'The Life of Jesus'

Book Review

Endo, Shusaku [Translated by Richard A. Schuchert]. "A Life of Jesus" Paulist Press, Mahwah, N.J. 1973, 179pages
This is the first book I have read by this author. Endo is probably the primer Japanese novelist. I am wanting to read his masterpiece, "Silence," and figured I would read this book to get a flavor for the authors writing. Reading 'Life of Jesus' was an enriching experience. Over the past, almost, 30yrs of ministry I have read many books and done untold hours of studying the life of Jesus, yet Endo brings a perspective of Jesus that most writers have lightly glossed over, or restricted to his passion.
Jesus 'lives' in this book as a real human being; he suffers not just on the cross but throughout his ministry - too many people to heal .. too much evil to deal with .. too little understanding on the part of those who will succeed him .. the desire to prolong his death so that he might achieve more good .. is God's love as effective as it needs to be? Questions that rarely enter into the mind when we think about Jesus. How often do we consider those thirty years of Jesus' life when he lived in the hovels and dregs of humankind? What was it like for those thirty years to have a divine call on your life and be limited in human form? Questions that perhaps we simply don't want to dwell on because it might taint our image of who we want Jesus to be.
Endo is not afraid t disagree, agreeably, with scholarly thought, especially when there is a lack of factual evidence. And he disagree's with ideas as practical, sometimes moreso, than scholars.
He has a unique perspective in linking different events in Jesus' ministry that have escaped observation, for example: the feeding of the multitude with the Last Supper. In Endo's book Jesus is portrayed as John the Baptist' favorite disciple, and that relationship is explored. Perhaps this is where Endo's talent as a novelist serves him, and us so well. The feelings of helplessness and yet hope are always evident in the lives of the common folk, the disciples, the
religious leaders and even the Roman Governor Pilate. Their confusion about who Jesus truly is and the challenge he presents to each one of them is always foremost in their decisions.
This truly is an exceptional book and told with the grace and compassion of an author who himself is deeply concerned with the religious neglect of his own people.