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Introduction

Chasing after Jesus is the journey of a lifetime. In Jesus’s own words, “The kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls, who, on finding one pearl of great value, went and sold all that he had and bought it” (Matthew 13:45–46). Jesus is that pearl of great price. He is worth every effort to obtain him and every sacrifice required along the way. This is the quest—to chase after him, the pearl of great price.

This is my quest. Even after teaching the life of Christ for twenty years at the college level, I am surprised with breathtaking regularity when I get a glimpse of him I haven’t seen before. I am still mystified by his majesty. The deeper I dig, the higher I realize he is. He is always beyond my grasp, even when he walks beside me. The more I see of him, the less I think I really know him.

I am reminded of an incident in the middle of Jesus’s ministry. His closest disciples had been with him for more than a year. Now they were alone with him in a boat (Mark 4:35–41). A storm threatened to swallow them while Jesus was sound asleep in the stern. The men woke him. They needed all hands on deck, probably to help bail out the boat. They had no clue what Jesus could actually do. He stood up in the boat and rebuked the wind and waves, which obeyed. Instantly.

Just as quickly, the disciples’ terror shifted from outside the boat to inside. They had been afraid of drowning in a storm; now they were afraid of standing in his presence. They huddled in the bow of the boat and asked, “Who is this man?” That is the question. This is the quest—to discover the authentic Jesus. Not the cartoon-figure Jesus or a haloed icon in stained glass. The real Jesus—the Jesus who wants to be known.

The Importance of the Quest

Perhaps you’re not a religious person; many on the quest are not. That’s okay. Jesus is worth the pursuit regardless of our past. After all, no other individual has had as great an impact on our world as Jesus of Nazareth. He challenged us to love our enemies, thus reordering the rules for social engagement. He prioritized the outcast, renovating social justice. He introduced servant leadership, transforming politics. He demanded that we examine our hearts and not just our behavior, revolutionizing ethics. He introduced God to the world as Father, thus changing the very nature of prayer. There is no quarter of our modern lives that has not been affected by Jesus of Nazareth—not education, science, religion, society, law, ethics, art, or entertainment. Therefore, he is worth pursuing. He is worth devoting a year to discovering what those first disciples discovered in the boat: he is beyond our expectations and beside us all the way.

Do you want to know him, the real Jesus? Do you want to absorb his influence so you can influence others? If so, welcome to the quest.

This is not a journey across the flatlands. It can, at times, be a tortur- ous trek. But the greatest challenge we face on this quest is not the terrain out there. Rather, it is our own presuppositions, thinking that we have already reached our destination. We think we know who Jesus is. That is the greatest impediment to our quest.
The Challenge of the Quest

In the beginning, God made humans in his own image (Genesis 1:27). We have been returning the favor ever since, trying to make God look like us. It was obvious when ancient priests fashioned idols to reflect their highest ideals of war, sex, riches, and beauty. Their images revealed what they really worshipped. We may imagine ourselves to be more sophisticated, but we have done virtually the same thing when we portray Jesus as supporting our cultural values, ethical sensibilities, and economic aspirations.

It is most obvious with our artistic renderings of Jesus. International images of Christ look like their creators’ countrymen. He has darker skin in Africa, lighter hair in Europe, and distinct eyes in Asia. In one sense, that’s fine. After all, Jesus came to earth in a recognizable physical form so we could relate to him. We all need to see Jesus in a way we can access. The problem comes when we assume that if he looks like we do, he must also think and act like we do.

Our portrayals of Jesus don’t end with paintings; they extend to our preaching. We speak into existence a Jesus that reflects our own image. Virtually every nationality and ethnicity have co-opted Jesus for their own political and social agendas. We assume that he agrees with our cul- tures and lifestyles. This quest is too long to carry our presuppositions with us, so let’s shed them now. Can we admit our biases and begin the quest with humility, honesty, and submission, determined to follow the path wherever it leads and whatever it costs?

The goal of this book is to help you do just that. Think of it as a field guide to your quest for Christ. All it can do is point you in the right direction. The quest is your own. No one can take this journey for you, although some may take it with you.

The Strategy of the Quest

The first four books of the New Testament—Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—describe the events of Jesus’s incomparable life. Quest 52 will highlight fifty-two incidents from Jesus’s life. These will include people Jesus met, miracles he performed, things he taught, and qualities he modeled. After you read about these incidents in the Bible, Quest 52 will guide you through some thoughts and exercises to help you see Jesus authentically. Think of these fifty-two incidents as mile markers along the way.

Between each mile marker are five days of exercises. It is here that Jesus will meet you face to face.

Day 1: Read the passage(s) from the Bible. You must not short-circuit this step. Begin in the Bible; then move to the essay. Each essay focuses on one biblical concept from one gospel passage and answers one key question relevant to your life.

Day 2: Look back to the wisdom of the Old Testament to gain perspective on this mile marker.

Day 3: Look forward to the letters in the New Testament, where fellow pilgrims expressed their own take on this mile marker.

Day 4: Discuss with fellow pilgrims what you are learning on this leg of the journey.

Day 5: Take your next step in following the path of Jesus.

The book you hold in your hand is the primary resource for this quest for Christ. However, as a bonus, we have provided other tools to add value to this book, especially if you are going through the material with a group:

A video from the author introducing each essay to help make the material in the book more personal. This is a great way to kick off the group for visual learners.

A topical study for overachievers who want to dig deeper into some historical or theological topics. This may help individuals oriented toward biblical research.

An audio lecture from one of my college classes on the life of Christ. This will benefit auditory learners.

This quest will likely demand more than we expect, but the pearl of great price is more valuable than we could ever imagine. So let’s pursue Jesus relentlessly; he wants to be found. He may even join us along the journey. Let’s begin.