Book Review: Learning Jesus

By Kathy Feist

My mother was the one who told me about my conception and birth. My father would only confirm her story. He was more talkative about our years as refugees in Egypt…. “It wasn’t exciting, son. It was dangerous. We were always at risk. But it was the only way we could save you from harm.” My father, saving me from harm. Those words were etched in my mind from that day and forever changed the way I thought of him. He was my protector.”  – Learning Jesus

The newly published book Learning Jesus starts off in an unusual but engaging way. The first chapter has Jesus recalling his life in a first person narrative. Those stories, told in today’s lingo, illustrate a point. Author Stephen D. Jones, copastor of the First Baptist Church of Kansas City, MO, argues that Jesus was a learner as much as he was a teacher. 

He wasn’t born all-knowing. 

“We’ve been so convinced that Jesus was omniscience, that he knew and understood everything, that he had already ‘arrived,’” said Jones in an interview with the Telegraph. 

“My intent in writing in [Jesus’ narrative] was to help others see that he could have been a learner just like us,” Jones said.. “That he faced difficult transitions and situations like the rest of us. That he had to struggle like all the rest of us. That he was a human-becoming, like the rest of us.”

There are 27 stories that tell of Jesus’ moments of wakefulness, when he overcomes cultural stereotypes, fears, struggles and certain crossroads through inspired thought. 

The remaining 83 pages are Jones’ theories backed by Biblical research and an explanation of transformative thought. 

“Transformational learning….shifts the foundation of your life,” writes Jones, which he says is what led Jesus to fulfill his destiny.  

In the end, Jones encourages others to follow Jesus’ journey of learning. “We must learn Jesus throughout our lifetime so that our assumptions, prejudices and cultural biases are always challenged.” 

Learning Jesus, published by WiPF & Stock Publishers, is Jones’ eighth book and can be purchased online through Barnes & Noble, Amazon and other online sources.