BOOK REVIEW--THE FINAL DAYS OF JESUS: THE MOST IMPORTANT WEEK OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PERSON WHO EVER LIVED, by Andreas Kostenberger & Justin Taylor

I received this book just in time for Passion Week and allowed it serve as a sort of devotional guide.  Authors Kostenberger and Taylor take their readers step by step from Palm Sunday to Resurrection Day and beyond to Jesus' post-resurrection appearances and ascension.  The book reads like a well-written historical narrative, with a blend of biography, whose purpose is "to provide an aid to informed worship."  In this, the authors do not disappoint.

The book is of a good length (200+ pages) for covering a little over one week out of Jesus' earthly life.  Each day's events is introduced with the respective account from the "one Gospel according to four different witnesses," sometimes just by notation and other times with the complete texts themselves.  Had the entire text been given for every event, the book length would have hindered its effectiveness.

The addition of charts, maps, along with commentary on the biblical accounts adds much to the overall benefit of this work, making it visually appealing.  It is the commentary itself, however, that packs the punch.  The authors are great word craftsmen, as seen in the following words:

"The stage is set for the final act.  The characters are in place.  Their goals, motives, and intentions are clear.  The king has come for his kingdom and has issued a clear and direct challenge to the reigning structures of political, economic, and religious power.  The drama can end in only one of two ways.  Either Jesus will topple the reigning powers and establish his messianic kingdom--or he will be killed.  No one at that time could possibly comprehend that in God's mysterious plan, there was a third option."

The authors are also not without down-to-earth language, as seen in this commentary:  "Peter, either hungry, bored, or out of money, announces that he is going to start fishing again.  Waiting for Messiah to appear did not pay the bills or put food on the table."

From start to finish, from the "How to Use This Book" to the "Glossary and Reference Guide," this is a must read for anyone interested in a clear and coherent presentation of the timing and circumstances surrounding Jesus' final days.  Truly a library book shelf keeper.

NOTE:  I received this book for free from Crossway Publishing in exchange for a review.  I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review and the thoughts and words expressed are my own.