Confronting Jesus: 9 Encounters with the Hero of the Gospels by Rebecca McLaughlin

Confronting Jesus: 9 Encounters with the Hero of the Gospels Reviews

• 
  Mikayla Oommen

  This book is for anyone who wants to know more about who Jesus is, a man who lived 2000+ years ago but is still so relevant today. She explains things really well and there were a lot of big takeaways. My one critique is how many book/movie references she used, which sometimes took away from the real point she was trying to convey. But overall really good.
• 
  Sarah Emtage

  If you use the Kingston public library this is available as an audiobook on hoopla. I recommend it whether you already love Jesus or are mildly curious about him.
• 
  Hobart

  This originally appeared at
  The Irresponsible Reader.
  ---
  WHAT'S CONFRONTING JESUS ABOUT?
  Most people have a lot of preconceptions about Jesus, a lot of people have read and/or heard things about Him and the Scriptures that tell about him. But not as many have actually read those Scriptures, particularly the Gospels.
  
  Rebecca McLaughlin tries to clear away some of the cultural debris that has piled up between non-Christians and the Gospels and the subject of the Gospels. For example, as she points out, given Christianity's impact in shaping Western Civilization, it's difficult to think of Jesus as non-Western.
  
  The goal of the book is to help the reader (particularly those with little-to-know-exposure to Christianity) begin to see the Gospels for what they really are, not the readers' preconceptions of them. And the Jesus revealed in the Gospels as the Gospels want to portray him, not what the reader may already think.
  
  It's a high and lofty goal—possibly too lofty for 200 pages. But this isn't intended as a definitive work, more like an invitation for the reader to do their own work.
  
  A MENAGERIE OF REFERENCES
  A lot of writers (and preachers, truth be told) will introduce a subject or thought by grounding their introduction in some sort of shared knowledge. Sometimes it'll be an experience (first day of school), a person everyone knows (George Washington), a current event, or some sort of cultural reference (literature, music, film/TV, etc.). McLaughlin almost always goes for the latter. And, for the overwhelming majority of the time, it's a very contemporary reference.
  
  She starts off by invoking the musical Hamilton, and does so in-depth—it wasn't long at all before I made a note, "can we be done with Hamilton now?" The answer was no—she came back to Miranda's hit time and time again. Thankfully my worries about this being a book about Jesus, the gospels, and a hip-hop musical about a Founding Father quickly evaporated and she moved on to other cultural touchpoints—Harry Potter, Doctor Who, The Princess Bride, Gladiator, The Picture of Dorian Gray, The Lord of the Rings, Jane Austen, A Tale of Two Cities, and more. It's an interesting mix of pop-culture and more high-brow references.
  
  I'm spending more time on this than I initially intended, but I kept bumping on this tendency of hers, and I ended up spending as much time thinking about it as I did her arguments. Now, I don't think most readers will do that—but most readers aren't considering the delivery of the content as they are the content. So I don't think most readers will be distracted by this as I am.
  
  Still, the volume of pop culture references strikes me as a dangerous strategy (as comfortable and relatable as it might be). It can trivialize the subject matter. It can possibly cause offense (how many people really want to relate to J.K. Rowling right now? A different crowd than those who didn't want anything to do with her in the 90s, to be sure).
  
  Lastly, it reduces the shelf-life of the book tremendously. Wilde, Dickens, and Austen are references that will stand (and have stood) the test of time—but will The Hunger Games and Ted Lasso? Maybe. But Maybe not. McLaughlin's arguments and insights may be worth reading in ten years, but will the book as a whole? Or will what makes it most approachable today make it stale and off-putting within a presidential election cycle or two.
  
  (that took a lot more time to express and explain my concerns than I thought it would—this is not a significant detriment to the effectiveness of the book, but it is one)
  
  THE TONE
  McLaughlin has an approachable, almost breezy style. I started this book while taking a break from a more scholarly book, and the early chapters had some overlap with the other book I was reading. And I suffered a little mental whiplash. I got over it the more of the book that I read (especially as it diverted into different territory from the other), but it almost seemed too shallow. A lot of readers might think that, too. If you persevere, however you'll see that's not that case.
  
  McLaughlin comes across as open, honest, and earnest—the kind of person you'd enjoy chatting with—and her grounding things in events with her life or a movie you've both seen (or that she's told you enough about that you want to see it), makes the material something you connect with.
  
  SO, WHAT DID I THINK ABOUT CONFRONTING JESUS?
  I enjoyed the book. I was charmed by McLaughlin's style and found her arguments compelling—not convincing. But, as I said, I'm not sure she was trying to convince her readers—I think she was set on moving them to do more research, more reading, and to deal with more convincing ideas and arguments. This was an introduction to Jesus, hopefully lowering perceived barriers to him—and a challenge to deal honestly with Him and His claims rather than preconceptions and reputations about Him (and His followers).
  
  That said, I'm predisposed to agree with her. We're on the same team, and don't have the same barriers that the non-Christian will have. So I can't ultimately say how well the book works. Do I think that several of my friends would benefit from it? Sure. But that's just a guess/hope. The ultimate sign of the quality and effectiveness of this book is going to come from the non-Christian reader.
  
  Also, this book does make me curious about McLaughlin's other work—and I anticipate grabbing at least one of her earlier books soon.
  
  Disclaimer: I received this eARC from Crossway via NetGalley in exchange for this post—thanks to both for this opportunity.
• 
  sophia oommen

  I really enjoyed this!! Very easy to follow. I recommend.
  (she does spoil a few books & movies though 😐)
• 
  Ada Tarcau

  A very recommendable apologetics book - it is approachable, enjoyable in its contemporary references to literature and film, extensive in its many important arguments (quite amazing how much was packed in so few pages - there are chapters lovely to be revisited by long-practicing christians, too). It is also transparent and vulnerable (thus even more relatable).
  
  Given the many topics covered in the book concerning Jesus and the Gospels, it follows, of course, that it cannot go very deep, but i think it goes deep enough to compel one to reconsider presuppositions, and stir curiosity to search for more - a noble aim for a book.
• 
  Ashley Hoss

  This was such a great read. The book is not long or cumbersome. I greatly appreciated Rebecca’s openness and care as she handled hard topics and interesting parts of scripture that people often have questions about. This was so much more than retelling and explaining Jesus in 9 ways, this was a beautiful apologetic for the Christian faith.
• 
  Brittany Shields

  “Every seeming roadblock to faith in Jesus becomes a signpost.”
  
  Rebecca McLaughlin has written many books including
  Confronting Christianity and
  The Secular Creed, among others. The former was written, McLaughlin said, as a kind of love letter to her friends who had objections to her faith and this is the ‘sequel.’
  
  Whereas Confronting Christianity spoke to 12 of the most common objections to Christianity, Confronting Jesus narrows in on the person of Jesus.
  
  Who was he? Why was he important? How does Jesus set Christianity apart from all other religions?
  
  Similarly to my feelings about Confronting Christianity, my recommendation would be, sure, read this book, but don’t ONLY read this book. At the end I’ll give a couple other books that I may even recommend to people instead of this one and I’ll explain why in this review.
  
  
  I also read the study guide that goes along with this book. It’s only 62 pages- 10 reflection questions per chapter with space to write. It’s helpfulness depends on the type of reader you are. I didn’t find most of the questions particularly thought-provoking, but if you plan to read this book with a group, it would be good to have some conversation starters. Many of the questions are answered in the book and the questions provide the corresponding page numbers.
  [for pictures see
  original blog post]
  
  
  The 9 Encounters
  
  There are nine chapters, each one focusing on a characteristic of Jesus:
  
  - Jesus the Jew
  - Jesus the Son
  - Jesus the King
  - Jesus the Healer
  - Jesus the Teacher
  - Jesus the Lover
  - Jesus the Servant
  - Jesus the Sacrifice
  - Jesus the Lord
  
  She shares a story or two in each chapter from Scripture that depicts the person of Jesus and how he relates to his people. They showcase his humanity, his divinity, his love, grace, and power.
  
  She also touches on some bigger questions within a few of the chapters like: Why can we trust the Gospel accounts about Jesus’s life? Did Jesus even claim to be God? What do we do with the evil in the world? Isn’t Christianity oppressive to women? Aren’t Jesus’s teachings on sexuality really restrictive? Doesn’t the Bible condone slavery? Is there diversity in the Bible? How can we believe the resurrection?
  
  
  
  My Favorite Chapters
  
  I think my two favorite chapters were Jesus the Lover and Jesus the Servant.
  
  Jesus the Lover
  
  The idea of ‘marriage’ these days has largely been hijacked. People have forgotten that marriage originated from God from the very first. Why? Because it is a picture of Christ and the Church.
  
  Marriage is not just a piece of paper. It’s not just a tax benefit. It’s not just convenient or something you do when your feelings direct you to it. It’s not a cultural construct. It’s a God-designed covenant to image himself.
  
  “The greatest human romance is at best an imitation of that love… if we treasure human marriage more than Jesus’s love, we’ll find it disappoints. But if we treasure Jesus’s love above all else, we’ll find it has the power to turn our weakness into death-defying strength.”
  
  This chapter reminds us the power and wonder of marriage. The beauty and significance of its creation. For those who wonder why Christians are so uptight about the ‘redefinition of marriage,’ this chapter will shed some light on that.
  
  It will explain that while marriage is important, it’s not ultimate. Yet it’s worth protecting as God designed it because otherwise we are distorting the image of God.
  
  “The fundamental reason why Christians believe that sex belongs only in the permanent bond of male-female marriage is because of the metaphor of Jesus’s love for his church. It’s a love in which two become one flesh. It is a love that connects across sameness and radical difference: the sameness of our shared humanity and the radical difference of Jesus from us. It’s a love in which husbands are called not to exploit, abuse, or abandon their wives, but to love and sacrifice for them as Jesus did for us."
  
  It will explain how the boundaries God puts on sex is good. How you protect something that’s precious. How his laws in Scripture don’t oppress women but when considered in the cultural context reflect his utmost love and protection for the widows, children, and marginalized.
  
  “Whether we are single or married, widowed or divorced, romantically fulfilled or disappointed, we’ll all relate to human marriage best if we see it as a copy of the real thing— the love that truly burns for all eternity. And when we put this masterpiece in pride of place, we’ll start to understand the Bible’s boundaries around sex.”
  
  [For further reading on this check out these books:
  Born Again This Way;
  What God Has to Say About Our Bodies; or
  Gay Girl, Good God. All of these were written by people who experience same-sex attraction. Or for a closer look at the specific Bible passages related to sex and marriage try
  What Does the Bible Really Teach About Homosexuality]
  
  
  
  Jesus the Servant
  
  “The question for God’s people was never whether they were servants, but whose servants they were. Would they live enslaved to people who oppressed and hated them? Or would they gladly serve the God who made and loved them?” 
  
  “Enslaved people were drawn to Jesus the servant, who throws down the powerful and lifts up the disempowered.” 
  
  “How much must Jesus value you and me to give his life up as our ransom? Jesus’s sacrifice for us can breed humility if we will only let it. We won’t need to be recognized by others if we know we are seen and known and deeply loved by the King of all the universe himself. We can unclench our grip on status if we know we’re held in Jesus’s hands. We can kneel down if we are sure that he will one day lift us.”
  
  In her book
  Jesus and John Wayne, Kristin Kobes-Du Mez critiqued the term ‘servant leader’ that has been used in many churches. It would seem she has forgotten that Jesus came to serve and not be served and that he is our example to follow. True leadership is serving in humility just as Jesus did. Of course, we cannot image Christ’s example perfectly and we need repentance and forgiveness for that.
  
  But it’s a reminder that maybe if Christians spent more time serving then lifting themselves up, maybe people outside the church would recognize the godliness and freedom of submission.
  
  
  
  This chapter connects a lot with the next one about Jesus the Sacrifice which is the ultimate form of serving.
  
  It reminds me of the Downhere song- How Many Kings. The lyrics say,
  
  ‘How many kings step down from their thrones
  How many lords have abandoned their homes?
  How many greats have become the least for me?
  And how many gods have poured out their hearts
  To romance a world that is torn all apart?
  How many fathers gave up their sons for me?
  Only one did that for me.’
  
  Isn’t that amazing?! There is no other religion hinged on the sacrificial death— and further- resurrection— of its god. There is no other. Jesus, and only Jesus is Lord.
  
  This is where she spends time explaining how we can believe the resurrection.
  
  [She also has a new book coming out this spring called ‘Is Easter Unbelievable?’ which I’m sure will go into even more detail about it if this is something that you struggle with.]
  
  
  
  My Critique
  
  I have one main critique. And this is why I may not always recommend this book for someone wanting to study the truth about Jesus.
  
  McLaughlin spent a lot of page real estate on references to popular movies, shows, or books.
  
  I understand the audience for this book are those who may not believe in Jesus at all. Perhaps she has used these references as a point of connection, an approachable way to help keep people’s attention and have something familiar to compare these new ideas with.
  
  To some degree, I can respect that. I can appreciate a good illustration or parallel in secular places.
  
  That audience doesn’t describe me so I don’t know how all of this comes across for other people.
  
  But, for me, it felt like too much.
  
  She references: the Hamilton musical, Dr. Who, Shang-Chi, Hunger Games, Harry Potter, Gladiator, A Tale of Two Cities, Ted Lasso, The Good Place, The Midnight Library, and Collateral Beauty.
  
  But in such a short book, to have one or two of these within each chapter felt like a lot. And it often felt disjointed. She would spend a few paragraphs describing a scene from a movie, then the next paragraph starts a completely different idea that she doesn’t connect to the scene until later.
  
  Maybe because the content wasn’t new for me, the analogies were too distracting for me rather than complimentary.
  
  I had no issue with the theological content of her book, but her writing style and delivery is what takes this book down a notch for me.
  
  I wouldn’t discourage someone from reading this book, but I may give them a heads up about all the references so they can decide for themselves whether they feel like that will be helpful or hindering in their taking in what McLaughlin’s saying.
  
  
  
  Recommendation
  
  As described above, my main critique of this book was the overuse (to me) of pop culture references that felt disjointed and largely underwhelming for their purpose in this book.
  
  I love the subject matter of this book. I think it’s very important.
  
  Christianity is predicated on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. What you believe about Jesus is of utmost importance. If you don’t know who Jesus was or why we can believe he is who he said he was, you should definitely wrestle with that!
  
  This may be the book for you.
  
  Or it may not.
  
  Here are a few other books that I would most likely recommend to people above this one for people questioning Jesus:
  
  -
  Why Believe?: A Reasoned Approach to Christianity by Neil Shenvi
  
  -
  Seeking Allah, Finding Jesus: A Devout Muslim Encounters Christianity by Nabeel Qureshi
  
  -
  Why God Makes Sense in a World that Doesn’t: The Beauty of Christian Theism by Gavin Ortlund
  
  
  
  If you want to read more of Rebecca McLaughlin’s books, she has written a lot of good ones. Other than the ones linked above:
  
  -
  Is Christmas Unbelievable?: Four Questions Everyone Should Ask About the World’s Most Famous Story (Is the virgin birth real?)
  
  -
  Jesus Through the Eyes of Women: How the First Female Disciples Help Us Know and Love the Lord (Does the Bible oppress women?)
  
  -
  The Secular Creed: Engaging Five Contemporary Claims (What does the Bible say about marriage, women’s rights, race, immigrants, and diversity?)
  
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• 
  Conrade Yap

  If you have enjoyed the author's first book, "Confronting Christianity," this is essentially the sequel. Her first book provides credible arguments to deal with 12 roadblocks. This sequel deals with 9 encounters with Jesus. Recognizing how so many people in society reject Jesus without even knowing the content of the gospels, McLaughlin does the heavy lifting to summarize the life of Jesus from nine angles. Taking inspiration from all four gospels, she tells the story of Jesus in a manner like a stage musical. The nine encounters are in seeing:
  1) Jesus the Jew
  2) Jesus the Son
  3) Jesus the King
  4) Jesus the Healer
  5) Jesus the Teacher
  6) Jesus the Lover
  7) Jesus the Servant
  8) Jesus the Sacrifice
  9) Jesus the Lord
  
  In "Jesus the Jew," McLaughlin defends the trustworthiness of the gospels and the reliability of the ancient manuscripts. She spends time comparing and contrasting the gospels with other extra-biblical texts before affirming the need to see Jesus as He is: That he was born a Jew. In "Jesus the Son," she explains the significance of Jesus becoming fully human. At the same time, Jesus is also "Jesus the King" which means there is a kingdom that has come and there is to come. For people who come to respect mere power, Jesus shows us that any power today is nothing compared to the Rule of Jesus. In "Jesus the Healer," McLaughlin reflects on the health crisis both personally as well as in general society. Only the sick need healing. Jesus heals us in ways that the world can never do. We then encounter "Jesus the Teacher," giving us a basis for moral truth. Just like the biblical injunction to speak the Truth in love, McLaughlin follows up with "Jesus the Lover" to show us the meaning of freedom and love. Jesus freely loves even when it means giving up his life. "Jesus the Servant" teaches us humility. "Jesus the Sacrifice" compels us to face the question of why would Jesus die for us. The final chapter summarizes Jesus as Lord. The author deals with the classic resurrection truth.
  
  My Thoughts
  Compared to her first book "Confronting Christianity," this book focuses more on the Person of Jesus Christ, and how we need to re-examine any doubts, questions, or skepticism about the Truth of the historical Jesus. Every chapter looks at a specific aspect of Jesus whose very character contrasts against the expectations of the world. Though himself a Jew, he did not limit his ministry only to Jews. He demonstrates inclusiveness. As a healer, he seeks out those who need healing and shows them something more eternal. Though he is king, he presents himself as a servant. At the end of the day, what readers will get is that no matter which way we look, the Person of Christ is already quite compelling. We can argue all the ideas or concepts our minds can think of. How do we argue against a person who came, who lived, who ministered, who died, and who rose from the dead? Unless we try to avoid Jesus altogether, the simple answer is we cannot. With multiple examples drawn from modern musicals, plays, movies, and the arts, McLaughlin skillfully guides the reader to face up to the reality of Jesus. I appreciate the "So What?" features in each chapter which crystallize the author's key points.
  
  The author deals with specific objections to the truth of Jesus throughout the book. From textual variants to the reliability of the Bible, the truth of the historical Jesus to teaching to love even our enemies, the truth of the gospel itself should challenge the world at large. The key point is this. Anyone serious about life must face up to the reality of Jesus Christ. This applies to both Christians as well as non-Christians. For the latter, it is an invitation to encounter Jesus as the gospels have recorded. For the former, it is a challenge to learn more and to increase our obedience to his teachings. The gospels tell the story of Jesus in a way that is impactful for daily living. Having given us nine routes to encounter Jesus, perhaps, the creative reader might find out more ways to learn of Jesus and to love him for who he is.
  
  Rebecca McLaughlin (PhD, Cambridge University) is the author of Confronting Christianity, named Christianity Today’s 2020 Beautiful Orthodoxy Book of the Year. Her subsequent works include 10 Questions Every Teen Should Ask (and Answer) about Christianity; The Secular Creed; and Jesus through the Eyes of Women.
  
  Rating: 4 stars of 5.
  
  conrade
  This book has been provided courtesy of Crossway Publishers and NetGalley without requiring a positive review. All opinions offered above are mine unless otherwise stated or implied.
• 
  Becca

  “If you feel curious about Jesus, this book is for you.”
  
  The above quote reveals that this book is not primarily written for Christians, but for those who are curious enough about Jesus to take a closer look. This book is a sequel of sorts to the author’s previous work, Confronting Christianity: 12 Hard Questions for the World’s Largest Religion. While the first addressed objections to Christianity in general, the latest invites readers to look closely at who Jesus is.
  
  Some early criticisms have mentioned that McLaughlin includes too many pop culture references that take away from the scriptural truths she presents. I, however, found them to be fitting for the audience that this book was written for. She models for believers what it looks like to contend for the faith by weaving in sources that even skeptics can agree with. That doesn’t mean we leave the Bible out of the conversation, but that we find common ground on which to begin the conversation. I really appreciated that aspect of the book…even if some spoilers were included 🙃
  
  Thank you to Netgalley and Crossway for the advanced review copy. Confronting Jesus is available now wherever books are sold.
• 
  Olivia Anderson

  such a fantastic read. this is my third book by Rebecca McLaughlin, and I’ve rated each of them 5 stars. The goal of this book is to be a resource for nonbelievers who are interested in Christianity or who question the faith. It was refreshing and made me re-fall in love with the simple truths of the Gospel. Wherever you are in your walk with the Lord (or if you haven’t taken a step yet), you will gain a lot from this book. (I was going to put a quote in here but there were too many good ones to choose from.)
  
• 
  Ryan Oakes

  This book is simple and great. Whether you’re a believer or you’ve never contemplated Jesus, this is a great read! She does a great job of Biblically breaking down who Jesus is based on His words, based on His life.
  
  “Like a cross-shaped peg that won’t fit in a round hole, the Jesus of the Gospels fails to fit into our categories. But His message is clear: sin of every kind will pave our way to hell. But He will throw His arms around us if we come to Him for help.”
• 
  Mark

  This is NOT a deep theological treatise and it wasn’t intended to be. However, McLaughlin does paint a beautiful picture of who Jesus is, using the Gospels as her foundation. Similar to her other books, this is an easy and edifying read.
  
  My only real critique is her use of analogies and illustrations. While most work, there are many that felt forced and seemed to be more distracting than helpful.
• 
  Lauren

  So good, but I feel I should point out, if there's any books you've been meaning to read it shows you've been meaning to watch, this book contains a lot of spoilers. The spoilers make the book relatable and helpful and are probably worth it, but just be aware....
• 
  Robin Langford

  I really enjoy her writing! Clear and easy to understand without being simplistic. This will be a great book to offer to a friend who wants to know more about who Jesus is and why he matters.
• 
  Brad McKeehan

  A wonderful book about how we make sense of Jesus in the modern world. Helpful for Christians and non-Christians alike. The writing style and illustrations are approachable for all people.
• 
  Blessing Bloodworth

  As a good author should do, Rebecca McLaughlin has taken the time to identify her audience for this book and she writes directly to them: an audience who does not know Christ. Clearly stated in the Dedication, this book was written for those who do NOT believe that Jesus is the Son of God, but have taken the time to read this book. Like a true professor, she takes care in her introduction to lay out her intentions for this book and for those who read it.
  
  Addressing 9 different aspects of the character of Jesus, she dives into what each of the four Gospels has to say about these claims. In doing so, she cites lots of Scripture and does a skillful job relaying the narratives relating to Jesus. There are also sections where she shares parts of her own faith journey with relatability and raw vulnerability.
  
  A substantial element of the writing is frequent references to both classic and contemporary secular books and movies. McLaughlin uses these to draw comparison to the life of Christ. Personally, I found the way this was done cheapened the stories of scripture, instead of bringing clarity to them for a non-believer. Perhaps her intention was to be relevant and relatable, and perhaps her intended audience will appreciate it - but I did not. And that’s why it receives 4 stars from me.
  
  These are some of the quotes from the book that stuck with me:
  “By suffering injustice, Jesus came to roll out justice like the world has never seen before.”
  
  “I deeply believe that Jesus has the power to heal. But I don’t know if He will.”
• 
  Panda Incognito

  There are always new books published about Jesus, and this one is ahead of the game by not claiming to say anything radical. Rebecca McLaughlin focuses on the gospel accounts about Jesus's life, adding more historical context along the way. She writes to a broad audience, balancing her points between the different groups of people she expects to read this, and she focuses on being faithful to Scripture and winsome to others, not edgy or disruptive. She directs some of her applications to Christians, but she primarily speaks to readers who are spiritual seekers or resistant to Christianity. Throughout the book, she tries to clear up people's confused images of Jesus, focusing on what the gospels say about him apart from contemporary assumptions.
  
  McLaughlin takes a thematic approach, writing about Jesus's characteristics and roles. She writes about his Jewishness and his divine identity, and about him as a king, healer, teacher, lover, servant, sacrifice, and Lord. She draws on different passages in each chapter to show who Jesus is, and she carefully explains concepts that will be difficult for some readers to accept. I appreciate how sensitive she is to other people's worldviews without softening the specifics of her own. She is orthodox, but gracious as well.
  
  She also weaves in a number of pop culture references to help people without a church background relate to some of the themes. I was so here for all of the Doctor Who references. A perk of reading British authors! However, McLaughlin spoils some stories to make connections with their meaningful turning points. She mostly only shares plot twists from properties that have been around for a long time, but near the end, she spoils the ending of the 2020 Matt Haig novel The Midnight Library. Because of that book's popularity, a lot of people will already know the ending, but anyone who has been planning to read that novel should do so before reading this.
  
  Overall, I found Confronting Jesus very impressive. McLaughlin did a great job writing to a broad and general audience without making the book feel too tailored to one group, and there are interesting reflection points and applications for anyone who reads this. People who have been Christians for years can still discover new insights here, or at least see something expressed in a fresh way, and people who want to better understand Jesus as a religious figure or are considering faith in Him will appreciate this book's readability and helpful insights.
  
  I received a free copy from the publisher in exchange for an honest review.
• 
  Aaron

  What happens when you meet face-to-face with Jesus? In Confronting Jesus, Rebecca McLaughlin gives nine encounters with the hero of the gospels.
  
  Christian Claims
  At just around 200 pages, this book will make you wrestle with the actual claims of Christianity. Looking at the gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, McLaughlin shares these eyewitness accounts to illuminate Jesus’s identity.
  
  Chapter 1 begins by looking at Jesus the Jew. McLaughlin goes to the Old Testament to tell of Jesus‘ cultural background. In fact, the book often returns to the Old Testament to show how Jesus summons words and metaphors from Hebrew scripture to present himself.
  
  Good News
  I was most moved in Chapter 4, when I was reminded that our good news is that of a king. Our king is different than what the world would imagine. He spends his time with the weak and lowly. And he dies a death on the cross like a common criminal. But he was raised, and he is coming again. This gives a reason for Christians to rejoice.
  
  What McLaughlin does exceptionally well is make connections with movies. From Hamilton to Shang-Chi, Gladiator and Harry Potter — she finds the common threads. This helps give interest to the book while helping her get her points across. This book acts like a succinct survey of the gospels.
  
  Servant and Sacrifice
  Chapter 5 and Chapter 6 are connected in subtle ways. When talking about Jesus the Teacher, McLaughlin shares about her own same-sex attraction and how Jesus’ teachings are inseparable from who he is. He loves across differences, money, and sex. And we find him to be the ultimate and true lover — a sacrificial friend just as great as sexual and romantic love. I appreciated McLaughlin’s vulnerability as well as her disposition of hope.
  
  Towards the end of the book, the two chapters on Jesus as Servant and Jesus as Sacrifice serve as a climax. After seeing and meeting the true Jesus in the previous chapters, these landed like a hammer. McLaughlin ends with a plea to trust him, and she has made a powerful call and testimony to Christ.
  
  Jesus is Lord
  The last chapter proclaims Jesus as Lord, positioning it directly with his resurrection. Knowing that we will all face death, we all must confront Jesus — the one who claims to be the resurrection and the life. After reading this book, I find myself not only confronting him — but clinging to him.
  
  I received a media copy of Confronting Jesus and this is my honest review.
• 
  Jennie

  A book about what the Gospels tell us about Jesus. She ties in Scripture, some pieces from classical books, modern cultural themes, plays, movies, and some parts of her life story to help people who do not know who the real Jesus is, and learn who the real Jesus is as a: Jew, Son, King, Healer, Teacher, Lover, Servant, Sacrifice, and Lord. So yes, while this book is more geared to those who may not believe, new Christian, or those who struggle with doubts, I still gained some new information. I also think her hope is that the person reading will want to dive deeper and turn to Jesus for more.
  
  Here were some sections that I found worth sharing:
  
  “This famous “I am” statement builds on itself. Jesus is the way to get to God. But he’s not just the path. He’s the destination too. Many religions leaders have claimed to teach truth. But Jesus says he is the truth. Many have claimed to give guidance for life. But Jesus claims he is the life. Apart form him is only death. To know Him is to know the Father too.”
  
  “He wants you, heart and soul, not your spare time, spare cash, and spare religious sentiment. But if we five up everything for Jesus, we’ll end up loving those around us more. In fact, instead of hating those we’re primed to love, we’ll end up loving those we’re primed to hate.”
  
  “We may not live in mansions or have beggars dying on our doorsteps. But the richest person of Jesus’s day would be amazed at our comforts: our clothes, our food, the kind of healthcare we can access, how we get from place to place.”
  
  “You see, Christianity isn’t designed for folks who are completely satisfied. It’s not for people who have all they’ve ever wanted here and now. It’s for the hungry and the sick, the longing and the lonely, the grieving and the failing – for the ones who know they’re made for something more – because Jesus the bridegroom is still waiting for his bride.”
  
  “If there was a painting in our attic that recorded all our sins, we know how ugly it would look. For others, the idea that we ourselves are sinners feels like an antiquated glove that just won’t fit. I’m certainly not perfect, you might think, but I’m fundamentally a good person. If that’s how you feel, you’ll have little use for Jesus.”
  
  There are many more sections and I like her writing style and the purpose for why she wrote the book.
• 
  Gerald Wilson

  My wife bought me this book for Christmas along with the study guide and DVD, I had recently finished another book by Rebecca McLaughlin called Confronting Christianity which I enjoyed. We had thought about using it with our church home group as a study we could all follow. However, having read the first chapter I quickly realised it might not be what we needed. The group are all Christians with most having been in church for a long time. This book is more aimed at those who don’t follow Jesus, looking at what we know from the Gospels about who Jesus was and why we need to follow him. In 9 chapters she looks at different aspects of his life and hopefully challenges some common reasons people ignore Jesus, because they haven’t read for themselves or just not really thought about it. Seeing as it’s aimed at unbelievers ( in western culture) there are many references to films and books that are popular, drawing illustrations from them and referring back to scripture. I enjoyed the book and will probably read some of her other books but I don’t think we’ll use it for home group at present.
• 
  Sarah-Joy Somarriba

  Thank you to Rebecca McLaughlin and Crossway Publishers for an ARC of this book - “Confronting Jesus”.
  
  This book is a love letter to those curious about Jesus, who he was, what he stood for, and his historical background. Rebecca’s first book, Confronting Christianity - was a love letter to those not interested in even contemplating Christianity. As a kind of “sequel”, I felt this book could be read and enjoyed by Christian’s and nonbelievers alike.
  
  I enjoyed the in-depth history with data and references I had never considered or knew before.
  
  I loved how, like Jesus does in his teachings, Rebecca weaves cultural significance from present day into her writings. You will see references to Hamilton, Harry Potter, and many more.
  
  An enjoyable read and one I will recommend often.
• 
  Johnathan

  Too many repetitive thoughts from her previous books. I've enjoyed all her other books. This one felt rushed, monotonous, and like it was a casual effort to fill another book by gently reworking previous material. I may have rated higher if it was an earlier book of hers. But it felt like going backwards. I really anticipated this one to be fresh and unique. Instead it felt like she needed to hit a publishing date.
  
  With all that said, if you haven't read any of her work, this would still be good. Especially if you don't have much experience with apologetics.
• 
  Corey

  3.5 stars. Not bad at all but very rudimentary. Probably relied too much on movie, t.v, and fiction to illustrate her points. Literally every page or two had some kind of reference. Some of the shows she referenced actually had spoilers, which I wasn’t a big fan of. That being said the illustrations do keep the book interesting to read, but maybe that’s part of the problem. Having just read Confronting Christianity, which was superb, I had high expectations for this sequel. I would totally give this to a young believer, maybe a night school or college student.
• 
  Marnie

  The author has a fresh look at Jesus and the importance of the Gospels. She weaves in literature and even pop culture references which make the material digestible for a wider audience. Her explanations of her points are supported by the ties she makes to books and movies. Thanks to Crossway for providing me an ARC in exchange for a review in my own words.
• 
  Frank Peters

  This was an excellent introduction to who Jesus is. The target audience for the book was unclear, however this would be a valuable addition for those who are either interested in Jesus, or interested in Christian apologetics.
• 
  Richard Myerscough

  Listened to the audiobook, excellent.