John Pritchard “Twenty Questions Jesus Asked

This latest book by John Pritchard  (who was Bishop of Oxford  from 2007 to 2014) was published last year. As the title suggest there are twenty sections each exploring a question Jesus asked.

The stand-alone sections are in two halves. The first part imagines the scene from the point of view someone who actually heard the question. Then the author moves us on to a second part which deals with his subtitle to the book “and how they speak to us today”.

So, for example, the blind man in Mark 10:51 is asked “what do you want me to do for you?” and we enter into his tension, he desperately wants to see, but has got used to his blind way of life. Then in the second half we are challenged as the author makes us face how we would answer that same question today!

He concludes each section with some ideas for personal prayer and meditation. Filled with John’s wisdom and good humour, it has enriched my understanding of the Gospel accounts, and gently challenged my discipleship.

Roger Vaughan