Rating: 
Summary: It's Time to Know Him
Review: The title of this book fits for too many people. For so many, the Jesus of the Scriptures who Yancey describes is someone most of us really have never known (even if we've read the Bible before and have gone to church regularly). The reason Yancey gives in the book for this phenomenon is that the majority of our Christian churches today do not embody the characteristics that Jesus had. In a striking example from The Jesus I Never Knew, Yancey compares the differences in the types of people who were attracted to hanging out with Jesus (prostitutes, drunkards, and other types of outcasts) and the types of people who are attracted to most of today's Christian churches (almost entirely not members of those groups). And he observes that the fact people on the margins of society are not drawn to the church shows how far we are away from demonstrating the characteristics that Jesus demonstrated. If you find that observation insightful, you will love the rest of this book and likely Yancey's other books too.
Rating:
Summary: A good book - but not Yancey's best
Review: But I still rate it at 5 stars. I see a progression of thought in Yancey's works from "The Jesus I never Knew" to his later work "What's so amazing about Grace." If you only have time to read one Yancey book, I'd recommend "What's so amazing about Grace" high above this book. "The Jeus I never knew" is full of anecdotes and great quotes and interesting stories. It's also filled with thoughtful insights that make you go "Wow, I never thought of that Bible verse in that light before." For that reason, I give it five stars. Any book that gives you a deeper love of God (as this book does) is surely worth five stars. But his more recent book "What's So Amazing About Grace" seems like it plumbs the depth of spirituality a bit more. Kind of like the comparison of Mark's Gospel and John's Gospel. Mark's writings are strong and clear, but John's message is so deeply metaphysical you fear you may never glean all the spiritual nuggets contained therein. Not to irreverantly compare Yancey to John..., but Yancey's books are always a joy to read. I just preferred "What's so Amazing About Grace." However, after borrowing and reading "The Jesus I Never Knew" I immediately bought my own copy. It is a good foundational item for every Christian's bookshelf.
Rating: 
Summary: The Jesus evangelicals always knew
Review: I decided to purchase "The Jesus I Never Knew" for three reasons. First, the title caught my attention. Second, the back cover has a recommendation from the normally perceptive Thomas Smail to the effect that this is one of the greatest books on Jesus this century. Third, the author is editor-at-large of Christianity Today. What an immense disappointment! Yancy's Jesus emerges as a tough minded American evangelical Christian with a social conscience. In fact, it is hard to distinguish Yancey's Jesus from that of any other evangelical's. Therefore it is all the more surprising to read that this portrait only emerged after a "fresh" reading of the Gospels . To be fair, the book is well written - or well enough - and at times has perceptive comments. The best parts are quotations of other writers that Yancey has collected over the years. The book is OK but not in the category of "very good" let alone "great". I doubt that it would have gone anywhere had it not been for the fact that it was written by the editor of Christianity Today. Their magazine and web site have promoted it ad nauseam. It was even nominated - and here the matter becomes quite ridiculous - among Christianity Today's top 100 Christian books of the century. Please!
Rating:
Summary: A Meaningful Book!
Review: This is a very thought-provoking book by Mr. Yancey -- however, one would expect no less from the author of "What's So Amazing About Grace." I have read a few reviews that seem to denigrate the book as one that is "popularizing" its message. It seems to me that we must bear in mind that Christ popularized his message so that simple fisherman, farmers and the masses could get the point. We can't all be theologians! The simple reminders about Christ's Judaic heritage are well worth remembering and, yes, repeating. We must not only view Christ by his eternal nature, but also place him within the historical context of his time. As Yancey states, he chose the time, place and location for his birth -- there must have been a reason for it. I loved this book. Having read many books about Christianity and a devotee of the Bible, I still appreciate the way Yancey's books draw me in and remind me of the compassionate and loving nature of Christ, and moreso, the great love that God holds for each of us. I hope Mr. Yancey will continue to bless us with more of his thoughts on Christ.
Rating:
Summary: Very inspiring glimpse into this Master's life
Review: Ever read one of those books that makes it hard to drop and makes you wish you didnt' have to go to work tomorrow morning just so that you could stay home and read it? This is one of those. The real magic of this book is how Yancey struggles to interpret some of the things Jesus said, especially the Sermon on the Mount. The things he said on the Sermon on the Mount were very extreme, almost impossible for those that came after Jesus to abide by, and his behavior and his approach toward the people of that time, are all supposed to represent the goal toward which we should reach toward. One example that really stuck was how he contributed his miracle healings, but didn't want everyone to know about it. In fact, Jesus urged witnesses to not tell anyone. Yes, these miracles really happened (things that we can do too if we believed there is no Separation between us and God), but it's also a message to us, to not try to SHOW everyone how great we are in helping others. Just simply help others just for the sake of those you are helping.
Rating:
Summary: Lke being inside Jesus' head!
Review: Enlightening? Yes. Breathtaking? Yes. Should you read it? Yes! I've never felt so close to the Lord as I have when reading this book. Whenever I'm feeling down, I'll pull this down off the shelf, maybe in lieu of the good book! Thank you, Mr. Yancey, for bringing me closer to my God.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Insight into the Mystery of Faith
Review: As a young man considering the priesthood, I have been directed to read many books by my "spiritual advisor", and good friend, Fr. Philbin. No book has touched me more than this amazing insight into Faith. Philip Yancey puts into layman's words truths about God, the Father, Christ, and the amazing love and grace that is part of the Christian Faith. I recommend this book to any person interested in exploring his or her Faith. This book has helped me to discern, not only my calling, but also the reality of Christ in everyday life.
Rating:
Summary: Encouraging and informative
Review: This book was really good. I liked how Phillip Yancey wrote about a lot of his personal thoughts and experiences in this book. I read it this summer, and I'm actually reading it agin for a second time. This book was really helpful. It helped me get to know Jesus better, and by knowing him better, how to have a better life serving and having a personal relationship with him as my Lord and Savior. i recomend this to everyone! You will enjoy it, and come away from it knowing a lot more about Jesus Christ!
Rating:
Summary: The Jesus I never Knew
Review: Philip Yancey invites you on a journey in which you come away with a totally different view of who Jesus was. He pulls back the cover of religious art, church dogma, and Doctrines to show us the light of the Jesus often obscured by misinformation unwittingly spread throughtout the organized church. This book is excellant and it will take you back on journey not away from Jesus but teach you things you never knew about him because he has been so Americanized.
Rating:
Summary: A Teacher is held to a higher standard.
Review: We used this study during an Outreach Bible Study, and I was dismayed to find some poorly chosen descriptions of God. While searching, doubts and misunderstandings are normal, but to state them as correct characteristics is troubling. For instance, on page 17&18 of The Jesus I Never Knew, Yancy writes...In the Old Testament I found myself identifying with those who boldly stood up to God: Moses, Job, Jeremiah, Habakkuk, the psalmists. As I read, I felt I was watching a play with human characters who acted out their lives of small triumph and large tragedy on stage, while periodically calling to an unseen Stage Manager, "You don't know what it's like out here!" Job was most brazen, flinging to God this accusation: "Do you have eyes of flesh? Do you see as a mortal sees?" Every so often I could hear the echo of a booming voice from far offstage, behind the curtain. "Yeah, and you don't know what it's like back here either!" it said, to Moses, to the prophets, most loudly to Job. When I got to the Gospels, however, the accusing voices stilled. God, if I may use such language, "found out" what life is like in the confines of planet earth. A simple way to refute this is two things, one is that God is not a God of time. So, therefore, He has always known what it was like to be human. The the accusing voices, well, that's when judgement went from being hinged on the law to grace. God didn't learn something knew or wake up, so to speak. What a sad thing image to proclaim to people reading this book.
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