In the last few decades, an incredible amount of information has come out of Israel to help us understand more about the real Jesus. Fantastic discoveries in Israel and the Middle East are bringing the world of the Bible to life again. Ancient documents like the Dead Sea Scrolls have been found. Ancient buildings and the objects of daily life have been dug up. And Christian scholars have begun to better understand the ancient Jewish writings that provide insight into the life world of Jesus. As a result, we can now understand many things in Jesus' life and teachings that were misunderstood for hundreds of years. That's the purpose of this book: to bring you up to date on the latest and most exciting discoveries from Israel: discoveries that help us better understand the message of Jesus and more accurately apply that message to our lives today.
Pastor Harrison draws not only on the many archeological discoveries that have been made in Israel, but also on the Biblical text in its original languages, Jewish culture and religion, and scholarly research, much of which is inaccessible to the general public. The portrait of Jesus that emerges is both engaging and challenging, inspiring us to make life-changing decisions in our everyday lives and to persevere through difficult times. This teaching is based on Pastor Harrison's studies with some of the top Israeli archeologists and other scholars in Jerusalem. It's the same information he shares as a study-tour teacher in Israel, where his "classroom" spans the length and breadth of the Holy Land. It's also a popular Bible seminar presented to thousands of students and in scores of churches and Bible colleges in the U.S., Taiwan, and the Philippines. This book is a written version of that seminar, with lots of additional information that had to be left out of the seminar because of lack of time.
What customs is Jesus referring to? What was the Temple like, and the synagogues? Why are the Dead Sea Scrolls so important? What do Jesus' parables mean, and the Sermon on the Mount? What was life like by the Sea of Galilee and in Jerusalem? What is the kingdom of God? Why is the Messiah important? What was crucifixion really like? If you have questions, here you'll find dependable, objective answers to your questions about the Jesus of the Bible.