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Yesterday I (finally!) finished Scot McKnight’s King Jesus Gospel. Full disclosure—because I think legally you have to disclose these things when reviewing something (even though I don’t know if that technically counts because I make zero revenue off this blog)—I got an advanced copy from the publisher to read and review.

I’ll try and sum it up very briefly but I’ll start by saying that I highly recommend it to any follower of Jesus—pastor, theologian, seminary student, or a church member. It’s easy to read and accessible, as I’ve repeatedly found McKnight to be. 

-If you’ve ever found the “do you know if you would go to heaven if you died tonight?” Gospel to be lacking, read this book.

-If you’ve ever found that the entire Bible doesn’t seem to fit with the way you’ve been taught to believe in and follow Jesus, read this book.

-If you’ve ever felt a disconnect between the way you’ve been invited to “accept Jesus” and everyday life, including the “real world,” read this book.

-If you’ve even been concerned that we read the Bible from a heavily Pauline perspective and have a hard time reconciling that with the sayings of Jesus, read this book.

McKnight sums up the Gospel as the story of Israel coming to completion in the story of Jesus, drawing on the ideas of Jesus’ Messiah-ship & Lordship. 

Time and time again in the gospeling moments of the New Testament, the “fundamental solution…is that Jesus is Messiah and Lord” (p137). This means that the fundamental problem may be deeper and richer than we imagined—the need, put simply, is that we need a King. 

And Jesus comes to be the King (Messiah & Lord) of God’s Kingdom. This is what he calls, over and over, the Gospel (Good News). 

Pick up a copy to find out more…