Book Review and Reflection of Simply Jesus by N.T. Wright

The book consists of three parts. The first part has five chapters of which focuses on explaining what the key questions are and why we find them difficult to answer. The second part has nine chapters explaining in detail what N.T. Wright considers Jesus’ public career and the approach he had in first century Palestine. The third part of the book, the last chapter, challenges readers to wrestle with the questions of Jesus’ life and ministry.
The first part of the book begins by Wright telling the readers a little about himself and his thoughts on how people, including the church, overlook Jesus and belittles his reign. Early on, Wright discusses that the purpose of the book is to retell Jesus’ message, but in a way that it filters out the worldly explanation we have come to know. In fact, if we are to know just who Jesus was, we need to know the culture, attitudes, and assumptions of the first century Palestine. It becomes apparent in this section of the book that Wright uses liberal and conservative approaches to define Christians in this modern day. Conservative Christians believe God intervenes, while liberal Christians believe that God allows innate human development. In this part of the book Wright discusses the ‘perfect storm’ – which is found out to be three-sided. A storm in the west is created by the growing power of the Roman Empire, who politically reigned over the people in the Israel. Another storm brewed in the east, says Wright, the Israelites who have been in search of the return of God to their people. Lastly, a hurricane approached as well, which will be discussed in the next chapter. Throughout the first part of the book, it seems, Wright establishes that God did set up his kingdom in Israel and the world throu...

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...red, just not in a way that I imagined. My most notable question that was answered was, why was Jesus really crying as he entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey. Wright explains that Israel’s God was coming back at least, but the people couldn't see it, thus Jesus wept.
I was definitely looking forward to the end of the book, not because I wanted to finish it, but because from the beginning Wright discusses that the end is about the tomorrow, while the entirety of the other parts of the book discusses the yesterday. I find myself always wrapped up in the tomorrow instead of the yesterday, but I am very fortunate to have read the addressing questions that Wright brings up in the book. I can now reflect on the comprehensible challenge that Wright presents – Jesus reigns in and through people.

Works Cited

Wright, N. (2011). Simply Jesus. New York, NY: HaperCollins.