Do you remember the day you met Jesus?
Frank Viola and Mary DeMuth do—and they've tag teamed to write a new book called The Day I Met Jesus that takes readers on a journey back in time to offer dramatic accounts of five women who met Jesus.
Each narrative is told from each woman's unique perspective, yet tightly grounded in the Gospel accounts and faithful to first-century history. The book blends creative narrative with uncommon insight, spiritual depth and practical application—and it's gotten strong endorsements from New York Times best-selling authors like Liz Curtis Higgs, Lysa TerKeurst and Pastor Jack Hayford.
"In The Day I Met Jesus, Frank and Mary demonstrate lucid insight into the balanced, candid, focused, tender and penetrating manner of our Master, Jesus the Christ," Hayford says. "See again the Savior who was God and Man embodied to show and transform us by His unpretentious holiness, empowering authenticity—without scorn or condemnation, transmitting love's purity, life's vitality and hope's eternity. I commend the authors and this book to you: Both will enrich and enlarge your thoughts and your life."
Charisma News caught up with Viola and DeMuth to learn what's driving all the buzz around their new book.
Charisma News: You feature five women from the Gospels. Why pick women in particular as your subjects?
Frank: Some of the most gripping, instructive, inspiring stories in the Gospels involve women. The longest recorded conversation that Jesus ever had was with a woman. And some of the most amazing things He said and did related to women. So I thought that a book in which some of these women told their own stories about Jesus would not only bring the Gospels to life in our minds, but it would also bring Jesus alive in our hearts.
Mary: Women had significant, personal encounters with Jesus, a fact that we sometimes miss, particularly since so many stories revolve around the 12 disciples (who were men). I love that we're elevating these stories, helping people reimagine just how radical it was that Jesus so beautifully interacted with these women.
Charisma News: Which one is your favorite and why?
Mary: For me, it's hard to say. I love them all in different ways. This week, I'll say it's Mary of Bethany. She didn't have a blatant "need" for Jesus. She was just downright faithful and often misunderstood. I think a lot of people can relate to that.
Frank: Mary of Bethany is my all-time favorite disciple of Jesus. This came home to me when I wrote God's Favorite Place on Earth. (Mary was the sister of Lazarus, so she gets ample airtime in that book.)
I love Mary because she knew Jesus better than most, anticipating His reactions and even His impending death. She also paid the price for loving Him, for she was falsely accused by both her sister and the other disciples (on two different occasions), mostly out of jealousy. In both situations, Mary embraced the spirit of the Lamb, refusing to defend herself. But Jesus Himself rose to her defense on both occasions. He also gave her an enduring honor that He gave no one else.
Charisma News: Why would someone want to read the book?
Frank: If someone wants a good story to get tied up into ... or if they want to see the Bible come to life in a compelling way ... or if they want to experience Jesus Christ anew and afresh ... or if they want to identify with people who were far worse off than they are, and see what Jesus did for them ... or if they want to be given hope and encouragement in their situation ... or if they are lacking love for the Lord and want that love to be rekindled ... or if they want new motivation and fresh inspiration to follow Jesus more closely ... or if they want to increase their faith and expectation in the Lord, they'll want to read The Day I Met Jesus.
Mary: Someone would want to read it because it's truly unique. It's biblical narrative, but in short story form. But it doesn't end there. After you've been absorbed into a page-turning story, Frank exegetes the wisdom from each encounter and helps you apply it to your life.
Charisma News: Tell us about the course that supplements the book.
Frank: The Day I Met Jesus Master Course is designed for those who wish to delve deeper into the themes set forth in the book. It includes a workbook and 20 audio messages delivered by Mary and me. In addition, it includes 8 bonus eBooks from Mary and I. It also includes a closed forum where people can access us both directly for Q&A and dialogue. People can check it out at thedayimetjesus.
Tell us what readers get if they purchase it from March 3rd to March 17th from parable.com.
Frank: They'll get these seven exclusive bonuses.
1. An exclusive audio interview where Mary and I give a behind-the-scenes look at all the facets of the book. The interview covers where the idea of the book came from, why we wrote the book, what it was like collaborating, the hardest part about writing it and much more.
2. Mary's book Beautiful Battle in Kindle and Nook.
3. My book Rethinking Spiritual Growth in PDF, Kindle and Nook.
4. A never-before-released audio conference message entitled "A Woman Inside of a Man."
5. Mary's Book What To Do After People Poop on You in PDF.
6. A never-before-released audio conference message entitled "He's Not Ashamed to Call Them Brothers and Sisters."
7. A 15 percent discount off The Day I Met Jesus Master Course.
You can buy The Day I Met Jesus at a 50 percent discount until March 17 by clicking here.
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