Monday, December 1, 2014

Book Review: Jesus Unmasked

Jesus Unmasked: The Truth Will Shock You. Todd Friel. 2014. New Leaf Press. 238 pages. [Source: Library]

From the introduction:
If you take the time to read this book, you will learn:
  • What Jesus believed about Himself
  • Why Jesus' contemporaries wanted to murder this "good teacher"
  • What the Bible is actually about. It will make sense, whether you believe it or not. 
If you take the time to read this book, you can draw your own conclusions about the most influential man in history. (14)
From chapter two:
Prepare to see Jesus revealed in the Old Testament. Prepare to take a whirlwind tour through the Bible and see the perfect, brilliant harmony that proves, beyond the shadow of a doubt, that Jesus is indeed, the Truth. (25)
I loved many things about Jesus Unmasked. I loved the clear presentation. Readers will learn who Jesus is, why he came, and why it matters--why it will always matter. This book centers on Jesus Christ as revealed in both the Old Testament and the New Testament. It is a book ABOUT how the Bible is ALL ABOUT Jesus from cover to cover. Chapter by chapter, Friel illustrates how the Bible reveals Jesus to be the way, the truth, and the life.

The table of contents:

  • Introduction: Truth is Like a Baseball Game
  • Who Is This Man?
  • The Big Question
  • Big, Fancy Words
  • The Scarlet Thread in the Old Testament
  • The Scarlet Thread in the New Testament
  • Jesus is the Ark
  • Jesus is the Rock
  • Jesus is the Living Water
  • Jesus is the Bread
  • Jesus is the Bronze Serpent
  • Jesus is the Tabernacle
  • Read This!
  • Jesus Is the Sabbath
  • Jesus Is Seven Festivals
  • The Offices of Jesus
  • Jesus is People
  • Jesus is Places and Things
  • Jesus is the New Covenant, Part One
  • Jesus is the New Covenant, Part Two
  • Jesus is the I AM
  • Jesus is the Bridegroom
  • Jesus Is...

I loved how rich it was in Scripture. I loved how it celebrated the Bible. I loved how informative it was too.

From "Jesus is the Ark"
God commanded Noah to "cover the ark inside and out with pitch" (Gen. 6:14). The ark was made watertight by covering it internally and externally with this waterproof substance. It is the word "pitch" that leads us again to Jesus. According to Strong's Concordance, the Hebrew word for pitch is kaphar and it means "to cover, purge, make an atonement, make reconciliation." Kaphar is used 70 times in the Bible to mean "atonement" as it relates to blood sacrifice. Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) comes from the word kaphar. There is only one exception to the use of kaphar, and it is here in Genesis that Kaphar is the word used to describe the pitch used on the ark to keep the waters of judgement out. In the New Testament, the word for "pitch" is translated propitiation. The New Testament makes it clear that Jesus is our pitch, He is our propitiation. (1 John 2:1-2) (1 John 4:10) Jesus is the pitch that saves us from God's judgment. (61)
The people in the day of Noah were evil continually and yet, God provided a means of salvation for those who hate Him. That is amazing grace. God's forbearance is beyond our comprehension. Day after day, minute by minute we ignore Him. Years of non-stop blessings are delivered to us from His gracious hand and we refuse to thank Him. Decades of free air, free food, free shelter, free everything. How do we repay Him? We hate Him. And yet God sends us an ark. Instead of pouring out His wrath, He provides a vehicle of rescue. Instead of destroying us for our sins, He crushed His own Son on our behalf. Instead of obliterating us, He preaches to us, "Run to the ark. Run through the Door. Run to Jesus and be saved from the wrath that is to come." (63)
I also loved how every chapter ends with an appeal, a clear call to repent and believe the gospel.


© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

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