Christian Living

My Favorite Biography

by paul hoffmaster
11/02/25
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I love to read books, especially biographies.  My favorite collection is a four-volume set on the life and times of Jesus.  The authors streamline a three-year period in which they highlight everything from His birth to His resurrection.  These sets are really “Cliff Notes” which summarize some of the outstanding features of Jesus’ life.  In defense of the brevity of one of the books, the author writes, “I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” (John 21:25) Three of the four books record similar events with some variations for clarification.  This set of four books is known as the Gospels. The four writers are actually “ghost writers,” as the Holy Spirit is the actual author.  As I read the Gospels, I experience euphoria of excitement as the Holy Spirit opens my eyes and ears to the life and times of Jesus.

It is amazing how the Gospel has spawned an avalanche of post-Gospel books that seek to expand on its truths.  Bible studies sprout up all around the country with supplementary books to generate group participation.  As much as I love my Gospel collection, there is another step that every Christian needs to take: attaching the historical Jesus to the living Christ.  The Gospels are the basics of the Believer’s faith.  Learning about Jesus’ earthly life is essential to understanding the Kingdom of God.  What we need to see is Jesus beyond the pages of the Scriptures.  We need to learn to stand on the written Word as we talk to the living Word.  Jesus is not only the Lord in the Scriptures, but He is also the living Savior who continually talks to His Heavenly Father about us. (Romans 8:34, I John 2:1, Hebrews 7:24, 25)  When is the last time we carried on a “conversation” with Jesus?  It should be as natural as talking to a friend.

Jesus made it clear that His followers would have the ability to talk with Him even though He was no longer in the world. (John 14:13, 14)  While I realize the implications of these Scriptures deal with petitioned prayers, I believe it can go beyond requests to conversational dialogue.  What I am attempting to suggest is to learn and understand the Gospels as well as talk with the Jesus we read about.  I have found myself talking with Jesus as if He were walking with me on a daily basis, which He actually does, but it is different when you engage Him in the realm of conscious thought.  I think sometimes we talk so much about the Scriptural Jesus that we fail to recognize who He is today.

Some time ago, I read a fictional, non-religious book.  I enjoyed the fantasy read as the author spun an adventuresome tale.  Surprisingly, a few months later, the author was in a nearby city on a book tour.  I acquired a ticket and sat in the front row to hear him share excerpts from his book.  As he went over parts of the book, I found myself reliving my reading experience.  Whenever I read the Gospels with Jesus’ narrations, the Scriptures are so alive and active.  I love the Gospels, but I love them all the more when I talk with the one I read about.  I challenge every Believer to take a step of faith and engage the living Jesus.  He is alive and waiting for fellowship with Him.