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Who Is This Man?

John Ortberg (Zondervan: August 2012), 208 pages.

Jesus’ impact on our world is highly unlikely, widely inescapable, largely unknown, and decidedly double-edged. It is unlikely in light of the severe limitations of his earthly life; it is inescapable because of the range of impact; it is unknown because history doesn’t connect dots; and it is doubled-edged because his followers have wreaked so much havoc, often in his name. He is history’s most familiar figure, yet he is the man no one knows. His impact on the world is immense and non-accidental. From the Dark Ages to Post-Modernity he is the Man who won’t go away. And yet . . .you can miss him in historical lists for many reasons, maybe the most obvious being the way he lived his life. He did not loudly and demonstrably defend his movement in the spirit of a rising political or military leader. He did not lay out a case that history would judge his brand of belief superior in all future books. His life and teaching simply drew people to follow him. He made history by starting in a humble place, in a spirit of love and acceptance, and allowing each person space to respond. His vision of life continues to haunt and challenge humanity. His influence has swept over history bringing inspiration to what has happened in art, science, government, medicine, and education; he has taught humans about dignity, compassion, forgiveness, and hope. ~ Product Description

Table of Contents

    • Foreword by Condoleezza Rice………………..7
    • Acknowledgments………………..9
    • 1. The Man Who Won’t Go Away………………..11
    • 2. The Collapse of Dignity………………..21
    • 3. A Revolution in Humanity………………..33
    • 4. What Does a Woman Want?………………..46
    • 5. An Undistinguished Visiting Scholar………………..59
    • 6. Jesus Was Not a Great Man………………..74
    • 7. Help Your Friends, Punish Your Enemies………………..87
    • 8. There Are Things That Are Not Caesar’s………………..102
    • 9. The Good Life vs. The Good Person………………..116
    • 10. Why It’s a Small World after All………………..127
    • 11. The Truly Old-Fashioned Marriage………………..137
    • 12. Without Parallel in the Entire History of Art………………..150
    • 13. Friday………………..164
    • 14. Saturday………………..175
    • 15. Sunday………………..186
    • Epilogue: A Staggering Idea………………..197
    • Sources………………..203