Unexpected Love Book Review

My most recent book review was for Booksneeze and it was an interesting and thought provoking book about the conversations Jesus had with nine different women during His time on earth.  The book is called Unexpected Love: God's Heart Revealed in Jesus' Conversations with Women by Julie Zine Coleman.  There are nine chapters that delve into Jesus' conversations with nine different women; and the author attempts to apply these encounters to today's woman.  Each chapter begins with the scripture reference and then Ms. Coleman tried to envision what might have been the moods, the thoughts and conversations that happened around this conversation.  For example, the first chapter is about Jesus and Mary at the Wedding at Cana and her directive to her son about the shortage of wine.  Ms. Coleman does a good job at placing the reader in the scene, setting the mood well and making the reader think more deeply of these interactions.  The next section in the chapter is called "Digging Deeper" and questions are raised which she attempts to answer to the best of her ability.  The third section in each chapter is called "For Today's Woman" where Ms. Coleman attempts to make connections between the women who Jesus spoke with and to us today.  The last two sections are called "Food for Thought" and "Journaling".  Both are intended for the reader to reflect and gain a deeper understanding of Jesus and His amazing love for us.
   
The reader must take what she says with a grain of salt.  She's using all the information available to her, to paint a picture of that time and putting the pieces together.  I think she does a good job at that but, I'm no theologian.  I found myself enjoying this book and pondering each interaction Jesus had with the women: "His Mother Mary", "the Hemorrhaging Woman", the "Sinful Woman", the "Syrophoenician Woman", the "Adulterous Woman", Martha, the "Samaritan Woman", Salome, and Mary Magdalene. Each encounter Jesus had with these women is explored in the chapters.

Ms. Coleman concludes that even though each of these women had differences in background, community status, Jew or non-Jew, come from money or were destitute; that they shared a common need.  They needed Jesus Christ whether they knew it or not.  Each were profoundly changed by this encounter in the most amazing way. Jesus loved the women of His time and He loves us too.  I enjoyed reading her book and would definitely recommend it to anyone who may be interested in exploring the relationships Jesus had with the women mentioned in the bible.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free of charge from the publisher through the BookSneeze® book reviewer  program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255

Blessings,

Noreen