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The stranger on the road to Emmaus

A clear and simple explanation of the world's best seller

Overview for new Christians

THE STRANGER ON THE ROAD TO EMMAUS
A clear and simple explanation of the world’s bestseller
By J.R. Cross
Goodseed International. 304 pages. £15.00
ISBN 978-1-890082-14-7

‘Here is a book that explains the greatest of Bible themes clearly and logically. Rather than focussing on one part — and missing the whole — the author chronologically binds together the entire text into one great universal drama.’ Such is the claim this book makes for itself and it is very largely justified. Mr. Cross tries to imagine the kind of thing our Lord said to the two Emmaus disciples (Luke 24.44-46).

Long-standing Christians can certainly find profit here, but those who would benefit most are new believers who have no previous Bible knowledge. They are confronted with a very big book, and all too often they settle for some isolated texts and a few favourite passages, oblivious to the fact that the Bible is the record of God’s plan of salvation as it gradually unfolded, book by book, from Genesis to Revelation.

To begin with one of the gospels, as many new believers are advised to do, has some merit, but it is rather like opening a whodunit two thirds of the way through when the vital clues are in the earlier part!

There are other helpful books available that trace specific topics through the Scriptures, but here Mr. Cross, beginning with the creation and the fall, follows the greatest theme of all, salvation from sin and its consequences by means of atoning sacrifice. Because of this he is able to finish with a clear gospel application.

The writer is a Canadian whose ‘Mom’ gets him ‘cookies’! I did find the book rather wordy and repetitive, but numerous helpful illustrations carry the reader along. I would have liked a bigger build-up of the anticipation of the Coming One, through the historical books and the prophets.

Be that as it may, I am not surprised that many people have found it helpful, since having been first published in 1996, this is already its third edition. Deservedly so!

Clifford Pond,
Cauldwell Hall Road Baptist Church, Ipswich