Jesus, My Son: A Book Review

Do you ever wish that the Bible told us more about Jesus' boyhood?  Or that Mary had kept a journal?  I do.   I would love to have known what went through her mind, how she faced all the challenges that came with being the mother of the Messiah.  This book by Mary Bailey supposes that Mary did keep a journal of the things she pondered in her heart, from the time the angel Gabriel appeared to her up until the time the Jesus was ready to begin His ministry.

She gives us a glimpse of Mary's heart, her love for Joseph and her children.  Early on, Mary is excited about seeing Jesus as King.  She imagines mansions and all the things that He can do to put right the world.  Over time, she begins to see that this may not be what God has in mind, after all.  Through heartache, fears, loss and healing, her trust deepens and matures.  I enjoyed reading Mary's growth from a thoughtful, young girl to a wise, loving grandmother.

As a nursing mom, I smiled to read of Jesus' frequent nursing, and was glad that she portrayed Jesus and His siblings all nursing as toddlers, too.  While she never focused on any punishments or discipline issues, I enjoyed reading about the kids playing together, and sympathized with their struggles.

My favorite part of the book was reading about Jesus' relationship with His cousin John.  I especially smiled to read of John as a young boy, strong willed and a picky eater.  A great reminder that so many traits that may not seem to be convenient when they are children are often precisely what God will use as they grow into adults, if we are wise enough not to try and stamp them out.

Sibling relationships affect us so deeply throughout our lives.  Growing up with Jesus for an older brother must have been tremendous pressure for His younger brothers and sisters, regardless of how wisely Mary and Joseph tried to handle it.  It was so interesting to me to read of the different personalities and how they responded to having the perfect big brother.

I think that many Christians forget that all of nature was created by God, and that He found it good.  I loved reading the depictions of Jesus, Mary and the children being filled with wonder and delight in the living world around them.  They saw the beauty in the sky and stars, and felt the warmth and tenderness of friendships with animal companions.

Another point of interest to me was Mary's attitude towards gentiles and outsiders.  Because of her own life circumstances, having lived in Egypt and been helped during her flight to visit Elizabeth by a young Samaritan woman, the book shows her as being unusually open and welcoming.  I tend to think that she probably reminded Jesus about Ruth and other important people in His lineage who came from other lands as He was growing up.

Stylistically, the book reminds me of Grace Livingston Hill and similar authors.  Mary also wrote some beautiful poetry in several of the chapters.  I know that my mother would enjoy this book tremendously, and as a special coincidence, the author is having a special Mothers' Day campaign!  I will share more details with you soon, but on April 27th there will be an opportunity for many prizes and freebies--lots of fun stuff! 

I believe that there is a reason that Jesus told so many stories.  Often, truth is able to reach our heart much better from a story book than a text book.  I love books that give us more insight into the possible thoughts and feelings of people in the Bible.  Please check out Mary Bailey's website if you would like to read excerpts from the book or order an autographed copy.  :)

Disclosure policy: I received a complimentary copy of this book for review from the author.