HE WAS HERE: Those Who Knew Jesus Speak
Ivan J Kauffman, HE WAS HERE: Those Who Knew Jesus SpeakThe well-worn literary device of this devotional is to trot out a few dozen people who knew Jesus personally and "let" them tell the stories of their encounters with Jesus. They are all here, from the Innkeeper ("a Mediterranean Archie Bunker") who refused to make room for Mary and Joseph to the corruptible betrayer of Jesus, Judas scariot. While the formula is hackneyed, Kauffman's writing is not; as a former liturgical playwright, he has an imaginative gift for understanding these characters. His rich young man comes to Jesus proud, but also vulnerable, and leaves with a bit of self-loathing since he will not "choose to be poor" as Jesus asked. This is reflective stuff, if not terribly original. (Feb.)
closeDetailsReviewed on: 02/19/2001
Genre: Religion
The well-worn literary device of this devotional is to trot out a few dozen people who knew Jesus personally and "let" them tell the stories of their encounters with Jesus. They are all here, from the Innkeeper ("a Mediterranean Archie Bunker") who refused to make room for Mary and Joseph to the corruptible betrayer of Jesus, Judas scariot. While the formula is hackneyed, Kauffman's writing is not; as a former liturgical playwright, he has an imaginative gift for understanding these characters. His rich young man comes to Jesus proud, but also vulnerable, and leaves with a bit of self-loathing since he will not "choose to be poor" as Jesus asked. This is reflective stuff, if not terribly original. (Feb.)
Reviewed on: 02/19/2001
Genre: Religion
