New Books Network Jesus: Undercover Boss or God with Us? (Anne Blackwill)- Holy Week and the Passion
Apr 5, 2026
Anne Blackwill, a literature professor who has taught around the world and written on the life of Jesus, joins to discuss her working book God With Us. They explore John’s portrayal of Jesus and the Trinity. Conversations cover the incarnation, Gethsemane’s anguish, the meaning of the cross, resurrection hope, and how worship and community shape living with God’s presence.
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Book Project Began After Noting A Big Omission
- Anne began this book decades ago after reading John Stott's treatment of the crucifixion that omitted the resurrection, which prompted her to write a fuller account.
- She traces the project back to 1986 and decades of Scripture reading and teaching experiences across varied institutions.
John Repeats Father To Reveal Jesus Identity
- The Gospel of John emphasizes Jesus' identity by repeating his address to the Father; John uses 'Father' ~40 times in two ministry blocks to reveal intimacy and unity.
- Anne Blackwill links those repetitions to Jesus' claim that the Father and Son are one, framing incarnation and worship as relational access to God.
Stretch Your Mind Toward The Trinity In Worship
- Stretch your mind toward the Trinity as part of worship instead of retreating to simple analogies; doing so deepens devotion and enlarges conceptions of God.
- Anne recommends using ancient Hebrew names (Elohim, Yahweh) and liturgical practice to hold both transcendence and immanence.
