Paperback: 224 pages- Publisher: Zondervan; Reprint edition (November 4, 2014)
- Language: English
- ISBN-10: 0310340497
- ISBN-13: 978-0310340492
- Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.5 inches
An Overview
A few weeks ago, with Christmas around the corner, I wanted to read a book on the life of Jesus. I had purchased John Ortberg’s Who Is This Man? The Unpredictable Impact of the Inescapable Jesus a couple of years back. It was sitting on my shelf.
While a number of Ortberg’s titles are in my collection, Who Is This Man? is the first I’ve read in its entirety. Ortberg explores how the life of Jesus has impacted human life and history, from humanity’s dignity, to the arts, culture, government, marriage, education, womanhood, etc. Along the way, Ortberg interacts with a number of authors here and there, from different traditions and so on.
A Critique
As mentioned above, this is my first Ortberg in its entirety. He did not disappoint. Who Is This Man? reads quite well. While written on the bottom shelf, so to speak, the reader gets the impression that the book is well researched.
I was reminded once again, especially with Christmas only days away, of the impact of the life of Jesus, Immanuel, “God with us” (Isa. 7:14; see Matt. 1:23). Ortberg does an outstanding job of reminding us of this. We tend to forget this. Only consider the calendar and how we refer to someone’s death. “Joseph Stalin died in the year of our Lord 1953” (p. 181).
Before the “Epilogue: A Staggering Idea,” Ortberg titles the three preceding chapters, beginning with “Friday,” “Saturday,” and “Sunday,” respectively. I like the concluding structure to the book. For the most part I get “Friday” and “Sunday” but thought he could’ve done more with “Saturday.” Of course there are the silence, disappointment, and despair of “Saturday.” But I believe Ortberg missed a great opportunity to point to Jesus as our Sabbath, our Rest, if you will. “On the Sabbath they rested according to the commandment” (Luke 23:56 ESV). Now reflect on Matthew 11:28-30 and Jesus invitation to rest in him.
At any rate, I commend Ortberg’s Who Is This Man? The Unpredictable Impact of the Inescapable Jesus. We really need to be reminded of how Jesus has indeed impacted human life and history. It’s not just about a book.
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