Oregon. Learn more at www.mikalatos.com.