Jesus Before God: The Prayer Life of the Historical Jesus

Using research from the highly publicized Jesus Seminar, Hal Taussig has produced a provocative and useful new study of the prayer life of the historical Jesus, called Jesus Before God. Taussig begins with a list of questions that some readers may find unsettling: "Was Jesus at heart a wordless mystic? Did he have a special prayer language? Did he pray primarily alone? Did he pray with his followers?" The ultimate answer to many of these questions, of course, is Nobody Knows. But Taussig scours the scriptures for insight, considers the evidence that historical Jesus research has to offer, and then offers a new model of prayer for Christians today. Taussig's even-handed, clear style guides readers gently to his conclusion that meditation, service to others, and words directed to God must all suffuse a Christian's prayer life. "It is not enough just to pray to God, nor does it suffice to relate creatively to others.... [T]he one praying [must] be involved in both social interaction and direct attention to God--at the same time." --Michael Joseph Gross