Join Dee as she helps you find Jesus not only in startling places in the Old Testament and New Testament but also in your everyday life. Let your heart be opened to the love of Jesus and let him rescue you in your life today.

At Dee Brestin's invitation, I'm paying attention to obvious answers to prayer, God's unexpected care, and his help to do His work. This awareness is just one of the great gifts I'm savoring from The Jesus Who Surprises. Paying attention to God at work, recording and retelling the stories of his provision and rescue, opens our eyes to his presence in all of life.

As it turns out, even first-century believers who lived and traveled with Jesus on dusty Palestinian roads needed a nudge sometimes to help them recognize his presence and his work. Just as his companions on the Emmaus Road required supernatural insight to recognize Jesus at their kitchen table, we also sometimes fail to discover and behold Jesusparticularly where he appears in unexpected places in the pages of Scripture. Brestin's gift to her readers is a gentle revelation that reads like a visit over steaming mugs.

Jesus in the Pentateuch

In the opening scene of the Bible, the curtain lifts on creation, and Jesus is there. Although he is not mentioned by name, plural pronouns attest to the loving fellowship of the Trinity"the Word speaking the world into creation." (23) Every sacrificial lamb points to Jesus, the Lamb of God who would take away the sins of the world. Brestin skillfully corrects the common misunderstanding that Old Testament believers were primarily law abiders and that salvation by grace is a strictly New Testament concept.

"It is as if time does not exist for Godit has always been faith in this Lamb that saves us." (87)

Jesus in the Psalms

Understanding Scripture's big-picture story arc of a promised Redeemer makes sense of David's faith-filled pronouncements in song, for even though David's body did indeed "see corruption," his reign pointed toward Christ's perfect and unshakable reign. For example, Psalm 45 is a love letter and an example of the great love of Christ the Bridegroom, and references to Christ in the psalms come in the form of veiled promises of help and rescue in the midst of our own stories and his comforting presence through every variation in our emotional temperature.

Jesus in the Prophets

God's fore-tellers and forth-tellers never fail to give us the bad news as well as the good news of the gospel, revealing how desperately we needed a Redeemer and then putting on display the outrageously lavish grace of God's provision. Their pens dripped with warning, but comfort comes to those who read between the lines and find hope, particularly in the last prophecy in which John reminds readers of Jesus's assurance that the best is yet to come and our days of being homesick on this planet will come to a triumphal ending.

Thorough and insightful Bible study questions follow each chapter and anecdotes from Brestin's own life illustrate the significant theological truths she shares with a skill born of deep personal study and a rich background of teaching and mentoring. The Jesus Who Surprises becomes, after all, a surprise of its own with its faithful gospel insights that bring my own need into clear focus, reassuring me that Jesus is sufficient for that need and for everything else that shows up along the road we travel together.

Many thanks to Waterbrook Multnomah for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which, of course, is offered freely and with honesty.

The Jesus Who Surprises: Opening Our Eyes to His Presence in All of Life and Scripture is an excellent study one I enjoyed from beginning to end.

The author looks at the entire Bible to show us glimpses of Jesus where we may not expect to see Him. She masterfully shows that the Bible is indeed one connected story, one of hope, redemption, and love. She also approaches important topics like suffering, and she shows how those things produce a joy like none other (something I know from experience). I thoroughly enjoyed this study and repeatedly found myself excited and encouraged by her words. That isn't something I can often say.

Here is one of my favorite quotes:

When we realize that the Lord is in control, a peace comes to us, despite the suffering. We realize that this shaking is temporary and that we have an inheritance that can never be taken from us. (Page 123)

I especially loved and learned from the third part, looking at Isaiah and what is in store for us. She summed up the whole study so well in the last sentence:

My hope is that seeing this same story from Genesis to Revelation will give you great confidence in the reliability of the Scriptures and the truths they hold. For the Jesus that surprised the two on the road to Emmaus, and surprises us in our everyday lives, is not at all finished surprising us."

Dee also challenges the reader to see Jesus at work every day something I've practiced for years thanks to missional training I received. He is always at work, you just have to see it. This practice alone can significantly change one's perspective.

This beautiful study can be done individually or as a group. Dee provides thoughtful questions to encourage a deeper study of Scripture at the end of each chapter.

I highly recommend this book and I look forward to reading more of her studies.

I was given a free copy of this book from the publisher in exchange for my honest review

In her new book, Dee Brestin provides evidence and encouragement in finding Christ all through the Bible and in our lives. This book is perfect for either a personal or group Bible study and enables the participant to go in depth in each lesson.

As the title implies, many people are surprised at where Jesus shows up. From Genesis 1:1 through the remainder of the Bible, and in every aspect of a person's life, Jesus' presence is made known. This study will help indifiduals identify the where's and why's, enabling a closer, sweeter relationship with HIm. A few of the study titles are: "The God of the Dance," "Religion Versus the Gospel," and "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon." Maybe it's time for a new Bible study for you.

I love Bible study and especially like new approaches. This one intrigued me and still does as I am working through it. I grew up in church, but continue to learn and grow all the time. This is a study I recommend for people at all stages of their faith journey. God will bless you! I received my review copy from WaterBrookMultnomah in exchange for an honest review.

"The Jesus Who Surprises" book is designed for a group or individual Bible Study. It is a great book for teaching about Jesus, from the beginning of the book to the end of the book. This book is filled with engaging lessons that ends with a prayer. The author did a wonderful job in writing and arranging the various chapters. In the chapter where it discusses the Prayers in the book of Job, in the Song of Songs and of the Psalms pique my interest. Learning how to pray the various prayers in the Bible is great and learning from them help one expand in their prayer life.

I really enjoy this book in its entirety and also, the provided resources in the back of the book. Yes, I would recommend this book, it makes a great resource and supplement study.

I receive this book from the publisher through their book launch program. @WaterBrookMultnomah #Partner