CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

PART I

BACKDROP TO THE GREATEST STORY EVER TOLD

CHAPTER 1      The Overlooked Era: Life between the Old and New Testaments

CHAPTER 2      New Testament Basics: Building Blocks of the Revelation

CHAPTER 3      Miraculous: The Literary Wonder of the New Testament

CHAPTER 4      The Gospels: Four Perspectives, One Message

PART II

A VISIT FROM GOD

CHAPTER 5      From Jesus’ Birth to His Initial Teachings

CHAPTER 6      From “Catching Men” to the Golden Rule

CHAPTER 7      From Healing a Centurion’s Servant to Confrontations with Pharisees

CHAPTER 8      From the Transfiguration to an Argument over Abraham

CHAPTER 9      From Healing a Blind Man to Mary’s Ointment

CHAPTER 10    From the Plot to Kill Lazarus to Peter’s Ill-Fated Vow

CHAPTER 11    From Jesus’ Reassurance to Pilate’s Judgment

CHAPTER 12    From the Flogging of Jesus to His Ascension

CONCLUSION

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

NOTES