Messiah: Origin

Messiah: Origin. Matt Dorff (Adapter). Kai Carpenter (Illustrator). Mark Avey (Translator). Grand Rapids, MI: Zonderva. 2013. 176 pp. $19.99.

Just in time for the Christmas season comes Messiah: Origin from Zondervan. Merging scripture with a comic book-style format, the birth and early life of Christ makes this the first book in what promises to be a serial graphic adaptation of a Gospel harmony, though I am unaware of how many more volumes the authors intend to produce. The book features a fresh translation of the Bible text set in a backdrop of artful illustrations. Unlike other Bible-turned-comic-book products, Messiah: Origin does not deviate from the text of the Bible or abridge the text. In that aspect it is more like the Gospel of John film, whereas its illustrations are more worthy of a comparison with Mel Gibson's high quality production The Passion of the Christ. Because of duplication between the Gospel narratives, it is not a full harmony of the Gospels, but it does combine them into one unified story.

The book's arrangement of the biblical material is excellent. It's begins with the prologue from the Gospel of John and then moves into the birth announcements and infancy narratives of John the Baptist and Jesus. Of special note is the placement of the Magi's visit after the temple dedication. While it is popular to portray the shepherds in the Magi visiting Jesus on the night he was born, a closer look at the narratives would suggest that the Magi came at some point after Jesus was dedicated in the temple, which was 40 days after he was born. The fact that the authors got this right makes the book a welcome addition to this season of Advent.

The illustrations are top notch and generally flow out of the passage instead of distracting from it. The depiction of Angels is interesting, but without any authoritative drawings, that aspect is open to artistic license. My one real criticism stems from the translation, not the art. At one point a term usually translated as baby is rendered "fetus." (Later he is referred to a baby.) Although the term "fetus" may be scientifically accurate, it is a bit of a loaded term in American society, and I would rather we use the term "baby" when referring to the unborn instead of "fetus."

I plan on sharing this book with visitors to my home this Christmas season as a discussion starter about not only the events of Jesus birth, but their significance as well. Although there are more volumes to come, this one can function nicely as a standalone book.

I received this book from the publisher for the purposes of review. The opinions expressed on my own.

Mary answers "Mary, Did You Know?"

What if Mary answered all the questions of the song, Mary, Did You Know?

Interviewer: Mary, did you know that your baby boy would someday walk on water?
Mary: No. How on earth could I have known that?

Interviewer: Mary, did you know that your baby boy would save our sons and daughters?
Mary: I was anticipating a political revolution that would establish a new Jewish nation-state that would subjugate the Roman Empire, so no.

Interviewer: Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?
Mary: Not really, no. I didn't even know that I needed to be made new.

Interviewer: Mary, did you know that your baby boy would give sight to a blind man?
Mary: No. Again, how could I have known that?

Interviewer: Mary did you know that your baby boy would calm a storm with his hand?
Mary: No. What kind of questions are these?

Interviewer: Did you know that your baby boy has walked where angels trod?
Mary: No. I didn’t really understand that Jesus was coeternal with the Father. I thought he was merely a human Messiah.

Interviewer: Mary did you know that your baby boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary: No. I mean, I knew Jesus was special, but I didn’t understand that he was divine. This question isn't much different than the last one.

Interviewer: Mary did you know that your baby boy would one day rule the nations?
Mary: Kind of, but my understanding of the Messiah was limited to the idea of a reestablished Jewish nation-state that would drive out the Roman occupation.

Interviewer: Did you know that your baby boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
Mary: Now you’re talking about the fact that Jesus was sacrificed on our behalf like the Pascal lamb in the Exodus. I didn’t have any concept of a suffering Messiah at the time.

Book Review: Christmas Uncut

Christmas Uncut: What really happened and why it really matters... By Carl Laferton. Epsom, Surrey: The Good Book Company. pp. 64. 2012. ($3.99 Softcover | $2.99 Kindle)

---

Many of us are quite familiar with the Christmas story. From school and church plays, to decorations and children’s play sets, to live-action film, we’ve seen the story played out again and again. Yet most of these presentations get the story wrong. Donkeys are added. Timelines are compressed. A fat man in a red suit somehow ends up kneeling before a manger in a strange amalgamation of secular mythos and biblical narrative.

Carl Laferton is here to set the story straight. Using humorous mishaps from children’s nativity skits as a springboard, he launches into the real story about what went down. Of how a pregnant teenager was in a ripe position to be executed. Of how a wicked king murdered little children in the streets. Of how a Savior and King was brought into the world.

Christmas Uncut is a useful resource this holiday season for acquainting people with what really transpired before, during, and after Jesus’ birth. It points to the reason why God took on human flesh and how Jesus was and is Savior and King. The humor at the beginning of each chapter is both heartening and disarming, and is followed by a look at the biblical text and a brief explanation of what was happening and why it’s important.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone who may not remember all that clearly the difference between the real story and the one we see played again and again by our smiling (and sometimes crying) young children. I would also recommend it as a witnessing tool to share with our non-Christian friends and neighbors about what we really believe and how they can be a part of what God’s doing in this world.

My lone caveat is that Laferton for some reason places Jesus' dedication at the temple (40 days after his birth) as occurring after his flight to Egypt and return to Judea. I’ve never read anything apart from this book that would place it in this order.

I received this book from the publisher for purposes of review.

“Pleased as man with men to dwell”

This line from the song “Hark! the Herald Angels Sing” is one of my favorites from all Christmas songs. This line, from a later verse of the song, speaks of Christ in a rather poetic (and memorable) fashion that makes the ear tingle and the heart raise.

I think one of the reasons why hymns have been losing their edge in public worship, besides the style of music itself, is the work it takes to understand them. Just singing the words “Veiled in flesh the Godhead see” is impossible to understand without a thinking brain rearranging the words to get:

“See the Godhead veiled in flesh.”

Even that may take some people a few seconds to draw out exactly what it means.

But I like some of the old hymns, and an electric guitar and talented drummer can liven up even the slowest and oldest of tunes. Christmas time is the one time of the year when even contemporary churches hearken back to the old hymns. And that gives me an opportunity to look at this special line from this old, old song.

“Pleased”

If I’ve learned one thing from John Piper’s books, articles, and sermons, it is that God pursues His own joy. The incarnation was not a bit of drudgery that the Son was obligated to perform. He did it willingly, joyfully, for our sake and ultimately for His glory. The self-humiliation of God in the incarnation was merely a precursor to the self-humiliation of God on the cross. At the onset, the outset was understood, yet Christ still went through with it all.

The author of Hebrews tells us in 12:2 that Jesus endured the cross “for the joy that was set before him.” And Isaiah tells us in 53:10, according to the NASB, that “the Lord was pleased to crush Him.”

“As Man”

“In the beginning was the Word… and the Word became flesh.” The eternal Son condescended to become man. Galatians 4:4-5 tells us “But when the fullness of time had come, God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.” Christ was born as a man at just the right time in history to complete the righteous requirements of the Law for us and thus make our adoption possible. Paul gives an even greater emphasis on the lowliness of Christ’s condescension in Romans 8:3-4, which says, “By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, [God] condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us…” Jesus came in the likeness of sinful flesh.

“With Men to Dwell”

The incarnation is made even more wonderful by the fact that the Son was pleased to dwell with men. The holiness of God requires that sin be punished. It was precisely for that reason that Christ came. But in order to bear our punishment, He chose to live among us—sinners wallowing in our own retched filth. His indignation at sin was apparent from His interactions with the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, but He summarized His mission early on: “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.” (Mark 2:7).

This is only one small line from one hymn many of us know by heart. It is good to take time to study and know these songs with our heart as well.

Stop Playing Christmas Music

I listen to my local Christian radio station a lot. When December finally rolled around, I got excited because I was hoping to hear some good Christmas music. But listen as I might, they never seemed to play any.

I was about to lose hope of the station ever playing any Christmas music until the week before Christmas. That’s when I heard my first Christmas song on the radio, and I was sorely disappointed. They played a Christmas song from Christina Aguilera, I think. Just this morning, on December 29, I heard more Christmas music from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra.

I’m making two formal requests of Christian radio stations:

1.      Christian radio stations have enough Christmas music from bands and singers they already have playing on their stations that they don’t have to play music from groups they would NEVER have during the rest of the year. Please lay off singers and groups who appear in People and Entertainment Tonight more often than they do in Christianity Today.

2.      Wal-Mart and other retailers have Christmas displays up beginning October 30. On December 26, these displays are all marked 50% off. Though these stores start way too early, they at least recognize that Christmas is over on December 26. Please play Christmas music early in December and move back to your regular programming after Christmas is over.

Book Review: A Christmas Prayer by Amy Parker

Reviewed by my wife, Hannah.

A young girl gazes up at the family Christmas tree and realizes how blessed her family is. She goes on to build a nativity scene out of household objects, saying a prayer of thanksgiving over each one. From a doll as Joseph to a rocking horse as the donkey, she re-creates the true Christmas story for herself and the reader. The book is a wonderful tool to focus children on the true meaning of Christmas; not just the gifts, but the Gift.

A Christmas Prayer is cute, rhyming board-book for children 0-3 years old. Soft, swirly illustrations in a simple color scheme give parents and children a cozy feeling. Even the cover is padded, adding to the soft, comfy feel. I was drawn to the little girl by her unruly hair, sparkly eyes, and endearing smile. The repetitive rhymes and words are ideal for very young children, although older children might find the predictable scheme unengaging.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program.