Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewish Words of Jesus Can Change Your Life

Written by Lois Tverberg and Ray Vander Laan

Narrated by Pam Ward

What difference does it make that Jesus was Jewish?

In this unabridged audio download of Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus, Lois Tverberg challenges readers to follow their Rabbi more closely by reexamining his words in the light of their Jewish context. Doing so will provide a richer, deeper understanding of his ministry, compelling us to live differently, to become more Christ-like. We'll begin to understand why his first Jewish disciples abandoned everything to follow him, to live out his commands.

Our modern society, with its individualism and materialism, is very different than the tight-knit, family-oriented setting Jesus lived and taught in. What wisdom can we glean from his Eastern, biblical attitude toward life? How can knowing Jesus within this context shed light on his teachings for us today?

In Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus we'll journey back in time to eavesdrop on the conversations that arose among the rabbis of Jesus' day, and consider how hearing Rabbi Jesus with the ears of a first-century disciple can bring new meaning to our faith. And we'll listen to Jewish thinkers through the ages, discovering how ideas that germinated in Jesus' time have borne fruit. Doing so will yield fresh, practical insights for following our Rabbi's teachings from a Jewish point of view.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Zondervan
• Release date: Mar 6, 2012
• ISBN: 9780310412229

Lois Tverberg

Lois Tverberg, PhD, has been writing and teaching about the Jewish background of Christianity for the past twenty years. Her passion is to translate the Bible’s ancient setting into fresh insights that deepen and strengthen Christian faith. She is the author of Reading the Bible with Rabbi Jesus, Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus, and Listening to the Language of the Bible. Lois writes from her home in Holland, Michigan. For more information, visit OurRabbiJesus.com.

Reviews for Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus

[zenzoidman · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love this series of books because they do such a great job of giving the cultural context of Jesus— second temple Judaism. They are also pastoral and faith-nurturing.

[William G. Nichols · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book definitely accomplishes it's purpose. Great book! Thumbs up

[Ashley Reid · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I don’t have the full vocabulary to describe how amazing this book and is and the insight that it offers. Especially, as a Christian, a follower of the Jewish messiah… I am not a Jew, I do not know their customs, their traditions, which in return has led me to a mere surface understanding of what Jesus’s teachings actually mean and the depth in which they have! This was a great eye opener along with “Sitting at the feet of Rabbi Jesus.” I look forward to the next book.

[Dasha Estalilla · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Excellent insights into the Jewishness of Jesus, something westerns Christians are either not entirely aware of or choose to ignore.

[mariana · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Thank you so much.we need more books like that.God bless you.

[Lucrecia Ortiz · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

The authors have a beautiful and entertaining way of writing.

[Mark · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Learning what I already knew from a completely new perspective has changed my relationship with Jesus. I am becoming one of His disciples.

[Stephen Ray · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book gave great insight into the Bible that I never saw before! The narrator also did a great job.

[lcjohnson1988_1 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Title: Walking in the Dust or Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewish Words of Jesus Can Change your LifeAuthor: Lois TverbergPages: 240Year: 2012Publisher: ZondervanMy rating: 4 out of 5 starsLois’s books, in case you have never read one, are funny, inspiring and educating. Lois helps those who love Jesus understand Him in the land and time He came to earth. From there, the chasm between Western thought and understanding to Jewish life and thought begins to close. One thing I observed is Western thought is separated into different segments whereas Jewish thought/life is so woven together that one cannot see where Jewish life, thought, etc. begins or ends. The other observation is that there is deeper truth to discover about God, the Word, Israel and her people, which gives me a thrill learning and spending time with God.There are times I would burst out laughing at the way Lois describes a goof she made, or word picture to describe a truth. Another observation fact is the deeper truths go when reading the book with a friend and discussing the material. For me, it tends to remain better in my heart and mind in the process. While Lois’s education is impressive to say the least, she writes humbly, inspirationally, and very down to earth. Please understand this is not an academic endeavor for her, but really seeking to understand the Rabbi Jesus in all His Jewishness.For those who seek to grow closer to the Master, here is just one of the books Lois offers to help guide them on a path she remains on to this day. In other words, walking in the dust of Rabbi Jesus. Come and walk along with us. You will never regret it! Shalom!Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.

[thornton37814 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Author Lois Tverberg offers insights into Jesus' words by examining in the social context of the first century Middle East. In this particular book she looks at how Jesus' audience would understand the words He spoke to them. Our pastor frequently provides insights of this nature, and finding an author who offers similar insights presents a bonus. I want to read some of her other books as well as some of the books she cited in the text or notes.

[lamb521 · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

Title: Walking in the Dust or Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewish Words of Jesus Can Change your Life
Author: Lois Tverberg
Pages: 240
Year: 2012
Publisher: Zondervan
My rating: 4 out of 5 stars
Lois’s books, in case you have never read one, are funny, inspiring and educating. Lois helps those who love Jesus understand Him in the land and time He came to earth. From there, the chasm between Western thought and understanding to Jewish life and thought begins to close. One thing I observed is Western thought is separated into different segments whereas Jewish thought/life is so woven together that one cannot see where Jewish life, thought, etc. begins or ends. The other observation is that there is deeper truth to discover about God, the Word, Israel and her people, which gives me a thrill learning and spending time with God.
There are times I would burst out laughing at the way Lois describes a goof she made, or word picture to describe a truth. Another observation fact is the deeper truths go when reading the book with a friend and discussing the material. For me, it tends to remain better in my heart and mind in the process. While Lois’s education is impressive to say the least, she writes humbly, inspirationally, and very down to earth. Please understand this is not an academic endeavor for her, but really seeking to understand the Rabbi Jesus in all His Jewishness.
For those who seek to grow closer to the Master, here is just one of the books Lois offers to help guide them on a path she remains on to this day. In other words, walking in the dust of Rabbi Jesus. Come and walk along with us. You will never regret it! Shalom!
Note: The opinions shared in this review are solely my responsibility.

[lauraodom-1 · Rating: 3 out of 5 stars]

I was really looking forward to reading this book. It’s the sequel of sorts to a previous book by the same author, "Sitting at the Feet of Rabbi Jesus", which I loved. The point of both books is to enlighten the reader with things from a historically Jewish perspective, giving new meaning to the text that we “Western-minded” might not have seen or understood before by putting things in the historical context of what it would mean for the Jews during the days of Christ. Frankly, the first book blew me away. I loved it. So I was expecting great things from its successor.

This book, "Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus", focused more on linguistics than the first book. It discussed the roots of certain words and the history they had in the context of Jewish laws and traditions. It explained from a Jewish perspective that when Christ spoke certain things, there was much more to the meaning than what we would see just from the English translation we read today. I found the book interesting and enlightening, but it didn’t blow me a way as much as the first book. I’m not sure if it’s because of the digging into the words and their meanings is more academic, or just that the first book enlightened me to such a new world that it left such a profound impression on me.

I would rate this book 3.5 out of 5 stars, and I definitely would recommend it to others.

[jjvors_1 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus: How the Jewish Words of Jesus Can Change You by Lois Tverberg was a thought-provoking read. Author Tverberg has spent years studying the Jewish culture of the first century into which Jesus was born, lived, and died. She learned Hebrew and Greek and poured over the words of Jesus in the four gospels. She read the rabbinical works of first century rabbis as well as explanations and traditions from later rabbis. She explains obscure sayings of Jesus such as "single eye" and "if your hand causes you to sin, cut it off" as normal rabbinical expressions. Ms. Tverberg also ties in the corresponding Old Testament passages that illuminate Jesus' sayings and words. Jesus would often cite one passage, assuming the hearer would also remember the adjacent passage as well.

The insights from Jesus' Jewish background greatly enhances anyone's understanding of Christianity. For Christians, the new perspective is inspirational and provides as much additional insight as stereoscopic vision provides over monocular vision.