Jesus' birth and early years paint the portrait of the God who acts differently than we expect. The young Nazarene brings us face-to-face with issues that require more than reading a brief text message. Jesus' story urges us to make sense of His uncommon birth and life in light of first-century Roman and Jewish culture. His birth presses on us to think about the unimaginable: Did the Creator of the universe come to a tiny blue dot in the cosmos? Did God become human?
It is a story saturated with love and hope for many. It is also the story of a land caught up in social, political, and spiritual struggle. The joyful birth of a tiny little boy contrasts with the pressures that bear down on Joseph, Mary, and many others. They also pierce Jesus' life as He grows up. The Gospels of Matthew, Luke, and John beckon us to consider our compassionate Creator in His world and by so doing dare to see our world and ourselves more clearly.
Table of Contents:
Introduction
Chapter 1: The Compassionate and Holy One Is Coming!
Chapter 2: Mary's Pregnancy in an Oppressed World
Chapter 3: The Birth of Jesus
Chapter 4: Growing in Wisdom and Stature and Favor
Chapter 5: Growing Up Among the Gentiles
Chapter 6: Surrounded by Jewish and Gentile Religion
Chapter 7: Growing Up Under a Wondrous Sky
Chapter 8: Fearfully and Wonderfully Made
Chapter 9: Growing Up Close to the Father
Chapter 10: The Dark Lord's Pressure
Chapter 11: Jesus, Our Hope
Illustrations
Appendix A: Discussion Questions
Appendix B: Can We Trust Matthew and Luke's Gospels?
Appendix C: Jesus' Youth as Described in the 'Lost Gospels'
Appendix D: Jesus and Mary's Relationship in Popular Religious Tradition Notes
Selected Sources
About the Author:
Bruce Morton has served as a guest teacher at Korea Christian College (Seoul, Korea). He and his wife, Sharon, have three children. Bruce is also the author of Deceiving Winds and Renewed. He holds a bachelor's degree from Freed-Hardeman University, a master's degree from Harding University, and has done additional study in Medieval religion at Gettysburg Theological Seminary.
