William H. Willimon. Why Jesus? Abingdon Press: 2010. ISBN: 9781426700286.
Meet the Author
Since 2004, William H. Willimon has served as a Bishop in the United Methodist Church responsible for overseeing 57,000 members and 792 pastors in North Alabama. Previously, he served for twenty years as Dean of the Chapel and Professor of Christian Ministry at Duke University. Willimon is the author of over sixty books including two best sellers: Sinning Like a Christian: A New Look at the Seven Deadly Sins and Thank God It’s Friday: Encountering the Seven Last Words from the Cross. In 1996, a survey conducted by Baylor University named him one of the Twelve Most Effective Preachers in the English-speaking world. A 2005 study by the Pulpit and Pew Research Center found that Bishop Willimon is the second most widely read author by mainline Protestant pastors To learn more or to connect with Willimon, explore his blog, like him on Facebook, or read a more complete bio.
Book Basics
Why Jesus? is a collection of stories about Jesus told by a master storyteller. Willimon masterfully retells many familiar Gospel stories in fresh ways, explores the richness of Christ’s parables, and shares the experience of present day disciples while offering dozens of answers to the question that guides his writing: Why Jesus? This is not a traditional apologetic text although it can function as such, especially for postmodern seekers who are willing to enter into the stories. Willimon begins with a warning to potential readers: ” . . . you are taking a risk of getting discombobulated, comandeered, and befriended by the most interesting person in the world” (p.xii).
Each of the twelve brief (none are more than fourteen pages) chapters focuses on one aspect of who Jesus is: vagabond, peacemaker, storyteller, party person, preacher, magician, home wrecker, savior, sovereign, lover, delegator, and body. In addition to the many stories, each chapter includes a listing of all Scripture passages referenced and sidebars featuring conversation “aside to Jesus” remarks in which Willimon interacts with the text (e.g. as “Aside to Jesus: Some people buy books like this one hoping that the book will explain you, make the complicated simple and the mysterious comprehensible, and thereby make you easier to swallow without choking. I guess you aren’t going to let us get away with that, are you?” – p. 29).
So What?
Why Jesus? is a question each Christian must answer. How did you come to follow Jesus? What were the original answers you provided to the question Why Jesus? What answers have the most meaning for you as a disciple in 2010?
Willimon wisely never identifies the audience for this book and writes in such a way that it is approachable for those who are unfamiliar with the person of Jesus as presented in the Gospels or experienced by present day believers, challenging for those who have followed for a long time and become comfortable with their images of Jesus (likely not as magician, home wrecker or delegator), and eye opening for those ready to see Jesus more clearly. The book is also an excellent resource for group study.