A Review By Rev David Boulton

John Pritchard is the Bishop of Oxford. Unlike his predecessor, he is (like me) unashamedly of the evangelical Anglican tradition. But he is no tub-thumping fundamentalist. As a matter of fact, most evangelical Anglicans are not. What the Bishop is is unashamedly and incurably obsessed with the Person of Jesus of Nazareth, whom he presents as the centre of human history, a magnificent outsider, a rule-changer, the world’s hope and so many other things.

I found this a fascinating and intensely readable book, not just for committed Christians. In fact I wanted to buy a dozen or more copies and present them to non-Christian friends, but I can’t afford to, not even at this low price. It will move you and make you laugh and cry. It is a generous guide to the man Jesus: it is gracious, intelligent, balanced and full of insight. Bishop John shows us the Jesus ‘who jumped off the pages of the Bible’ and into his life.

As Mark Russell, Chief Executive of Church Army, says, it is an inspirational book written by a man who loves Jesus and who loves people.

The Rev’d David Boulton is Diocesan Curate and Webmaster for the Free Church of England, a Visiting Preacher in the West Midlands for The Leprosy Mission, England & Wales and for Open Doors.