God's Favorite Place on Earth
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- $9.99
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- $9.99
Publisher Description
When He came to earth, Jesus Christ was rejected in every quarter in which He stepped. The Creator was rejected by His own creation. “He came to His own and His own received Him not,” said John. For this reason, Jesus Christ had “no where to lay His head.” There was one exception, however. A little village just outside of Jerusalem named Bethany. Bethany was the only place on earth where Jesus was completely received.
God’s Favorite Place on Earth is a retelling of Jesus’ many visits to Bethany and a relaying of the message it holds for us today. Frank Viola presents a beautifully crafted narrative from the viewpoint of Lazarus, one of the people who lived in Bethany with his two sisters. This incomparable story not only brings the Gospel narratives to life, but it addresses the struggle against doubt, discouragement, fear, guilt, rejection, and spiritual apathy that challenges countless Christians today. In profoundly moving prose, God’s Favorite Place on Earth will captivate your heart with its beauty, charm, and depth. In this book you will discover how to live as a “Bethany” in our world today, being set free to love and follow Jesus like never before.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The author (From Eternity to Here) concludes from biblical stories that Jesus spent his happiest times on earth in the village of Bethany, home of Mary and Martha, their brother Lazarus (whom Jesus famously raised from the dead) and Simon the Leper, their father -- at least for Viola's purposes here. He crafts stories about their interactions with family friend Jesus, who touches their lives in miraculous ways. These fictional accounts, narrated by Lazarus, present the topic for each chapter. They are followed by a biblical passage, then a "Walking it Out" section in which the author offers deeper teaching and practical advice for applying the principles. A "Talking it Over" section in the back of the book provides additional questions for group discussion and study. The elements of the book seem at odds with each other, however. The biblical passages are anti-climactic placed after the fictional accounts, which are so well crafted that readers are tempted to skim through Viola's very valuable insights (including epigraphs from a 19th-century hymn thrown in for good measure) in haste to get to the next fictional Lazarus installment.
