The Miracles of Jesus by Eric Huntsman

Today, we have a lovely book to share called,

Miracles of Jesus 
by Eric Huntsman

About:

Foreseen by prophets before Jesus' birth, witnesses by many during his life, and read about by millions since, the miracles of Jesus are a distinguishing aspect of his mortal ministry. 


Both then and now, these miracles are powerful witnesses that Jesus is the Christ, God's anointed servant and the Savior of mankind. He performed many miracles ranging from feeding multitudes to giving sight to the blind and restoring life and health to the infirm. 

But these miracles were more than just blessings to the individuals involved. Each one contains symbols that teach us about Jesus, his atonement, and the greater miracles that he can work in the lives of all of us. 

In The Miracles of Jesus, author Eric D. Huntsman blends perceptive doctrinal insights with historical context, literary analysis, and specific personal application. His exploration of the meaning and symbolism of each of the Savior's miracles shows us how they can bless us in the challenges we ourselves face today. Here, for example, he draws connections between the devils the Savior cast out and the demons we or loved ones may face in overcoming addiction or recovering from abuse. And we see in a new way how the promise inherent in Christ's raising of Lazarus and the daughter of Jairus can comfort us at the death of someone we love. 

Fine-art paintings and musical meditations enhance our experience by illustrating Jesus' miracles and their power. Photographs of sites in the Holy Land where many of the miracles were performed give us a sense of place, reinforcing the fact that they really happened.
Through these inspirational means, we find that the miracles Jesus performed in New Testament times can become a springboard to the miracles that continue to occur in our own lives—transformations made possible through the Atonement of our Savior, Jesus Christ.

“Huntsman knows his way around the library when it comes to the New Testament. He speaks authoritatively about Greek and Latin roots, he has a clear grasp of both textual and historical criticism. The result is a compelling book that is equal parts devotional and scholarly. There is much that will challenge us intellectually and invite us to read deeply. All of the miracles point directly to the greatest miracle of all: Christ’s Atonement, with its victory over both spiritual and physical decay.” - Michael Austin
See "The Miracles of Jesus" as featured on "By Common Consent."

About the Author:

ERIC D. HUNTSMAN is an associate professor of ancient scripture at Brigham Young University, where he serves as the coordinator of the Ancient Near Eastern Studies program in the Kennedy Center for International Studies and is affiliated with the Classics program. After graduating from BYU in classical Greek and Latin, he earned a Ph.D. in ancient history from the University of Pennsylvania. He joined the BYU faculty in 1994.

The author of the acclaimed God So Loved the World: The Final Days of the Savior’s Life and Good Tidings of Great Joy: An Advent Celebration of the Savior’s Birth, both from Deseret Book, Dr. Huntsman has also published numerous articles on the New Testament and the writings of John.

He served as a full-time missionary in the Thailand Bangkok Mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and as a bishop in Provo, Utah. Brother Huntsman is an ordinance worker in the Provo Utah Temple and sings in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir. He and his wife, Elaine Scott Huntsman, are the parents of two children.

In my opinion:

I love “The Miracles of Jesus” by Eric Huntsman! This is a beautiful book with colorful pictures, stories and applicable exploration of the Savior’s miracles.  The author examines the symbolism of each miracle that Jesus Christ performed as he compares some of the challenges we face today. For instance, there’s a particular chapter about the power of Christ to help those who struggle with mental illness, such as depression. There are many people who struggle with these illnesses and the author describes the compassion we can have towards the suffering as we follow the teachings of our Savior. I loved the personal story at the end of the book in the second appendix, “Our Galilee Miracle.” The author tells of his own autistic son, who has difficulty in communicative and social situations. But when their family was in Jerusalem, he experienced his own “miracle,” when his son spent fifteen minutes asking questions about Jesus while crossing the Sea of Galilee on a boat. This type of conversation had never happened with his son, who has difficulty asking questions. This served as confirmation to the author that “inside my little boy were an inquisitive mind and a sensitive spirit. That God was aware of him and of me. And that he could bring us together for that moment.” After reading about the many miracles, the author concludes, “The greatest miracle of all are those that arise from the Atonement of Jesus Christ and His gracious intervention in our lives.” I loved this book because it not only explains the miracles from scriptural context, it points out the parallels between the miracles and how they apply to our lives in this day.

 

Disclaimer: I received one or more of the products or services for free in the hope that I would mention them on my blog. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.