Men Called Him Master

by Elwyn Allen Smith

What kind of men were Jesus' disciples? What was it like to be with Jesus in Palestine? Why did some of the disciples find it so hard to understand Jesus? Who were the people who killed Jesus? Why did they do it? This book has been written to help you to answer these questions. It takes you right into Jesus' world so that you can hear his conversations with the disciples and watch the things they did. The stories of Jesus and the disciples in this book are told in different words from those you will find in your Bible, and background has been built in from other records of the time. For example, the Bible gives only the fact that one of the disciples was a Zealot; in this book the disciple is shown speaking and acting as we know Zealots spoke and acted. The story of the rich young ruler has been placed early in Jesus' ministry to show that he would not accept every man who wanted to be his disciple. The parable of the Good Samaritan has also been placed in the early period as an example of the informal way in which Jesus taught. That you may know what is from the Bible and what is added to make a complete story, Scripture references for each event are given in the back of the book. These references will help you to read and understand the Gospels. As you read what it meant to be a disciple of Jesus while he was on earth, you will see more clearly what it means to be one of his disciples today.

170 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1948

Reviews

[Louie the Mustache Matos · Rating 5 out of 5]

Men Called Him Master is the distillation of the biblical narrative from what is written in the four canonical gospels of the New Testament. It is the story of Jesus Christ, his birth, life, death, and resurrection as taken from the Bible, and written in common language for most anyone to receive for inspiration and personal growth. There is special care taken to communicate his interactions with his followers, most especially his disciples.

The twelve men that came to be known as his disciples were witnesses to almost all of the events chronicled in the gospels, including the miracles of feeding 5000 with 2 loaves of bread and 5 fish, Jesus walking on water, calming the storm-tossed sea, and healing the sick and lame. Not to mention the profound teaching that occurred at his feet, in his presence, or at his side. Admittedly, as a bible student, the book offers insight that is not as profound as the biblical text but offers accessibility not everyone would otherwise have.

Men Called Him Master is a strong resource that I highly recommend to all believers and those that are biblically curious.

[Anne Marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to read this book I came across that originally belonged to a Presbyterian Sunday school. It was divided into chapters that told the story of Jesus from when John the Baptist spoke of Him to when He rose from the dead. We got to know Jesus better and His disciples more personally. It was fascinating how the author took stories we read in the Bible, and filled in the blanks. We read what could have happened before and after miracles, what the disciples were thinking, and how people lived back in Jesus’ time. The author wrote an in depth timeline of what Jesus did with his disciples, His teachings, what people of the time thought of Him, and the events leading up to His death. The reader will definitely feel closer to Jesus and could really imagine what it was like if they were following Him. One could also imagine living in an area where Jesus may be traveling and wanting to see Him, maybe even witnessing a miracle performed. Even though this book was published in 1948, a religion class today would find this book having a treasury of discussions among the students and is a great addition to reading the New Testament for a better understanding.

[Bill Walker · Rating 4 out of 5]

Very nice read.

[Mary]

Great book. Inspirational.