Description

What does Jesus reveal about himself through his encounters with women in the gospel stories, both as a real historical figure, and as a continuing living presence? In responding to this question, Joanna Collicutt McGrath does not shy away from acknowledging the strong erotic overtones of seeing Jesus as a sort of ‘romantic hero’. In the first chapter of the book she muses on what makes the character of Mr Darcy so alluring, and the resonances with Jesus. She then helps us explore several significant aspects of the psychology of Jesus as expressed in his engagement with women. The recurring and deeply affirming theme of the volume is that through encounter with Jesus, women are raised up. Jesus and the Gospel Women aims to feed the spiritual life of women, but men will also find comfort in its skilful identification of the soul needs of human beings: to know that we are not on our own for Christ is with us; that things don’t have to be this way because he offers salvation; and that we are needed – called to ‘Get up and grow up!’ to be raised with Christ.