TEL AVIV, Israel — The Life of Jesus – a publication by the Bible Society in Israel (BSI) – has found its way into tens of thousands of homes. The BSI, which advertised the book in newspapers and on cable television, has distributed nearly all of the 40,000 copies from the first print-run.
People from all walks of life have sent letters to the BSI requesting the book, which outlines the significance of Jesus’ birth, teachings, death and resurrection.
A man from a Bedouin settlement in Southern Israel wrote to ask for The Life of Jesus and other Scripture publications after seeing an advert in an Arabic newspaper. Another letter was received from a non-Christian woman who said she was so fascinated by the person of Jesus after reading the book that she wanted a Bible to find out more.
Six thousand copies of The Life of Jesus were distributed to crowds that gathered during the Pope’s visit to Nazareth in March last year. Christian organisations operating in remote villages have also distributed thousands of copies.
Azar Ajaj, the BSI’s representative in Galilee, described his experience of distributing The Life of Jesus books in a village near the Syrian border: “As we entered the village, young people gathered by our van and soon took copies of our books,” he said.
“As we went from door to door to distribute the books, we found the people very friendly and anxious to hear about Jesus. Every time we left one house to go to another, more people would invite us to visit them, or asked if they could have our Scripture materials. We left this village with joy filling our hearts for what we had experienced.” (WR 358/20 - 03.01)
Adapted from an article in The Word in Zion – the Bible Society in Israel’s quartely magazine.