The heading for this article is a bit obscure I suppose. It's a parody on the title of Marcus Borg's best known book on Jesus called Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time. The opening words to the preface on one of his latest books Jesus: Uncovering the Life, Teachings, and Relevance of a Religious Revolutionary begins with these words: "This may be the last comprehensive book about Jesus that I write. I do not imagine that it is my last book on topics related to Jesus, the Bible, and Christianity. But it may be my last attempt to treat the "whole" of the story of Jesus as a figure of history who became Christianity's Lord." Begun as a revision of his earliest works, Jesus: a New Vision, written 20+ years ago, this latest book turned out to be much more than an update, for the author has begun to think about (and teach about) Christ in new ways, which he seeks to share here.

Marcus' great gift to this subject is his ability to write in an accessible and clear way, which is both highly self revelatory as well as scholarly. This text is somewhat denser, somewhat heavier in weighing more towards the scholarly side than the personal reflection of his earliest books, but it is worth the effort.

In his review of the book, Peter Gomes, chaplain of Harvard University, wrote: "What would we do without Marcus Borg? If he did not exist, we would have to invent him, for we have no better guide to the recovery of an authentic Christian faith for these difficult times than this articulate and prolific public theologian."

I have read the book and as is always the case with Marcus, could not put it down. Would you like to join me as I re-read it again, for the first time (with you?)

Our next adult Sunday school class will read: Jesus: Uncovering the Life, Teachings, and Relevance of a Religious Revolutionary for our post-Easter class. (Copies of the book will be available in the bookstore for approx. $15). Sign up on the patio so that we'll know how many copies to order. The class runs April 26- June 7.