Beautiful Outlaw by John Eldredge

I have a confession to make.

I hate pictures of Jesus.

All except a few--like this one.

Head of Christ by Richard Hook

This one seems to show a Jesus I can touch. One who doesn’t mind laughing, getting his hands dirty, and who is strong enough to deal with my stuff.

Beautiful Outlaw focuses on this version of Jesus. Not the one of Renaissance paintings. Not the one who always has a clean robe and perfectly coiffed hair. The one who would never be angry. Or if he did manage to work up that emotion, he’d be too weak to do anything about it.

John Eldredge introduces us to a playful, determined, fierce, human Jesus. One who had to learn to walk.

Walking with God by Morgan Weistling

One who joked with His buds on fishing trips. One who intimately knows what it’s like to be tired and hungry and bone-weary of meeting everyone’s needs, but who met those needs anyway. One who not only turned over the money-changers tables and drove out the livestock, but who also took the time to uncage the doves and release them before knocking that table to the ground.

That’s the kind of Jesus I want on my side. One who refuses to let anyone stand in the way of His mission to redeem the world. Not the Pharisees. Not criticism. Not even his friends and family. This Jesus will refuse to let anyone stand in the way of His mission to make me like Him. Not my past. Not the enemy of my soul. Not even me. Thanks be to God!

This non-fiction book has changed the way I see Jesus. It’s changed the way I read the Word. I used to ask, “What does this passage tell me to do?” Now I also ask, “What does this passage tell me about who Jesus IS?” There’s a world of difference between those two questions. Both are necessary.

What does this have to do with the Christmas Season?

Simply put: Christmas is all about Jesus.

Just Jesus.

Kissing the Face of God by Morgan Weistling