Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus

The scripture comes alive when you understand life in the first century, the culture, practices, and greater insight into the Jewish faith.  Ann Spanger and Lois Tverberg do just that with their well-researched literary work in this regard.   Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus transports the reader back to life and times when Jesus grew up and entered His ministry.  Applying a 21^st century western mindset to the teachings of the gospel often precludes the complete understanding intended by the author.  Throughout the work, the authors introduce various Hebrew words accompanied with an application into the 1^st century teaching which opens the reader’s understanding to such a greater degree causing a reassessment of previously held understanding.  One of the early chapters investigated the decision to enter discipleship with Rabbi Jesus which transformed my view of what it means to walk with God.   Moving from a western thought of building an intellectual understanding through study to experiencing the Rabbi’s teaching through emersion in living the gospel day by day pouring into the community was eye opening.  Don’t be an isolationist; rather, build community learning together of the finer elements of faith.  And what of the great feasts and the many subtilties the authors bring to the reader’s attention in understanding the times?  All an all an informative work using compelling storytelling to keep the reader engaged in the experience of 1^st century life learning from the greatest of all Rabbis – Jesus.