Reading the Gospels without knowing the personality of Jesus is like watching television with the sound turned off. The result is a dry, two dimensional person doing strange, undecipherable things.
In BEAUTIFUL OUTLAW, John Eldredge removes the religious varnish to help readers discover stunning new insights into the humanity of Jesus. He was accused of breaking the law, keeping bad company, heavy drinking. Of being the devil himself. He was so compelling and dangerous they had to kill him. But others loved him passionately. He had a sense of humor. His generosity was scandalous. His anger made enemies tremble. He'd say the most outrageous things. He was definitely not the Jesus of the stained glass.
In the author's winsome, narrative approach, he breaks Jesus out of the typical stereotypes, just as he set masculinity free in his book, Wild at Heart. By uncovering the real Jesus, readers are welcomed into the rich emotional life of Christ. All of the remarkable qualities of Jesus burst like fireworks with color and brilliance because of his humanity.
Eldredge goes on to show readers how they can experience this Jesus in their lives every day. This book will quicken readers' worship, and deepen their intimacy with Jesus.
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"In this book...which I have in print and on audio and listen to several times a year...John reveals the man Jesus...and the Son Jesus...and through that, reveals God's love and the power that love brings into our lives. It removes the religious fog...the reason Jesus came...to reveal the Father...and the way to him. It reveals the real relationship our Father desires for us and with us. It reveals God's heart for the simplest of us...and each of us are far short of understanding the fullness of our Father. I love this book...and the heart of the man who dared to write it. Thank you, John..."
— denny43 (5 out of 5 stars)
“Eldredge repeats tales from the Gospels to reveal a leader who was both humorous and confrontational, generous and moody. Eldredge clearly loves his subject, almost chuckling in delight at Jesus’ antics. Readers get an intriguing glimpse of Jesus waiting his turn in line, ‘snorting’ in anger, and artfully outsmarting his enemies...readers will find a three-dimensional Jesus and may find themselves re-reading scripture with an eye on characters’ feelings.”
— Publishers WeeklyEldredge's trademark passion and personal transparency offer another inspiring challenge that could revolutionize lives as did his Wild at Heart.”
— Christian Retailing, Editor's Pick" This is the most amazing description of Jesus I have ever read. I've led a discussion group twice and have read it three times and I will continue to reread it. As my friend said after our group, "It puts Jesus right here, right now." "
— Toni, 2/10/2014" Outstanding. Relates to everyday life and the time period of the time of jesus. I could reread this many times over. Fantastic "
— Debra, 2/7/2014" This was one of those all-time enlightening books. This moves the character of Jesus beyond that of, "Jesus is love," to the true makeup of His character as both humanity and divinity. It proved, through the various references, His playfulness, fierceness, generosity, humility, etc...and ultimately challenges readers to take on these same characteristics in their lives. "
— Andraea, 2/4/2014" Life-changing, transformative, and a book I'll give over and over again as a gift. "
— Liz, 1/28/2014" Very interesting and thought-provoking. He makes some good points but I do think he takes his points too far occasionally. "
— Carol, 1/26/2014" I read this book because it was given to me -- and it was a treat! This book disassembles the religiousness that has been built up around Christ. "A wing nut talking about Jesus does far more damage thatn fifty atheists." In its stead, is a clear picture of the Jesus who walked the earth and who heals hurts today. "
— Laura, 1/18/2014" I hate to give this book a bad review, as I'm normally very fond of Eldredge, but this one just seemed...lost. It had moments, but as a whole it was scattered and unfocused. It was like a compilation of lots of good thoughts, but that didn't necessarily fit together and in no real order. It was also pretty evident that Eldredge was dealing with some things personally, as a feeling of bitterness/sadness (anger even?)seemed to permeate the otherwise promising content. Since I'm already a Christian, I felt that I could grasp the message he was trying to convey, but I would not recommend that someone of weak faith read this, as it lashes out pretty harshly at the Christian community. "
— Ashley, 1/15/2014" Eldredge presents Jesus in a fresh way, no small task. One of his goals is to wipe away the religious fog that surrounds Jesus and replace it with just loving him. Beautiful Outlaw is a good book for seekers or for seasoned saints. I dare say your view of Jesus will grow. "
— Rick, 1/13/2014" I loved this book! John really made me think about the way Jesus is portrayed by society, the Bible, and church. I love the way he describes how Jesus truly is - that he is humorous, firey, passionate, comforting, loving, and all-around awesome! "
— Molly, 1/3/2014" Good and helpful for the most part. I preferred "The Jesus We Missed" in this "humanity of Christ" genre. "
— Andrew, 12/14/2013" Good, particularly in challenging superficial spirituality "
— Sean, 12/2/2013John Eldredge is the founder and codirector, with his wife, of Ransomed Heart Ministries in Colorado Springs, Colorado, a fellowship devoted to helping people recover and live from their heart. He is the author of numerous books, including Epic, Waking the Dead, Wild at Heart, and The Journey of Desire. He lives in Colorado with his wife, Stasi, and their three sons. He loves living in the Rocky Mountains so he can pursue his other passions, including fly-fishing, mountain climbing, and exploring the waters of the West in his canoe.