The Gospel of John, Photographed

David Kevin Weaver. Four Line Media, 2012. 341 pp. (Hardback).

What a beautiful way to read the Gospel of John. “The Gospel of John, Photographed” contains the entire Gospel of John (KJV) broken into short passages on each left page with a corresponding photograph on the right side. 

The photos were all taken in Israel, but they are not especially predictable. I expected historic sites mentioned in the Book of John, but many of them are modern — some, surprising. For example, to go with the passage in which Jesus said, “Labour not for the meat which perisheth,” the photographer snapped a picture of trash in a dumpster. Odd. Other photos — not quite as odd — include a modern city gate at Capernaum, a pile of freshly-caught fish from Jerusalem and a pair of feet covered by water in the Jordan River. Once past the expectation of historical pictures, it becomes fun to anticipate what might be coming next.

I saved this book to review during the Christmas season because it would make such a beautiful gift. At 341 pages, it is very large and heavy, a good coffee-table book. And for someone who loves the Gospel of John (who doesn’t?), it is a wonderful way to read and reread those words.