Book Review: Judah Smith's Jesus Is

Judah Smith writes an encouraging book to motivate people to live more in the joy of Jesus than in the hatred of humanity and yourself because of your sinful nature. The message isn't anything new, but it's not a bad message to repeat either. The thing is when you read a book you want to feel you are extending on some deeper insight you haven't heard before, and that never really happened for me. While I hope Judah Smith can encourage people the message in his book though.

Judah Smith instantly challenges his readers to consider who Jesus is, and then he gives a few sections where he feels in the blank backing his statement with Biblical verses, and then recounting instances from his own life where this has or has failed to come into play. Smith writes in a welcoming way that makes anyone feel like they could read the book no matter the background. He's very candid in his own shortcomings and where he has not met the character of Jesus that he is discussing in each part of the book. He wants people to step out of their own territory and share love with others while trying to further focus on Christ instead of legalism.


First off, I liked how organized the book was because if you need to turn to any certain section you can do it very easily with how it is laid out, and many will probably like the tone that Judah Smith writes in. He's very inviting to his audience and he tries really hard to make everyone feel like he  would want to be their friend if he met them. Sometimes it seems a little forced but he is well intentioned with it.

After reading the book you may really try to apply what this book does discuss as far as certain aspect of Jesus' character that probably many people are missing. You'll want to try to improve. The only thing is this book seems to highlight only the lighter aspects of faith, and there are moments where Jesus wasn't always joyful and even happy yet the pick presents a manner that doesn't have many varying emotions like that. He doesn't ever have a message against sadness, but never approaches that topic either.

Judah Smith attempts to encourage and motivate and in a world where it is very easy to let things get you down it is a welcome message especially as he points out aspects of Jesus' character that maybe some people have missed or forgotten in the attempt to believe they can be sinless, which is a subject that Judah Smith tackles well with the acknowledgement that we are sinful creatures but we shouldn't let that deter us form trying to live a life where we follow in Jesus footsteps as best we can.  You may find other books that go into a little more depth and have more interesting things to read, but overall Judah Smith provides a strong book discussing Christ.

Rating 7 of 10.

This book was provided by Booksneeze in exchange for a review.