Joe Durso

Joe Durso was born in Brooklyn, NY 1953; his grandparents were Italian immigrants. He graduated from Elohim Bible Institute in 1980 and received a master's degree from Trinity Theological Seminary in 1989. During the past ten years, he has discipled numerous men at Capital Hill Baptist Church. Previously, he was the founder and director of the ministry Teens Under Fire, a drug awareness program reaching teens in High schools in Baltimore and Anne Arundel counties of Maryland. Joe is deeply passionate about his Christian faith at the ground level. He writes to the hurting, bewildered, lost, and broken-hearted people. His message is one of hope from what he found on the pages of scripture.

My Book

What makes this book unique enough that anyone would want to read it?

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There was nothing unique about the words in Dickens's novel A Tale of Two Cities. "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times," as all the words of his book had been used countless times before. However, the arrangement of his words gave a new perspective and, thereby, special meaning to the things of which he spoke.

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The Jesus You Need to Know is a fresh, new perspective on Jesus the man, His character, integrity, devotion to God, love for His enemies, and even His reason for existence. Greg Treat is an excellent friend, a Christian brother, and a co-author of the upcoming book I Will Build My Church. He is a devoted Christian, husband and father, lawyer, and graduate of the Master's College. In his book review, he said, "You set up these Biblical categories, and then show how Christ was the greatest of all time ...I could see myself as being a Jesus fanboy."

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I know what Greg was saying, and he did not undermine the reality that Jesus Christ is Lord. Those who come to Him must believe that He is such and thus submit their lives to Him. Greg was saying that the perspective found in this book gave him a fresh zeal for Jesus. ​

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Of all the men that have lived in human history, only one is declared to have risen from the grave. His death is the most attested event by atheist and religious historians alike. As you read the pages of this book, you will sit with Jesus as he sat with His disciples the night before He was betrayed. You will see Him in His glory as He made the greatest sacrifice the universe will ever behold. You will see the brokenness of Mary, the mother of Jesus, that has profound significance as it relates to all penitent sinners. You will consider the humility and love of Jesus Christ as He offered Himself up to be an intercessory High Priest forever.

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If you receive the words of scripture as true, explained as they are in this book, your heart will draw nearer to the man who is called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace. Therefore, let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith.

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Nothing is better than for a person to draw close to the God who created it all. The divine person who sacrificed all to prove His love guarantees unending joy throughout eternity and recreates repentant sinners in his perfect image. I hope and pray that you will read this book with the faith and confidence necessary to bring the Jesus you need to know near and dear to your heart.

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Through rebirth by the Holy Spirit, the person who finds their identity in the person who offered Himself as a living sacrifice will experience unending joy in His presence, the judgment having passed by Him. SO READ ON!

Written in the Passive Voice

Today's educators will tell you that the passive voice is not incorrect, but the active is better and more direct and makes the subject the doer of the action. I agree that it is simpler and easier to understand; however, prior to the 20th Century, it was used by theologians far less. Why? Because often, when referring to Christian doctrines, the work is not done by the believer but by God. God is always the unseen person acting upon the believer by His grace, which can best be stated in the passive voice. This perspective is proper regardless of today's educators, who may unknowingly dumb down the ability of today's readers. Confusing writing is never hurtful when it is meant for accuracy, which it will accomplish for those readers who do not rush but take the time to meditate on what is written.