In the Footsteps of Jesus A Chronicle of His Life and the Origins of Christianity

The Gospels of the New Testament describe the life of Jesus of Nazareth, from his birth in Bethlehem and his travels through Galilee, to his trial and death in Jerusalem. In the Footsteps of Jesusgoes even deeper into the story of Jesus' life by following his path through the Holy Land on richly detailed maps and bringing each pivotal place to life through the latest archaeological and historical discoveries. Breathtaking photography and unique period artifacts complement fascinating text and specially created maps by National Geographic cartographers. In the Footsteps of Jesusnot only illustrates the stories of Jesus's life, but also the characters and events that shaped his journey and ultimately made him one of the most famous figures the world has ever known. This compelling and beautiful book traces Jesus's path from Bethlehem to Nazareth; throughout his "mission triangle" of Lower Galilee and into the Decapolis; and ultimately on his journey to Jerusalem, the Garden of Gethsemane and Golgotha. Expertly crafted text describes what is known and speculated about Jesus's youth, life and work, while showing the larger events that combined to shape the world in which He lived. Both the text and sidebars describe the places in Jesus' world that can still be experienced by visitors, as well as key sites that have since disappeared but can be reconstructed by forensic means; what life was like in an agricultural society in 1st century Lower Galilee before the Jewish War; the omnipresent tension between Greco-Roman urban lifestyles and observant Jewish communities, which because of its geographic location was particularly acute in Lower Galilee; the devastating impact of Herodian tax regimes and subsequent Roman census-based taxation in Lower Galilee, and the wholesale displacement of the Jewish peasantry; modern religious practices that can be traced to Jesus' teaching and experiences, and other compelling historical figures of the era. Captivating elements include quotes attributed to Jesus; historical data derived from Jewish sources such as the Mishnah, and Roman sources such as Josephus; census data and other documents; key facts, and insightful main text. Newcomers to biblical history as well as the devoted will find this an invaluable reference and a gorgeous book for the home library.

JEAN-PIERRE ISBOUTS completed his doctoral program on archaeology and art at the University of Leyden, and is currently Professor of Culture and Media Studies at Fielding Graduate University in Santa Barbara, CA. In addition to From Moses to Muhammad, he is also the writer of four television programs that explore the legacy of the Bible, including the Hallmark television mini-series The Quest For Peace, which won the 2005 Gold Aurora Award and the 2005 DeRose-Hinkhouse Award.