Understanding Jesus: Cultural Insights into the Words and Deeds of Christ

Joe Amaral

Sep 2011 · Sold by FaithWords

About this ebook

Modern-day Christians often bring their own presuppositions and assumptions to the reading of the Bible, not realizing how deeply their understanding of Christ's life and teachings is affected by a 21st-century worldview. In Understanding Jesus, author Joe Amaral delves deep into Jewish history, societal mores, and cultural traditions, closing the gap created by geographical distance and over two thousand years of history. Using a chronological approach to the life of Christ, he guides the reader through significant events such as Jesus' birth, baptism, and crucifixion, pointing out illuminating details that that the Western mind would normally miss.

Amaral's premise is that to understand Jesus, we must understand the time and place in which he was born, the background from which he drew his illustrations, and the audience he spoke to. Throughout the book he explores specific terms, places, and events for their significance and shows how they add richness and meaning to the text. Topics include the connection between Jesus and John the Baptist, the annual Feasts and why they are important to modern Christianity, Jewish customs such as foot-washing, clean and unclean foods, paying tribute to political governments, and the significance of various miracles.

In Understanding Jesus, Amaral draws back the curtain on a way of life that existed during the reign of the Caesars, and in doing so, reveals truths about the way we live more than two thousand years later, half a world away.

Ratings and reviews

This book has a lot of false information. Full of lies! And is the author's poor attempts at "Reaching" Examples, #1 the authors 2 categories of miracles.. those anyone could do if God empowered & those 4 only the Messiah could do.. like raising the dead after 4 days dead.. if true, Elijah would've considered a messiah.. No such " miracles categories" exists as author suggests #2 the name Easter doesn't come from the pagan goddess Ishtar. Her symbol isn't eggs, bunnies or chicks. Her symbol is a lion ( Ishtar gate) the word " Easter" comes from German " Oster" & means " Passover" the English language, comes from Latin & German. Not Persian #3 authors calculation of John the Baptist's birth being around the Passover( spring) is incorrect. Jesus would have more than likely have been born around Passover( spring) because as scripture says the shepherds were tending the flocks at Jesus' birth.. that only happens in spring -sheep giving birth. Shepherd's assisting the mother. Ect...

this book has changed forever the way I look at Christ. Such was shown through the Holy Spirit with such understanding. God bless you Joe

I'll never read the Gospels and Acts the same way again. So many times I had wondered why Jesus said something or why a detail was included and now it is clear. My faith and understanding have been strengthened greatly by this book.

About the author

Joe Amaral has traveled the world many times over as a sought-after Bible teacher and speaker as an Itinerant Minister. Joe has also served as host and director of a weekly TV program on Israel and its history. He is the author of Understanding Jesus and What Would Jesus Read?, and also acted as the daily host of Canada's longest-running daily TV show 100 Huntley Street. Having served as the Teaching Pastor of PORTICO Community Church in Mississauga, Joe inspired congregations to better know Jesus and His teachings by having a deeper understanding of the world and time in which Jesus lived. Amaral founded the Christian Research Group in 2018.