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Jesus' Silent Years #2
Parable
Parables picks up Jesus' story at around twenty years of age. We learn how Jesus became a master teacher. Jesus did not speak without telling parables. He told stories of good people who went bad; bad people who went good; stories with sad outcomes and glad ones. He taught by contrast: this is a good person, that is a bad one. He didn’t lecture. He told stories.
- GenresChristianNonfiction
320 pages, Kindle Edition
Published February 20, 2021
About the author
Vance Shepperson
10 books32 followersDr Shepperson is a 3rd generation Presbyterian preacher’s son. He attended boarding schools and colleges in the UK, Switzerland, and the USA. He earned a doctoral degree in clinical psychology along the way, worked as an Air Force psychologist, and was on faculty at a doctoral program of psychology in California.
He’s owned a group psychotherapy practice in California. For the past decade or so he served as a missionary in southwest China, the UK, and New Zealand. Now he and his wife live and practice as licensed psychologists in Hawaii… but he mainly writes stuff.
His favorite walk? the Israel National Trail (israeltrail.net). 685 miles long.
He’s owned a group psychotherapy practice in California. For the past decade or so he served as a missionary in southwest China, the UK, and New Zealand. Now he and his wife live and practice as licensed psychologists in Hawaii… but he mainly writes stuff.
His favorite walk? the Israel National Trail (israeltrail.net). 685 miles long.
Ratings & Reviews
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
July 17, 2021
As soon as I see Jesus portrayed on the cover as the only white guy in the Middle East in year 0, I'm out.
August 23, 2021
2.5/5
I thought it was (eh) Okay. Naturally there are many stories out there about Jesus and the parables he told, so why was I interested in this one?
Well, I read the synopsis and thought, "This sounds like a children's storybook only for an older demographic and 350 pages long." Luckily, the book was not hard for me to get into. The book is definitely very thoughtful about religion and how we need it (no problem there), and it takes itself very, VERY seriously. (Again, no problem). It explains Jesus teaching and ministry in easy-to-understand way but divulges into some fictional detours which had me scratching my head and chuckling at how silly it was. I am also confused by some of the cover art. If Jesus died at age 33, why does he look like he's 53?
I thought it was (eh) Okay. Naturally there are many stories out there about Jesus and the parables he told, so why was I interested in this one?
Well, I read the synopsis and thought, "This sounds like a children's storybook only for an older demographic and 350 pages long." Luckily, the book was not hard for me to get into. The book is definitely very thoughtful about religion and how we need it (no problem there), and it takes itself very, VERY seriously. (Again, no problem). It explains Jesus teaching and ministry in easy-to-understand way but divulges into some fictional detours which had me scratching my head and chuckling at how silly it was. I am also confused by some of the cover art. If Jesus died at age 33, why does he look like he's 53?
October 21, 2021
I'll start by giving this book 2 1/2 stars. Yes, that's it. It was a major disappointment for me. I realized it was going to be fiction ,but this is just a LONG comic book type story. Jesus and his family go to Rome and on the way their ship is attacked by pirates because it it loaded with Gold on the way to the government. Jesus then saves Caesar's granddaughter from drowning. The book gets weirder from this point on.
The author doesn't know anything about timelines, dialects, food in Roman times. He had pirates that talk like outlaws from the American West, Jesus meets and talks to Augustus Caesar, yadda,yadda,yadda.
Oh this book is so odd. Jesus is just a character written into a far fetched historical fiction authored by a high school English major wanna be.
If you are looking for fiction about historical Jesus, move on. Skip this entirely. If you want to read comic book dialogue then this is up your alley. I did not like it. The only thing I found interesting was Mary the mother of Jesus, who remained in character according to the gospels. Caesar's granddaughter was the best character in the book by far. This book was also very long. Some seventy something chapters and 2 or 3 more hidden ones for the next volume. OH MY!
The author doesn't know anything about timelines, dialects, food in Roman times. He had pirates that talk like outlaws from the American West, Jesus meets and talks to Augustus Caesar, yadda,yadda,yadda.
Oh this book is so odd. Jesus is just a character written into a far fetched historical fiction authored by a high school English major wanna be.
If you are looking for fiction about historical Jesus, move on. Skip this entirely. If you want to read comic book dialogue then this is up your alley. I did not like it. The only thing I found interesting was Mary the mother of Jesus, who remained in character according to the gospels. Caesar's granddaughter was the best character in the book by far. This book was also very long. Some seventy something chapters and 2 or 3 more hidden ones for the next volume. OH MY!
March 19, 2022
Chapter 2 (of 4) of Jesus' Silent Years is the next chapter in His years not discussed in the Bible. Though fictional, it is a good story that shows HOW He could have learned the earthly lessons that were required to complete his mission on earth. It didn't have the same type of "instructions" found in the first chapter, but the earthly lessons learned were just as valuable. Likewise, the other lives contained in this series show a number of different circumstances that provide teachings that help us in our own lives.
December 25, 2021
Rather interesting read. Not my cup of tea for the most part, not because of the religion as I am a Christian, but the author came off as he wasn't sure if it wanted to appeal to adults or teens and tried to do both unsuccessfully. Unfortunately because we don't know fully what his life was like 100% of the time, liberties were taken and felt like a cinematic narrative.
September 25, 2021
Unfortunately, I found the prose very juvenile and jarring for the time period this is set in. I had a really difficult time getting past Lucifer and Jesus, in year zero, using slang phrases like “knock it out yer butt.”
Want to Read
May 18, 2021Great I won the giveaway, can't wait to start reading
September 14, 2021
Being a believer and church goer, I could not get into this book. It was too far out there for me.
October 27, 2021
The book was a little out there. Portrays Jesus in his younger years and the people he ran with.
September 11, 2022
Unable to finish. Just couldn’t get my brain to comprehend this book.
February 14, 2022
Gave it to my brother as a gift and he read the entire thing. He loved it and asked for another so I would definitely recommend this for people who want to learn more about religion.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews