Whispers of Revolution: Jesus and the Coming of God as King

by Michael F. Bird

In Whispers of Revolution, renowned biblical scholar Michael Bird slices a path through the tangle of conspiracy theories, older hypotheses, and scholarly debates to propose a compelling the historical Jesus was driven by the conviction that through his words and work, his mission and message, God was unveiling his kingship in a way that would rescue Israel and eventually restore the whole world.

This careful and concise scholarly work covers a wide range of topics related to the historical Jesus and his context. Bird studies Jesus in light of archaeology, Judean history, and apocalypticism. He scrutinizes sayings of Jesus and stories about Jesus, challenging many scholarly paradigms to offer a portrait of Jesus that avoids both sensationalism and pious simplification. The result is a story of Jesus that puts him firmly in the world of ancient Galilee and Judea and explains how this man, crucified by the Romans, became the catalyst for a movement that would defy and then consume the Roman empire.

This important contribution will appeal to scholars, students, and all readers looking for a fresh examination of the life of Jesus.

376 pages, Hardcover

Published November 11, 2025

About the author

Dr. Michael Bird (Ph.D University of Queensland) is Lecturer in Theology at Ridley Melbourne College of Mission and Ministry. He is the author of several books including Jesus and the Origins of the Gentile Mission (2006), The Saving Righteousness of God (2007), A Bird’s-Eye View of Paul (2008), Colossians and Philemon (2009), Crossing Over Sea and Land: Jewish Missionary Activity in the Second Temple Period (2009), and Are You the One Who is to Come? The Historical Jesus and the Messianic Question (2009).

Reviews

[Ryan Storch · Rating 5 out of 5]

“The Jesus story began with a whisper, a rumour, a daring claim: God is coming, coming as king, in the life, teachings and destiny of Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus himself started the whisper of this revolution, one involving a reordering of power, Israel's regathering, the redemption of the Jews, the defeat of Satan and the renewal of creation. But his teaching, its promises and warnings, could not remain a whisper; it had to be shared, repeated, declared, argued and even shouted afar.” (Bird, 300)

In his book, Whispers of Revolution, Michael Bird seeks once more to add his voice to the conversation about the historical Jesus.

One of the first things Bird does is examine the challenge of studying the Historical Jesus. He notes that everyone, from conservative to liberal theologians, tends to write Jesus into our own image. He points out that the gospels are reliable historical guides to the life of Jesus of Nazareth.

Bird’s book is a broad and yet accessible guide to the life of Christ that situates him in his Jewish context. And because of that, it situates him historically and shapes how he saw his ministry and the claims he made.

I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in this topic!

[Thomas Creedy · Rating 5 out of 5]

A joy to work on this with Mike. Engaging, occasionally funny, but deadly serious too. This is a book about the historical Jesus that anyone interested should read. Scholarly yet readable.

[Stuart Houghton · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very readable book bringing us all up to date with the scholarship regarding The historical Jesus. This is essentially an overview of the topic with Mike Bird indicating where he stands on the issues within the topic. This is not an in-depth discussion; rather Mike Bird canvases the lay of the land on the Historical Jesus as a prelude to writing a future Theology of the New Testament. I liked Bird's use of humour along the way, giving the book his own flavour. One area where I was left unsatisfied was regarding Jesus' understanding of the KoG's future consummation. I hope if Bird does write a NT theology we will get a more substantial discussion of tehe KoG. Finally, a major strength of this book is the use of Biblical and extra-Biblical sources together in painting a coherent picture of Jesus, and His self-understanding of his place in the times in which he lived.

[Joel Wentz · Rating 3 out of 5]

I did like this book, but I think it suffered from misaligned expectations. It's much more of a synthesis of the current state of historical Jesus scholarship, than it is a provocative proposal or study on its own merits.

That said, if you are looking for a synthesis, literature review, and very solid interaction with a wide array of scholarship on the historical Jesus, then this is a great recommendation. I was just expecting something different. On the plus side, it's super funny and engaging, much moreso than the typical academic work.

Full video review here: https://youtu.be/rbSkNGN0-s8

[Derian Sullivan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written and funny, but didn't add much to the discussion—more of a synopsis of the field than an original contribution. A few of the chapters were excellent, though, and the emphasis on restoration theology is timely and exciting.