Customer Reviews for Zondervan In the Steps of Jesus: An Illustrated Guide to the Places of the Holy Land
Zondervan In the Steps of Jesus: An Illustrated Guide to the Places of the Holy Land
* Tour Bethlehem and Bethany, Jerusalem and Jericho, and other locations Jesus visited---without stirring from your sofa! Vibrant color photographs bring the ancient world to life and every page offers greater insight into the history, geography, and unique features of these historic places. A must-have resource for anybody interested in the life of Christ. 216 pages, hardcover from Zondervan.
Average Customer Rating:
(3 Reviews) 3
Rating Snapshot (3 reviews)
5 stars
2
4 stars
1
3 stars
0
2 stars
0
1 star
0
2 out of 367%customers would recommend this product to a friend.
Customer Reviews for In the Steps of Jesus: An Illustrated Guide to the Places of the Holy Land
Review 1 for In the Steps of Jesus: An Illustrated Guide to the Places of the Holy Land
Overall Rating:
More of a modern travel guide than I expected
Date:January 1, 2013
Quality:
4
out of
5
Value:
4
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
2
out of
5
"In The Steps of Jesus" is partly a commentary and partly a travel guide to Israel. The author used Luke as an outline for which places to discuss in which order. Each location had its own chapter, and he started the chapter with a quote from the New Testament about an event that happened at that location. He then gave a short description of the site and told what Old Testament events also happened at that location to give some insights into the cultural heritage of the site. He then described the sites that a modern tourist might be interested in that related to the Bible or early church history.
Based on the online descriptions I read for this book, I expected a lot of descriptions and full-color pictures of what the landscape and places would have looked like when Jesus walked the land. While there were a few pictures like this, most were of modern tourist spots including those that look nothing like what was originally there. Some pictures didn't have captions. In addition to the pictures, there were some maps and charts of key dates for things that happened in that area.
I liked the author's (brief) descriptions of what the place looked like if you were standing there. He also gave some background information, but a lot of that was very speculative, especially in the beginning chapters. At least he usually pointed out that it wasn't a "known fact" or if other opinions existed. I didn't agree with much of his speculation, and some of it even seemed contradictory to previous statements. For example, he said that Jesus' birth would have been full of shame (in other people's view) since Mary wasn't even properly wed, yet later he said these exact same people would "foster and guard any royal claimant growing up in their midst" (meaning Jesus).
The locations covered: Bethlehem, Nazareth, the river Jordan, the Judean Desert, Galilee and its villages, Samaria, Caesarea Philippi, Jericho, Bethany, the Mount of Olives, the Temple, Jerusalem, Golgotha and the tomb, and Emmaus.
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.
Review 2 for In the Steps of Jesus: An Illustrated Guide to the Places of the Holy Land
Overall Rating:
Amazing!
Date:November 30, 2011
Bridget
Location:Middle Tennessee
Age:45-54
Gender:female
I did not quite understand what I was buying. I thought for the price that it was a nice little picture book I could have around to fill up time between studying "real" books or for a quick look to calm down before sleep. Instead, I got an in-depth personal tour of the Holy Land by someone who has been there. Every chapter has 2 parts (plus maps and pictures). First part is historical background, "What was this place like in Jesus' day? How did it get that way? Who was there?" Second part is, "What is this place like today? If you are going there, what are all the things you need to see and how is this best done?" Every time I pick this book up to read "just one chapter", I end up making myself put it down 2-3 hours later. I can't wait to get the other one, "In the Steps of Paul". I don't agree with some of the author's speculations about Jesus but all in all, this is a purchase heartily recommend!
Share this review:
+1point
1of 1voted this as helpful.
Review 3 for In the Steps of Jesus: An Illustrated Guide to the Places of the Holy Land
Overall Rating:
Great Pictures.
Date:October 22, 2011
Christy Mcbride
Location:Summertown
Age:45-54
Gender:female
Quality:
5
out of
5
Value:
5
out of
5
Meets Expectations:
5
out of
5
I am teaching about the places in the life of Jesus went in my bible class. The pictures make the places we study about more real to the children in my class.
Share this review:
0points
0of 0voted this as helpful.