Try Jesus!
No complex theology to decode. No religious checklists of dos and don’ts. And no hidden agenda.
Just walking alongside the people who tried Jesus: what they came with, what they found, how they left.
Meetings as life's crossroads
Take a brief look at the stories and encounters waiting for you inside each chapter — then decide how to get your copy.
Introduction
Can anyone change your mind? Probably not. Not on what matters most. But you might discover something so good you can no longer unsee it. This book was not written to change your mind, but to help facilitate an encounter. See the reason why.
1. The Voice
Few people inspire us more than the ones standing for something right at any cost. We like it even more when their stand is courageously taken against the powers of the age and in favour of those who are suffering. John the Baptist was such a hero.
2. 'Come and see!'
One of the marks of a great leader is knowing when to step down, voluntarily and gracefully. Counterintuitive as it may seem, this is a victory over self, leaving space for others to thrive. The first disciples of John the Baptist started following Jesus of Nazareth.
3. A man born twice
'Knock-knock!' 'Who’s there?' A thousand jokes begin that way, and, depending on the answer, anything is possible. Imagine that knock coming after dark, well into the night. Nicodemus, an old teacher, was discreetly looking for Jesus.
4. Knowing the gift of God
Nobody wakes up one morning setting out to change the world. Great changes appear to start from seemingly common and unpromising situations. For a Samaritan woman it was a coincidence turned providential appointment.
5. To seek and to save
When failing, we want a second chance; in crises we would like to rewrite the whole story; or, better still, to reveal what the original story always was. Hated by all, the tax collector Zacchaeus was someone searching for a way to turn the page.
6. Writing in the sand
'Collateral damage’ is a sanitised way of describing lost innocent lives. But what if the ‘secondary’ target was, in fact, the main one? That’s when the curtain needs to be lifted, unveiling a scheme, an evil plan. This happened when some hypocrites brought to Jesus a woman caught in adultery.
7. 'Remember me!'
Good stories have pivots, moments when everything shifts. We love to see such plot twists in novels, in movies, in life. Imagine a prisoner on death row, released just before his execution. A miracle? Three criminals had their chance when they got arrested along with Jesus.
8. 'In memory of her'
Life does not provide a ‘reset’ switch, or the ‘undo’ button. Sometimes we go through a long journey of coping, left with ugly scars or haunting memories. Until we meet Jesus. This is Mary Magdalene’s story: once as good as dead, possessed by demons, and then becoming an eyewitness to the greatest miracle.
9. On the road to Emmaus
We run our lives following patterns. And then something different comes in: a crisis, a disruption, an unexpected turn. In hindsight, we may discover that what felt like chaos was actually a pattern we hadn’t learnt to read yet. Such was the case of two of Jesus’ disciples when facing the news of His resurrection.
10. The doubting one
When something is too good to be true, we sense the risk of a delusion. It could be a scam, or, worse, an attempt at brainwashing. Those falling for it end up defying common sense. Thomas felt sorry for his fellow disciples, believing them to be mysteriously deluded, unaware that the one who’d got things wrong was actually him.
11. 'Do you love me more than these?'
On our walls we display pictures of cherished moments with family and friends. In the office, a diploma or a certificate highlights some key achievement. Our CVs are not short of training, skills and other proofs of experience and expertise. But who are we when we fail? The apostle Peter answered it.
12. The least of all
One could bet everything on one card and be dead sure about the win. Yet it’s absolutely shocking when the surest move turns out to be the blunder of a lifetime. Is there any escape from that, or even a reversal of fortunes? One man experienced it both ways. They called him Saul, we came to know him as the apostle Paul.
13. The Lion and the Lamb
Many of our stories end with a fulfilling, satisfying stop. Others are famous for a cliffhanger, asking for the next episode or season. When the main character leaves with a remarkable and cryptic line, it seems the end is still unfolding. The apostle John’s story was like that: he knew Jesus on earth. Then he saw him in heaven. It was indeed a Revelation.
Conclusion
One day Jesus asked his disciples, 'Who do people say I am?' Following their answer, he pushed for more, 'Who do you say I am?' This is the question worth reflecting upon. The heroes of this book answered from their own experience . . . each in their own way. If you don’t have your own answer yet, there is still one invitation: ‘Come and see.’ Try Jesus!
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About the Author & Publisher
Christian Salcianu is a pastor serving across the British Isles, where he leads the Adventist Discovery Centre (ADC) and the FreeBible programme.
Passionate about clear Bible exposition and spiritual leadership, Christian loves helping people discover Scripture and find inspiration in its ultimate author, God.
The stories and insights in Try Jesus! are drawn from years of personal study and public presentations shared in Europe and Africa.
The Stanborough Press has been dedicated to Christian publishing since 1884, serving as the official press for the Seventh-day Adventist Church across the UK and Ireland.
Committed to sharing timeless spiritual truths through the printed word, the Press publishes a wide range of books, Bibles, and devotional resources.
Partnering with the ADC, they are glad to help place this title into hands and homes everywhere via LifeSource Bookshop.