Killing Jesus

There are actually two books that came out fairly close to each other, both titled "Killing Jesus." The one better known is by Bill O'Reilly, but Stephen Mansfield's book actually came out first. I've not read O'Reilly's book (yet), so I can't compare the two. I can only say that I thoroughly enjoyed Mansfield's retelling of the last week of Jesus' life.

Mansfield tells the story from many different perspectives and weaves scholarly insight with the story from the Gospels. Each chapter both advances the story and gives valuable insight from the life and ministry of Jesus. There are details to the story that I know, from my own study, aren't quite as clear-cut as they are presented in the narrative. However, as I did not read the notes at the end of the book, it is possible those controversies are discussed there in more detail.

A word to those who might be easily upset: there are times, in the telling of the scourging and the crucifixion, that Mansfield is very detailed and, at times, rather gory in his description. Many of the things that upset people in the film The Passion of the Christ are the same things that will disturb in this account too. But it does drive home the point about the horror that Jesus went through in order to save us.

That brings up another concern I had with the book, and that is the matter of Christology. The book was very clear on presenting a human Jesus facing death in one of the most horrible ways every created by humankind. But a clear idea of the "why" does not emerge from the narrative. And while the "epilogue" deals with the resurrection, there is no clear sense that Jesus was, is or believed himself to be the divine Son of God, the savior of the world. While the political motivations are explored in depth, there is no theological reflections on what the death of Jesus means.

Still, in connection with the reading of Scripture and personal reflection, Mansfield's book can be a valuable read particularly for Holy Week. It is a quick read; I read it in about six days.

FULL DISCLOSURE: I was provided a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review, but was not obligated to provide a positive review.

The book can be found here.