Our Man In Judea: Jesus
Janet Tyson
(Reviewer - Rev. Marie D. Jones)
2003 Ecco Nova Editions
ISBN: 0973164832

A quest for the historical Jesus uncovers tantalizing evidence within the gospel commonly attributed to John.

An unconventional Biblical scholar in an exhaustive seven-year investigation offers the most enlightening, daring, yet feasible interpretation of the people & events surrounding Our Man in Judea, keeping Jesus within his Semitic context, offering rational explanations.

Associate Reviewer Rev. Marie D. Jones writes:

Religious scholar & author Janet Tyson tells us right up front that her approach to her studies is unconventional. She even warns us that those steeped in the traditional approach to Bible interpretation may really be put off by her ideas, research & theories. She even suggests that her gender may effect the perceptions of her research by society. Knowing all this up front, we cannot wait to delve into her fascinating & groundbreaking book, Our Man In Judea, which approaches the quest for the historical Jesus from a very unusual standpoint -- that of the 4th Gospel of John.

Many scholars have ignored the importance of the FG (Fourth Gospel), as Tyson calls it, preferring the first three Gospels as being more abundant with details that reveal Jesus & his mission. Yet the author explains why she not only believes the FG is more important than the Gospels of Matthew, Mark & Luke, but even that this 4th Gospel of John may have been written before the other three, & not after, as many scholars believe. Tyson then goes on to present brilliantly thought-out research & extensive documentation using the Bible as well as the writings of Jewish historian Josephus & the Dead Sea Scrolls to back up her claims.

Her arguments of the importance of the FG become more & more convincing, even as she makes such claims that Jesus was married, was involved with Mary Magdalene although married to Martha, had children, took Lazarus on as his son/protege, did not trust Peter to be the rock of his church, did not die on the cross as Mel Gibson wants us all to believe, & even that the entire story of Jesus had parallels in earlier OT writings as well as the Dead Sea Scrolls.

These concepts may sound off-beat, even heretic to some die-hard head-in-the-sand scholars who refuse to examine any evidence that does not coincide with their age-old versions of the Christ saga, but Janet Tyson is not afraid to face these issues, contradictions, ideas & interpretations. In fact, she offers up so much backing evidence for her claims, one begins to think that the entire Jesus myth has been grossly misinterpreted all along -- & it seems she may be right, as more & more new scholarship is resulting in books on this subject matter.

Tyson, who has also written Black Magic Woman: The Sinister Side of the Song of Solomon, in fact presents so much research & documentation of her seven-year investigation into the Gospel of John & its implications on Christianity itself, that at times this book is very difficult to read. Often, I had to go back & re-read passages, or read over things twice to really grasp the meaning, & I suggest that a total novice to Biblical scholarship come prepared with a real eye for detail & a brain as sharp as Tyson's herself, in order to be able to best comprehend the overwhelming amount of research this book contains. But that heavy, intensive documentation & research is exactly what makes this book so profoundly important. Tyson has not written a breezy, fluff-piece about Jesus. This book is as solid as it gets, folks!

Although someone with little understanding of existing scholarship & basic Biblical history might be overwhelmed at the level of research (again, be prepared to read things over & over), I highly recommend this book for anyone who wants a clear understanding of the many different viewpoints in religious scholarship, & who has the courage to examine what could be a potentially explosive account of the real Jesus that many religious folks won't want to face.

Janet Tyson has written a truly powerful & utterly convincing historical perspective of the New Testament & the Jesus saga that will make many of the Bible's biggest contradictions finally make sense, & will ruffle many fundamentalist & traditional feathers as it does so.

Why? Because those entrenched in myth often hate to face reality, even when it comes bearing great gifts of evidence, research & common sense interpretation.

More from Janet Tyson:
Black Magic Woman: The Sinister Side of the Song of Solomon
1st Year Humanities: How to Excel

Do catch Rev. Marie's Interview with this fascinating author.
(06/06/04)

Rev. Marie D. Jones
2004©Marie D. Jones
A RebeccasReads.Com Associate Reviewer

Reviewer's Bio:
Marie Jones is a New Thought minister, author of Looking For God In All The Wrong Places & a widely published writer of inspirational essays, gift books, short stories & magazine articles. She is also a screenwriter, & has produced a children's storybook video series for Gigglebug Farms Productions. she holds a Masters Degree in Metaphysical Studies & is a licensed pastoral counsellor.