We all want a world where God shields us from suffering. But Jesus' final day on earth is a reminder that God is in the suffering with us. When we walk the broken road with Jesus, light glimmers in darkness, and hope peeks out from despair.
Every Easter Sunday, Christians celebrate the resurrection of Jesus. But the empty tomb is not a story of instant hope. It's the end of a long journey marked by suffering.
The painful road Jesus traveled on the day of his death is known as the "Way of Sorrows." It begins with Jesus praying in the Garden of Gethsemane and ends with his body placed in the tomb. In between, the drama of Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion plays out for all to see.
Nobody Left Out: Jesus & the Way of Sorrows is a journey with Jesus through these final 18 hours of his life. It uses the Scriptural Stations of the Cross—a devotional exercise practiced across many Christian traditions—as a guide.
As you travel with Jesus and stop at fifteen scenes along the road, you'll:
Enter the drama and experience the story from the perspective of each character. Find comfort in knowing that Jesus understands suffering and is with you in your pain. Reflect on questions to help you see Jesus in new ways. See that even in personal times of sorrow, you can dare to have hope because of how the story ends.
Whether you've been following Jesus your whole life or have never cracked open a Bible, Nobody Left Out: Jesus & the Way of Sorrows will show you that Jesus is with you in the hard times…
He traveled down the sorrowful road because he doesn't want anyone left out!
Michael Murray is just a broken, messy guy trying to follow Jesus one step at a time. He was born with cerebral palsy, a disability that affects motor skills. Living life with CP has given Michael a unique perspective on God's grace and mercy. He believes that every single person matters to Jesus.
Michael lives in Orlando, Florida, with his wife Diana (who's an amazing artist!) and their dog Ruby. He attends Summit Church, where he serves as a writer and actor on the family productions team. Michael is a big fan of sweet tea, musicals, and writing about himself in the third person.
Positive perspective on the journey to the most important event of the Christian faith
I felt that this book helped add a lot of perspective to the stations of the cross and helped me look at the bible and at my own life in new ways. Michael Murray has a very positive way of looking at things, and I really enjoyed reading about some of his thoughts on peripheral details of this journey. I felt that it was a very relatable, down to earth book, which considering the subject matter, surprised me a bit. I think the bible can be difficult to read at times, hard to relate to in others, and honestly sometimes just hard to understand. I felt that Mr. Murray's open and honest dialogue with the reader (he poses a lot of questions I felt compelled to answer) are a refreshing and helpful tool as I read more about my faith and try to expand my understanding of what Jesus Christ did for me, and for us all.
First, I received this as a Goodreads giveaway. Honestly, I wish I hadn’t. Let me tell you why. I have been struggling and asking God for something to inspire me spiritually as a man for over two years. Nothing has quite connected with me until this little simple book filled with profound truths of the real Jesus who reached out for the messiest among us which is what I feel like most of the time. Through 5 characters the author lays out how Jesus met and changed them even though they had cactus personalities. And it gives me hope for me. I plan to read some of his other work and support him because it was such a gift.
It may do the same for you. If I could meet the man who wrote this, I would express gratitude. That is my experience with the book.
I love the simple, thought provoking way that Michael writes his thoughts down in his books. So easily understood, but so very deep and explanatory as he makes his way through the story of Jesus' walk through his final days on Earth. This book would be a great bible tool for new Christians in a class/church setting for basic bible knowledge. Keep on writing, Michael. I am proud of you. Jayne Hill
I found this book a great meditation for the 14 days before Easter. I had considered certain people in the story of Jesus’ death like he pointed out. I am not Catholic but I felt this book made me think a lot! He never pushed his Catholic beliefs on the reader. I highly recommend it.
I read this book during my first time when I really wanted to observe lent season with my body, mind and soul. It opened my eyes to sorrow that Jesus endure to save me from eternal sin into love abundance. It's a well written book, easy to follow and fun to read that I will recommend it to confirmation class in my church as well as my family.
Michael Murray is able to talk directly to the reader, as if we were having a conversation. This makes his writing very intimate and personal. The Stations must be taken personally to have meaning. Michael Murray has helped me accept that I am a messy, broken human....And that perfectly fine!
MMMMMMMMMMMM this book is to comforting to know my Lord and Savior.
It is always refreshing to see a different prospective on the subject of the Road to the Cross.
I love how he gets you to look within. Though it is written in the Bible and it happen many years ago. How does it apply to your life? What can you learn from the experiences the people went threw in the Bible.
I really enjoyed this book and looked forward to reading the next chapter after I processed the previous one. This book covers Jesus journey to the cross and through his resurrection. I will definitely be reading this book each year at Easter time.
Wonderful messages that lead us thru Jesus capture, mock trial, torture, crucifixion and amazing resurrection! I highly recommend all his books. 40 day devotional is lovely also!
I thought this was wonderful. I enjoyed the writing and the way it made me reflect and ponder different events in the bible. Each chapter has questions at the end. Definitely recommend. Great to celebrate Easter with especially.
Great read! Anyone who loves their Savior and would like the opportunity to look at his life's story from a different perspective and direction needs to read this book.
Being Catholic I have read and prayed many versions of the Stations of the Cross and I am so glad I read this one. It humanizes Jesus and puts you in the scene with him. I liked this way of traveling the stations with Jesus.
Michael has done a wonderful job of walking us through Jesus' final hours. His narrative gave me hope and courage. We follow an awesome God and many times I forget.
A very good read for getting a different perspective and way of thinking about the Via Doloroso ( Way of Sorrow) or the 15 stations of the Cross. Also a very well structured devotional.
An Insightful Read for All Christians, Non-Believers, and Those Searching for Life's Meaning
Jesus goes through the Way of Sorrows because He wants nobody left out. People from all walks of life and regardless of beliefs or lack of it can learn something from this book.
Nobody Left Out: Jesus & The Way of Sorrows is a Christian non-fiction read. Its story is focused on the fourteen Stations of the Cross. For the non-Christian believers, Stations of the Cross is a traditional commemoration of Jesus’ suffering that led to His crucifixion and death. It’s practiced during Lent.
Of the two versions of the Stations of the Cross, the author chooses to explain the Scriptural account. The other version is the Traditional one. Michael Murray calls Nobody Left Out the Way of Sorrows or Via Dolorosa. It’s apparently because it centers on the last few hours of Jesus’ life on earth. In this book, Murray dissects each of the fourteen significant events that happened to the Lord until His death on the Cross. He makes an analogy between Christ’s life and every person’s journey on earth. Particularly, the author emphasizes that suffering leads to hope. The hope of Easter.
For the events to make relatable to human life, Murray shares his thoughts and peripheral details of Christ’s journey. For example, he wonders about what might have been running in Pilate’s mind during Jesus’ trial. He also cites real life events.
At the end of each chapter, the author poses some questions. These questions may lead the reader to take some time to reflect on the events that transpire in each chapter. Hence, it may take the reader longer to finish reading this book.
The 14 Stations of the Cross ends with Jesus’ crucifixion. But, Murray adds one more station just to show what the Resurrection scene looks like.
The Book and the Author
Although Nobody Left Out focuses on a tradition of the Catholics and other Christian denominations, its message is universal. Non-Christian readers may read it with an impartial view, like trying to learn a different culture. After all, the author presents the book as objectively as possible. He does not impose his faith on the reader.
Nobody Left Out: Jesus & The Way of Sorrows is a well-researched book. Michael Murray’s writing is simple and yet it hits home. He takes the reader through the painful journey of Christ during the last few hours of His life. It’s a great devotional guide for Christians to reflect on during the season of Lent.
There are many parts that I like in the book, but I’ll mention only two here. The first is when the author presents the real meaning of Easter. He implies that the hope of Easter is not to get back to a normal life. Rather, the events of Good Friday and Holy Saturday bring new meaning to all mankind that may change their lives. For the better and forever! These events allow us to see things from a different perspective.
And second, the author’s explanation of each chapter gives me a broader understanding of the Stations of the Cross.
Overall, I give Nobody Left Out: Jesus & The Way of Sorrows a rating of 5 out of 5 stars. I also highly recommend it to all Christian denominations. And, although the book seems Christian-themed, non-Christian readers may learn something from it. I also encourage people who are searching for their life’s meaning to read this book. After all, nothing is left out in God’s eyes.
I walked the road of Via Delarosa when I was in Israel. This journey in Nobody Left Out put it all in perspective, step by step. Thank you. I will read it again, and again!