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Jesus Behaving Badly: The Puzzling Paradoxes of the Man from Galilee
Everybody likes Jesus. Don't they? We overlook that Jesus was
Judgmental--preaching hellfire far more than the apostle Paul
Uncompromising--telling people to hate their families
Chauvinistic--excluding women from leadership
Racist--insulting people from other ethnic groups
Anti-environmental--cursing a fig tree and affirming animal sacrifice
Angry--overturning tables and chasing moneychangers in the temple
He demanded moral perfection, told people to cut off body parts, made prophecies that haven't come true, and defied religious and political authorities. While we tend to ignore this troubling behavior, the people around Jesus didn't. Some believed him so dangerous that they found a way to have him killed. The Jesus everybody likes, says Mark Strauss, is not the Jesus found in the Gospels. He's a figure we've created in our own minds. Strauss believes that when we unpack the puzzling paradoxes of the man from Galilee, we find greater insight into his countercultural message and mission than we could ever have imagined.
Judgmental--preaching hellfire far more than the apostle Paul
Uncompromising--telling people to hate their families
Chauvinistic--excluding women from leadership
Racist--insulting people from other ethnic groups
Anti-environmental--cursing a fig tree and affirming animal sacrifice
Angry--overturning tables and chasing moneychangers in the temple
He demanded moral perfection, told people to cut off body parts, made prophecies that haven't come true, and defied religious and political authorities. While we tend to ignore this troubling behavior, the people around Jesus didn't. Some believed him so dangerous that they found a way to have him killed. The Jesus everybody likes, says Mark Strauss, is not the Jesus found in the Gospels. He's a figure we've created in our own minds. Strauss believes that when we unpack the puzzling paradoxes of the man from Galilee, we find greater insight into his countercultural message and mission than we could ever have imagined.
223 pages, Paperback
First published November 9, 2015
24 people are currently reading
153 people want to read
About the author
Mark L. Strauss
91 books21 followersMark Lehman Strauss is an American biblical scholar and professor of the New Testament at Bethel Seminary San Diego, which is part of Bethel University, Minnesota. His areas of expertise include New Testament Gospels and Bible translation.
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Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews
March 21, 2017
Summary: Explores some of the disturbing acts and statements of Jesus, that actually reveal his counter-cultural message and mission.
A number of years ago I was leading a Bible discussion with a group of students on Mark 7:25-30, where a Syrophoenician woman asks Jesus to drive a demon out of her daughter. He answers her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs” (Mark 7:27). A student in the group commented, "I understood everything that was going on until Jesus opened his mouth."
I suspect he wasn't the first person to read the gospels and, and instead of finding "gentle Jesus meek and mild," discovered challenging Jesus, disturbing and troubling. Mark L. Strauss has written this book for those who don't find everything they encounter in reading the gospels easy to swallow and wonder how a person could possibly give their ultimate allegiance to a Jesus who says and does such disturbing things.
The instance I cite is just one of those Strauss explores in chapters that explore whether or not Jesus spoke in revolutionary or pacifist terms, was loving or angry, a scorched earth prophet cursing fig trees and killing a herd of pigs. Was he a works-oriented legalist demanding the rich sell all to attain heaven, a hell fire preacher (Jesus says more about hell than anyone in the Bible), an anti-family crusader who speaks of hating one's parents, a racist (as in the passage above), a sexist, and an anti-Semite? In the end was he a deluded prophet of the end time who ended up a decaying corpse?
Strauss goes behind the scenes as it were, and explains the background and intent of some of Jesus most puzzling acts. He doesn't "explain away" these things, but rather brings out the radical implications of who this Jesus is. While offering various ideas about hell that Christians affirm, he upholds the idea that God won't just ignore evil and leave it unpunished. He points out that his word to the Syrophoenician woman was the diminutive of dog, softening the insult, yet provoking the woman to answer him in kind, and win, not only the argument (the only one who ever did and a woman at that!) but Jesus' commendation and the deliverance of her daughter. He offers plausible interpretations of the end times sayings that demonstrate that Jesus did not get it wrong, and good reasons to believe that Jesus rose from the dead.
The book is a great one to give to the skeptic or seeking person or even the believer who is troubled by these things. Strauss's discussions reveal a considerable background in biblical scholarship (he is a professor of New Testament) and yet very readable and easily understood. Here is a sample, in his discussion of Jesus harsh words and conflicts with the religious leaders:
"It becomes clear in this context why Jesus responded in such a forceful manner. He believed that his coming was the center point in human history, the climax of God's plan of salvation. There was no plan B. His mission was to call Israel to repentance and faith in preparation for the kingdom of God. Anyone who opposed this message stood in defiance of God. Jesus said, 'Whoever is not with me is against me" (Mt 12:30//Lk 11:23). When the leaders of Israel rejected Jesus, he had no choice but to reject their authority and to publicly denounce them. He calls them 'blind guides' because, from his perspective, that is what they were. They were leading God's people astray and missing out on God's plan of salvation--the climax of human history."
Strauss puts this out to his readers both forthrightly and yet gives them space to consider for themselves whether he has made his case. He acknowledges that not all will buy it, which I think for many is winsome. He deals with liberal scholars like Albert Schweitzer, and debunking critics like Bart Ehrman, whose work and television appearances may have swayed some.
The book includes a study guide which can be useful for both individuals and groups discussing the book. The season leading up to Good Friday and Easter Sunday sometimes leads to discussions about the significance of Christ. This is a timely book to make sense of a Jesus, who, as Rebecca Pippert describes him in Out of the Saltshaker, could be both "delightful and disturbing."
A number of years ago I was leading a Bible discussion with a group of students on Mark 7:25-30, where a Syrophoenician woman asks Jesus to drive a demon out of her daughter. He answers her, “Let the children be fed first, for it is not right to take the children's bread and throw it to the dogs” (Mark 7:27). A student in the group commented, "I understood everything that was going on until Jesus opened his mouth."
I suspect he wasn't the first person to read the gospels and, and instead of finding "gentle Jesus meek and mild," discovered challenging Jesus, disturbing and troubling. Mark L. Strauss has written this book for those who don't find everything they encounter in reading the gospels easy to swallow and wonder how a person could possibly give their ultimate allegiance to a Jesus who says and does such disturbing things.
The instance I cite is just one of those Strauss explores in chapters that explore whether or not Jesus spoke in revolutionary or pacifist terms, was loving or angry, a scorched earth prophet cursing fig trees and killing a herd of pigs. Was he a works-oriented legalist demanding the rich sell all to attain heaven, a hell fire preacher (Jesus says more about hell than anyone in the Bible), an anti-family crusader who speaks of hating one's parents, a racist (as in the passage above), a sexist, and an anti-Semite? In the end was he a deluded prophet of the end time who ended up a decaying corpse?
Strauss goes behind the scenes as it were, and explains the background and intent of some of Jesus most puzzling acts. He doesn't "explain away" these things, but rather brings out the radical implications of who this Jesus is. While offering various ideas about hell that Christians affirm, he upholds the idea that God won't just ignore evil and leave it unpunished. He points out that his word to the Syrophoenician woman was the diminutive of dog, softening the insult, yet provoking the woman to answer him in kind, and win, not only the argument (the only one who ever did and a woman at that!) but Jesus' commendation and the deliverance of her daughter. He offers plausible interpretations of the end times sayings that demonstrate that Jesus did not get it wrong, and good reasons to believe that Jesus rose from the dead.
The book is a great one to give to the skeptic or seeking person or even the believer who is troubled by these things. Strauss's discussions reveal a considerable background in biblical scholarship (he is a professor of New Testament) and yet very readable and easily understood. Here is a sample, in his discussion of Jesus harsh words and conflicts with the religious leaders:
"It becomes clear in this context why Jesus responded in such a forceful manner. He believed that his coming was the center point in human history, the climax of God's plan of salvation. There was no plan B. His mission was to call Israel to repentance and faith in preparation for the kingdom of God. Anyone who opposed this message stood in defiance of God. Jesus said, 'Whoever is not with me is against me" (Mt 12:30//Lk 11:23). When the leaders of Israel rejected Jesus, he had no choice but to reject their authority and to publicly denounce them. He calls them 'blind guides' because, from his perspective, that is what they were. They were leading God's people astray and missing out on God's plan of salvation--the climax of human history."
Strauss puts this out to his readers both forthrightly and yet gives them space to consider for themselves whether he has made his case. He acknowledges that not all will buy it, which I think for many is winsome. He deals with liberal scholars like Albert Schweitzer, and debunking critics like Bart Ehrman, whose work and television appearances may have swayed some.
The book includes a study guide which can be useful for both individuals and groups discussing the book. The season leading up to Good Friday and Easter Sunday sometimes leads to discussions about the significance of Christ. This is a timely book to make sense of a Jesus, who, as Rebecca Pippert describes him in Out of the Saltshaker, could be both "delightful and disturbing."
June 2, 2019
This is an overview of the various “hard” sayings of Jesus. With a handful of footnotes and no bibliography, it is the barest of beginnings on the subject. The writing also is simply ok, with random paragraphs thrown in for filler. If you have looked into these sayings before, then I would look elsewhere for something more in depth as the answers here are likely ones you have come across already. If you have not looked into these sayings before, this book provides a balanced view of Jesus in his context.
November 11, 2015
Why do people like Jesus so much?
Mark Strauss thinks that if they read the New Testament a little more carefully, they might not. After all, Jesus “told people to hate their families, to cut off body parts, and to eat his flesh and drink his blood. He . . . upheld the special status of the Hebrews in a way we would call ethnocentric if not racist (Mk 7:24-30//Mt 15:21-28). With no women among the twelve apostles, he looks pretty chauvinistic” (p. 11).
Strauss points out that Jesus acted in what we could see as contradictory ways, even though we tend to ignore the parts that could discomfort us. At times he seemed like a revolutionary at times like a pacifist. He showed both anger and love. He preached hell far more than Paul yet has the image of a gentle shepherd. (Disclosure: I work for the publisher.)
By looking at these and several other pairs of conflicting behaviors, Strauss does us all a favor. He doesn’t let us get away with lazy thinking. He shakes up our standard sets of ideas and makes us look again carefully at what Jesus actually said and did.
If you think you’ve heard everything there is to say about Jesus, if you want a fresh look at one of the most important people in history, if maybe you’ve puzzled over some things about Jesus, here is your book.
Mark Strauss thinks that if they read the New Testament a little more carefully, they might not. After all, Jesus “told people to hate their families, to cut off body parts, and to eat his flesh and drink his blood. He . . . upheld the special status of the Hebrews in a way we would call ethnocentric if not racist (Mk 7:24-30//Mt 15:21-28). With no women among the twelve apostles, he looks pretty chauvinistic” (p. 11).
Strauss points out that Jesus acted in what we could see as contradictory ways, even though we tend to ignore the parts that could discomfort us. At times he seemed like a revolutionary at times like a pacifist. He showed both anger and love. He preached hell far more than Paul yet has the image of a gentle shepherd. (Disclosure: I work for the publisher.)
By looking at these and several other pairs of conflicting behaviors, Strauss does us all a favor. He doesn’t let us get away with lazy thinking. He shakes up our standard sets of ideas and makes us look again carefully at what Jesus actually said and did.
If you think you’ve heard everything there is to say about Jesus, if you want a fresh look at one of the most important people in history, if maybe you’ve puzzled over some things about Jesus, here is your book.
February 4, 2017
Jesus Behaving Badly explores the apparent contradictions in the life of Jesus. How can it be that some people view Jesus as a revolutionary and others view Him as a pacifist? Some people view Him as angry and others view him as loving. Some people consider Jesus an environmentalist and other claim He’s an earth scorcher. Some see Jesus through the lens of hellfire preacher and other see a gentle shepherd. Legalist or grace filled, sexist or egalitarian, and on and on.
Some people look at one set of Bible passages and come to one conclusion and others gravitate to a different set of Bible passages and come to different conclusions. Mark Strauss has done a masterful job of looking at Jesus from all sides. For each pair of apparent contradictions, he builds a case for one side and then he turns around and lays out a convincing case for the other side. Then, he masterfully paints the whole picture in a way that gives you a new perspective and appreciation for the complexities of Jesus. He pulls in extra-biblical details to help explain things like the withering fig tree Jesus cursed or the cultural and political viewpoints of the time. The author’s work relies on historical documents of the New Testament era, but his text is story-like and very readable to non-academic folks.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable book and as soon as I finished I was tempted to start over, but I’ll come back to this one again in due time.
This review, along with additional book quotes, first appeared on my blog, ChristyBower.com.
Some people look at one set of Bible passages and come to one conclusion and others gravitate to a different set of Bible passages and come to different conclusions. Mark Strauss has done a masterful job of looking at Jesus from all sides. For each pair of apparent contradictions, he builds a case for one side and then he turns around and lays out a convincing case for the other side. Then, he masterfully paints the whole picture in a way that gives you a new perspective and appreciation for the complexities of Jesus. He pulls in extra-biblical details to help explain things like the withering fig tree Jesus cursed or the cultural and political viewpoints of the time. The author’s work relies on historical documents of the New Testament era, but his text is story-like and very readable to non-academic folks.
This was a thoroughly enjoyable book and as soon as I finished I was tempted to start over, but I’ll come back to this one again in due time.
This review, along with additional book quotes, first appeared on my blog, ChristyBower.com.
April 16, 2016
From the Politically Correct to the conventional believer to the skeptic, there are things recorded in the New Testament that give pause to the reader. The historical Jesus is a mysterious and enigmatic figure. The author seeks to provide some answers to the pause giving sections of the Bible. Why did Jesus curse and kill a fig tree for having no fruit on it when it wasn’t even fruit bearing season? Why did Jesus call a Canaanite woman a dog? Are the Gospels, especially John, anti-Semitic? Why do the Gospels differ in their presentation of certain stories? Was Jesus physically resurrected? Although the author may or may not be correct in all his answers to these perplexing questions, he does provide food for thought and seeks to strengthen the faith of Christians.
February 21, 2019
This is my first time reviewing a book that was a gift from the author. Mark Strauss provides a stimulating discussion of some of the more challenging elements of the life and ministry of Jesus. His discussions are grounded in sound exegetical methodology, and he displays humility in presenting different viewpoints. Some evangelicals will find his inductive approach irksome, preferring that he take a stronger stance in some areas. Strauss's intention, however, is clearly to engage the skeptic, and his approach serves that purpose very well. My only question is "How many skeptics are reading books published by IVP?" However that may be, this is a great read.
May 3, 2016
Whether you've read the Bible for years and find certain statements of Jesus out- of- character or you're new too it and are struggling with who Jesus is, Strauss has produced a good starting place for working through some if the more difficult passages. He doesn't waste words and at times leaves points of controversy unresolved, but he writes well and makes the complicated understandable.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 21, 2016
A good book to read when unpacking the "contrasts" of Jesus' character. A closer look at historical context and covenantal theology becomes the books conclusion. Awesome publisher by the way, but maybe I am a little bias. (;
July 25, 2017
Kind of an apologetic book on some of the seemingly strange sayings and actions of Jesus. The latter part of the book turns more toward paradox of the kingdom and resurrection. Makes a nice companion to God Behaving Badly.
February 3, 2019
A good, albeit conservative perspective.
December 14, 2022
Strauss has done a commendable job dealing with a number of common issues people have with Jesus' ministry. I could quibble with a few things here and there, but my main hang up upon finishing is that in his initial framing of the book he points out how everyone in the modern world seems to think that Jesus was a swell guy. He then points out the rarer few who indeed have objections to Jesus and his ministry. Strauss then spends the rest of the book responding to these objections. So then, were the Gandhis of the world right in their assessment of Jesus that he's basically a swell guy? Perhaps, but I have the sense that those who like Jesus but not the church also have a number of deep misconceptions about Jesus that deserve more attention/deconstruction than Strauss does here.
October 16, 2019
A fresh take on some hard sayings (and doings) of Jesus
This book was highly engaging and entertaining, but as someone with seminary training, I felt that this book was mostly an unnecessary read for me. I could have answered each of the questions that made up the chapter titles on my own from the start. Some chapters felt like nothing but introductions to basic teachings, such as views on hell or the difference between complementarian and egalitarian. What kept me reading was the great scholarship that underlies each of these topics. Strauss knows his stuff, and I learned some very interesting things along the way.
This book was highly engaging and entertaining, but as someone with seminary training, I felt that this book was mostly an unnecessary read for me. I could have answered each of the questions that made up the chapter titles on my own from the start. Some chapters felt like nothing but introductions to basic teachings, such as views on hell or the difference between complementarian and egalitarian. What kept me reading was the great scholarship that underlies each of these topics. Strauss knows his stuff, and I learned some very interesting things along the way.
May 7, 2020
A very interesting book and topic. The author tackles the subject of the accounts and aspects of Jesus that do not fit our Sunday School watered down version of Jesus as only peaceful and loving. This is a very difficult subject to explain and thoroughly unpack. This is a very good attempt at undertaking such a tough endeavor. I only wish the author had spent a little more time unpacking some of his conclusions. It seemed he was a bit hesitant that he might offend someone with an unpopular statement or conclusion, other than that this is an enlightening read.
January 27, 2020
Mark Strauss is humorous and eminently readable in "Behaving Badly." His chapters are brief and colourful as they lay out the basics of each concern levied against Christ:
• insurrection
• a short fuse
• environmental disdain
• legalism
• hellfire preaching
• antifamily rhetoric
• racism
• sexism
• anti-Semitism
• self-delusion
• a sham resurrection
It's refreshing to have a premier NT scholar's material delivered so accessibly.
• insurrection
• a short fuse
• environmental disdain
• legalism
• hellfire preaching
• antifamily rhetoric
• racism
• sexism
• anti-Semitism
• self-delusion
• a sham resurrection
It's refreshing to have a premier NT scholar's material delivered so accessibly.
June 3, 2022
“Jesus is particularly revered for his power to heal. It was later Christians, Muslims claim, who distorted the truth and falsely (and blasphemously) turned him into a deity-the Son of God.” The book Jesus behaving badly was extremely insightful. Though at the end of the story I was left with more questions than answers. As a Christian this book has taught me that blind faith comes at a cost. The only way to truly love Christ is to know the things he has done and sacrificed for us disciples.
March 24, 2024
I abandoned the book about a third of the way through.
Biased apologetics, ignoring questions about Bible authorship and contradictory Jesus stories. Bible is assumed to be 100% true, all of Jesus' bad behavior is contorted into being a metaphor to teach some kind of higher message. What about damage to the economy or innocent people or animals? Can't make an omelet without breaking eggs.
Recommend "Jesus, Interrupted" instead
Biased apologetics, ignoring questions about Bible authorship and contradictory Jesus stories. Bible is assumed to be 100% true, all of Jesus' bad behavior is contorted into being a metaphor to teach some kind of higher message. What about damage to the economy or innocent people or animals? Can't make an omelet without breaking eggs.
Recommend "Jesus, Interrupted" instead
April 7, 2023
An honest look at Jesus
A good read. I recommend this book to those who like to wrestle with the confusing things in the Bible that are often glossed over and ignored. Thinking carefully about the many paradoxes found in the
Bible can deepen your faith and help prepare you to give an answer when you are questioned by honest seekers and skeptics alike
A good read. I recommend this book to those who like to wrestle with the confusing things in the Bible that are often glossed over and ignored. Thinking carefully about the many paradoxes found in the
Bible can deepen your faith and help prepare you to give an answer when you are questioned by honest seekers and skeptics alike
April 18, 2021
Good overview of the controversial perspectives about Jesus. A good refresher on Jesus’ teachings and how people could misinterpret them. Enjoyable, but certainly a shallow dive that may not convince skeptics.
March 28, 2020
An excellent work which unpacks through careful exegesis a number of sayings and behaviors of our savior that many find paradoxical. I highly recommend it.
July 25, 2022
Great book!
April 9, 2023
This was the perfect weekend to finish this book.The one thing that stood out to me as I read was how intentional and strategic God is, even in the death of his son.
December 12, 2023
2.5 stars
January 12, 2024
This book is a great example of a book written with no clarity on who this book is intended for and why they need to read it. All the facts are there but it is missing the “so what?”
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
July 25, 2025
Very good. The author is one of the most straightforward Nee Testament apologists I have read.
April 14, 2016
This book was written on a much more popular level than I had anticipated. Most of these chapters covered things most in a preaching or pastoral role would probably already know, though there were a few things in some chapters that were a bit new and very interesting to me.
That being said, I would recommend it as something every church leader have in their library. It is very good for taking some of the more complex issues about Jesus' words and actions that seem to conflict with a modern picture of Him, and explaining them on an entry level, for someone who is just getting into a bit deeper Bible study.
One thing I did appreciate was Strauss' approach to some of the more complex issues, like the nature of hell (eternal conscious torment, annihilation, or universalism) and gender roles (complementarian or egalitarian). Rather than take one side in the argument, Strauss does well at presenting how the conclusion to the issue might fit into any of the beliefs. Some might say that Strauss is compromising by taking a non-position on these issues, but I don't believe so. Given that the book is written on more of an entry level style of studying, this approach will hopefully push the reader to begin to study more and more deeply.
Overall I liked the book, but more as a book that I could easily recommend to someone trying to start a study on Jesus.
That being said, I would recommend it as something every church leader have in their library. It is very good for taking some of the more complex issues about Jesus' words and actions that seem to conflict with a modern picture of Him, and explaining them on an entry level, for someone who is just getting into a bit deeper Bible study.
One thing I did appreciate was Strauss' approach to some of the more complex issues, like the nature of hell (eternal conscious torment, annihilation, or universalism) and gender roles (complementarian or egalitarian). Rather than take one side in the argument, Strauss does well at presenting how the conclusion to the issue might fit into any of the beliefs. Some might say that Strauss is compromising by taking a non-position on these issues, but I don't believe so. Given that the book is written on more of an entry level style of studying, this approach will hopefully push the reader to begin to study more and more deeply.
Overall I liked the book, but more as a book that I could easily recommend to someone trying to start a study on Jesus.
December 17, 2015
There are a few interesting chapters - particularly on "family" and "environmentalism" - but overall there isn't much new or surprising in Strauss's book. It reads like a more-popular-level version of F.F. Bruces's "Hard Sayings of Jesus," but I appreciated the academic depth of Bruces's work a bit more.
This is by no means a bad book. I enjoyed reading it and would probably recommend it to some of the students I work with who are curious about Jesus, but for anyone who is already well-acquainted with these controversial questions around the Gospels, there isn't much new here.
This is by no means a bad book. I enjoyed reading it and would probably recommend it to some of the students I work with who are curious about Jesus, but for anyone who is already well-acquainted with these controversial questions around the Gospels, there isn't much new here.
February 7, 2017
Good, not great. There were many moments here I expected a little more would come but it rarely did.
Displaying 1 - 27 of 27 reviews