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Encounters with Jesus: Forty Reflections on Knowing and Loving the Savior
Are you up for the challenge? Who do people say that I am?” Jesus asks. And then He probes “Who do you say that I am?” It’s a question that every person throughout the centuries has to answer. The seeker, the confused, the skeptic, the heartbroken, the hopeful, the despairing, the faithful. But it’s not a one-time question as many think; it’s a question we must answer daily. And sometimes our answer reflects who we want Jesus to be rather than who He really is.
In forty readings of the gospel interactions with Jesus, J.R. Hudberg invites you to look closely at yourself. How will you see yourself in the mirror of Scripture? A curious bystander? A disciple? A person in need of healing? A Pharisee? Are there areas in your life where you give lip-service to Jesus but secretly rebel? How do you respond when Jesus doesn’t do what you think He should? How does Jesus’s timing have an impact on your faith? Do you take Jesus along wherever you go . . . or do you actually follow Him? Allow these readings, introspective questions, and intimate prayers to draw you nearer to Jesus, the Savior of the world. With fresh insights on those who walked and talked with Christ, you will truly know Him better.
In forty readings of the gospel interactions with Jesus, J.R. Hudberg invites you to look closely at yourself. How will you see yourself in the mirror of Scripture? A curious bystander? A disciple? A person in need of healing? A Pharisee? Are there areas in your life where you give lip-service to Jesus but secretly rebel? How do you respond when Jesus doesn’t do what you think He should? How does Jesus’s timing have an impact on your faith? Do you take Jesus along wherever you go . . . or do you actually follow Him? Allow these readings, introspective questions, and intimate prayers to draw you nearer to Jesus, the Savior of the world. With fresh insights on those who walked and talked with Christ, you will truly know Him better.
280 pages, Paperback
Published February 1, 2022
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Displaying 1 - 8 of 8 reviews
June 24, 2022
Each reflection invites the reader to experience an interaction with Jesus in the gospels through the character’s eyes. What would they have felt? What would they have seen and smelled? How is their encounter with Jesus similar to our encounters today?
Hudberg’s reflections bring the gospel stories to life by employing “holy imagination” so that we can see and experience the scene each character finds themselves in. Before Joseph and Mary realize that Jesus is missing from their group, Hudberg writes, “The day grew late, and the large group stopped for the evening. As the initial chaos of camp settled into pockets of fires and tents, the smell of roasting food began to waft through the air.”
These rich details invite us around the campfire with the traveling couple as the reality of their missing son dawns on them, and their panic carries them out of the camp and back to Jerusalem in search of Jesus.
Hudberg invites us into the very human thoughts and emotions of biblical characters as they interact with Jesus, helping readers to experience the collision of humanity with divinity in each of the gospel stories. Each reflection includes a passage of Scripture followed by the story reimagined by Hudberg so that the reader can “explore the thoughts and emotions people may have grappled with as they witnessed the surprising work of Jesus.” The reflection ends with a series of questions to consider and a scripted prayer to respond to the reading.
When the paralytic man’s friends began making a hole in the roof, “Everyone, including Jesus, tried to ignore it, but then the first bits of debris fell and rattled across the floor. Jesus moved as pieces landed in his hair.”
I can almost see the dried palm leaves and clay crumbling down onto the Savior’s head. And when Jesus tells the paralytic to pick up his mat and walk, I can feel the blood rushing back into my legs. I can feel the impulse to jump up and dance.
That’s what Hudberg invites us into in each of these forty reflections, the opportunity to “find ourselves in these stories in a new way and, like the characters in them, walk away changed by an encounter with Jesus.”
Hudberg’s reflections bring the gospel stories to life by employing “holy imagination” so that we can see and experience the scene each character finds themselves in. Before Joseph and Mary realize that Jesus is missing from their group, Hudberg writes, “The day grew late, and the large group stopped for the evening. As the initial chaos of camp settled into pockets of fires and tents, the smell of roasting food began to waft through the air.”
These rich details invite us around the campfire with the traveling couple as the reality of their missing son dawns on them, and their panic carries them out of the camp and back to Jerusalem in search of Jesus.
Hudberg invites us into the very human thoughts and emotions of biblical characters as they interact with Jesus, helping readers to experience the collision of humanity with divinity in each of the gospel stories. Each reflection includes a passage of Scripture followed by the story reimagined by Hudberg so that the reader can “explore the thoughts and emotions people may have grappled with as they witnessed the surprising work of Jesus.” The reflection ends with a series of questions to consider and a scripted prayer to respond to the reading.
When the paralytic man’s friends began making a hole in the roof, “Everyone, including Jesus, tried to ignore it, but then the first bits of debris fell and rattled across the floor. Jesus moved as pieces landed in his hair.”
I can almost see the dried palm leaves and clay crumbling down onto the Savior’s head. And when Jesus tells the paralytic to pick up his mat and walk, I can feel the blood rushing back into my legs. I can feel the impulse to jump up and dance.
That’s what Hudberg invites us into in each of these forty reflections, the opportunity to “find ourselves in these stories in a new way and, like the characters in them, walk away changed by an encounter with Jesus.”
May 7, 2022
I truly enjoyed this book. “Encounters with Jesus” by J.R. Hudberg* is a 40-day reader built upon episodes from the four Gospels. Each Bible passage is followed by a brief retelling of that story which imaginatively situates the reader inside the story, similar to the way a historical novel or documentary would. These retellings often highlight the likely emotions or motivations of the characters involved. (For example, though the Bible doesn’t say so specifically, the mother in Mark 7:24-30 was almost certainly feeling despair.)
I found this approach to the episodes of Jesus so refreshing. This book is filled with nuggets of insight, and with nuanced discussions of what’s happening in Gospels. Hudberg avoids easy answers to natural questions about Jesus as well as moralistic applications of each story.
For example, in the well-known story of Jesus calming the stormy sea Hudberg ends with, “sometimes what we think we know about [Jesus] may stop us from learning something new.” In most circumstances I’ve heard this same story taught with an application like, “don’t be like the scared disciples. You have God on your side. You should have more faith!” One of these applications encourages me to think and reflect. The other feels like someone punched me in the gut, then told me to stand up straight.
I often find myself in the category of people that are hungry for Jesus while being sick of religion. In that sense, this book is a feast of healthy spiritual food. I highly recommend it. It will keep you in the Bible, specifically inside the stories of Jesus, and it will give you takeaway ideas to mull over throughout each day.
*The author is a friend of mine and he asked me to read and posted an honest review online. This is it! :)
I found this approach to the episodes of Jesus so refreshing. This book is filled with nuggets of insight, and with nuanced discussions of what’s happening in Gospels. Hudberg avoids easy answers to natural questions about Jesus as well as moralistic applications of each story.
For example, in the well-known story of Jesus calming the stormy sea Hudberg ends with, “sometimes what we think we know about [Jesus] may stop us from learning something new.” In most circumstances I’ve heard this same story taught with an application like, “don’t be like the scared disciples. You have God on your side. You should have more faith!” One of these applications encourages me to think and reflect. The other feels like someone punched me in the gut, then told me to stand up straight.
I often find myself in the category of people that are hungry for Jesus while being sick of religion. In that sense, this book is a feast of healthy spiritual food. I highly recommend it. It will keep you in the Bible, specifically inside the stories of Jesus, and it will give you takeaway ideas to mull over throughout each day.
*The author is a friend of mine and he asked me to read and posted an honest review online. This is it! :)
March 10, 2023
Found this 40 day/chapter devotional useful for our Sunday school class.
In the USA "Christian nationalists" have perverted the message and life of Jesus, whose commandment is to LOVE one another.
By reading about individuals mentioned in the Gospels of the Bible, people can frame their own empathetic responses to Jesus the Son of God, Son of Man, Teacher, Healer, miracle worker, Sacrifice, Savior, Resurrected Lord and Advocate.
In the USA "Christian nationalists" have perverted the message and life of Jesus, whose commandment is to LOVE one another.
By reading about individuals mentioned in the Gospels of the Bible, people can frame their own empathetic responses to Jesus the Son of God, Son of Man, Teacher, Healer, miracle worker, Sacrifice, Savior, Resurrected Lord and Advocate.
August 22, 2024
I incorporated Encounters With Jesus into my daily devotions and found the forty reflections to be insightful and encouraging, but also challenging and at times convicting. This would be a useful resource for someone who is new to the faith or spiritually curious, or to those who have been around the track a few times. There’s plenty here for all.
March 30, 2023
A fitting book of the life of Christ to read during lent
March 20, 2024
Very uplifting and a good reminder of what's important during the Lenten season.
April 29, 2022
This was a wonderful little devotional book that has 40 days worth of devos. Each day tells of a different person’s encounter with Jesus from the New Testament. Each devo takes approximately five to ten minutes to read, beginning with a chunk of Scripture, then a devotional thought with some occasional historical background, next was reflection and application, and finally a prayer.
I really enjoyed this devotional! I found it incredibly easy to read and thought-provoking without getting super deep and dry. Personally, I think this devo would be great for an adult, or even teen or tween. In fact, I’m going to let my twelve year-old read it next. I highly recommend this book, especially if you’re looking for your next devotional!
I’d like to sincerely thank the publisher - Our Daily Bread Publishing - for gifting me an e-copy.
I really enjoyed this devotional! I found it incredibly easy to read and thought-provoking without getting super deep and dry. Personally, I think this devo would be great for an adult, or even teen or tween. In fact, I’m going to let my twelve year-old read it next. I highly recommend this book, especially if you’re looking for your next devotional!
I’d like to sincerely thank the publisher - Our Daily Bread Publishing - for gifting me an e-copy.
December 31, 2023
Spending 40 days with Jesus
Love this book, because you are able to read the Word, given an illustration of what the Word means and then how to apply it to yourself. I have bought some of these books to give out to others. A great gift to someone.
Love this book, because you are able to read the Word, given an illustration of what the Word means and then how to apply it to yourself. I have bought some of these books to give out to others. A great gift to someone.
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