I love Giotto's frescoes.

We have read this book as a family each year at Christmas time for the last 3 years or so. It is both beautiful and extremely well written. It explores the idea of faith in a way that is useful to me and essentially discusses the birth, life and death of Jesus Christ in a beautiful and mature way. Not easy to get a copy of this book, but I highly recommend it if you can find it. The Giotto frescoes that are used to illustrate the book are fabulous.

L'Engle's style shows through this retelling of Christ's story. The Fresco illustrations are beautiful as well.

Beautiful.

Gorgeous and engaging. Giotto and L'Engle, such an interesting, rich, and contemplative combination. A particularly good re-read for the young ones at Christmas or Easter, although it's perfect for all ages.

Life of Jesus Christ.

In my search for engaging Lenten and Advent resources, I began "The Glorious Impossible" inordinately eager to love it, but found myself sorely disappointed.

L'Engle has captured the magnificence of Jesus' incarnation, life, death and resurrection in simple, but enchanting text. Giotto's captivating frescoes from the Scrovegni Chapel have been lovingly reproduced, one image for each chapter, with additional close ups for longer stories, all providing visual cues for contemplation.

Not to be read in a single sitting, every significant event of Jesus' life is included as one of the 25 vignettes, rendering "The Glorious Impossible" a resource for either the Advent or Lenten season consideration.
The Annunciation,
The Visitation (Mary's visit to Elizabeth),
The Nativity,
The Presentation in the Temple,
The Adoration of the Magi,

The Flight into Egypt,
The Massacre of the Innocents,
Jesus Among the Doctors (Jesus at the Temple),
The Baptism of Christ,
The Marriage in Cana,

The Raising of Lazarus,
The Entry into Jerusalem,
The Expulsion of the Merchants,
The Pact of Judas,
The Washing of the Feet,

The Last Supper,
The Betrayal of Christ,
Christ before Caiaphas,
The Mocking of Christ,
The Road to Calvary,

The Crucifixion,
The Lamentation,
The Resurrection,
The Ascension, and
Pentecost
are all covered with approximately 80% of the narration L'Engle's magnificent and meaningful exposition of the Scripture.

While there are small difficulties in Giotto's work for the contemporary student (his portrayal being limited to the European perspective which can be addressed through the wonderful epilogue, a little instruction on the time period of his work, and emphasis on the Bible's relevance for all people for all time), it's that 20% by L'Engle that is truly problematic.

From the first page, L'Engle makes it clear that extra-Biblical interpretation will be included as THE ANNUNCIATION of the Angel Gabriel is made to 14 year old Mary (the Scripture is silent as to Mary's age, though we can infer from cultural cues that she was probably young). A reference to the child to be implanted as a "... holy thing which shall be born of you..." is disconcerting. THE NATIVITY makes reference to the Shepherds giving gifts to Jesus, and ADORATION OF THE MAGI states the Magi were three in number, each making the journey from a "different part of the globe."

Perhaps the most egregious addition to the narrative made by L'Engle occurs in the section entitled "Jesus among Doctors." After throwing out a series of questions for which no answers are provided (including "Who was God's mother?"), L'Engle writes the fine brush strokes of the story of twelve year old Jesus at the Temple. Then, she makes the astonishing statement,

"Was he really gone three days as the Bible tells us? Or was it three hours? It really doesn't matter. What matters is that Jesus was an eager questioner, alert, ready to learn. He didn't notice time passing, or realize that his parents might be worried."

Unfortunately, the authority of the Scripture *really does matter*, and it seem ludicrous for L'Engle to take the time to craft a book summarizing the brilliant jewel of the Bible's message to challenge it over the small detail of how long Jesus was gone. Why take the time if the information we have available through the Scriptures "really doesn't matter." Additionally, the characterization of the separation between Jesus and his earthly parents as thoughtless represents another assumption by the author that is out of sync with the Biblical text.

In THE BAPTISM OF CHRIST, L'Engle postulates that Jesus did not fully understand His divine make up until His baptism by John. This aspect of the hypostatic union has often been debated, but remains a mystery as the Scripture does not give us a clear understanding of how Jesus' humanity nestled with His divinity.

In THE ENTRY INTO JERUSALEM, she writes, that Jesus was sad because He knew the trial of his death was coming, but then comments, "How strange it must have been for Jesus, who knew well all the words of Isaiah and Jeremiah and Zechariah and Ezekiel, to find their words fulfilled in such a way." What?!?

THE ROAD TO CALVARY features this dubious statement: "There is a story that the skull for which Golgotha was named was Adam's skull, and that Jesus' cross was made from the wood of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil." This is a bizarre. Wood from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil would have had to been preserved some 4000 years and brought through the flood of Noah's time without any reference by Scripture to it's existence. Jesus fulfilled hundreds of prophecies through His birth, life, death and resurrection, why ignore that material to make up one?

THE RESURRECTION, while making an interesting point that Jesus was never recognized by sight after his rise from the dead, is complicated by an inference that if Mary had touched Jesus before He ascended to heaven, she would have been instantly killed, yet again, we have no basis for such an assertion.

Throughout the account, L'Engle challenges us to think of Jesus as "joyful," "laughing," a man who "loved parties," "strong", and "humble," attributes which do appear in Scripture, though seem a bit tilted to the American cultural preference for extroversion and skepticism of introversion. Jesus is "sad over his death and hardness of hearts" which is supported by Scripture, but then he is also "outraged" by "coldness of heart" for which there is absolutely no Scriptural support.

Jesus' enemies are characterized as "frightened by His joy," so that they "couldn't understand this strong and joyful man" and were "afraid of His joy and laughter as He placed love above law." Yet, Jesus said,
“Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not an iota, not a dot, will pass from the Law until all is accomplished. 19 Therefore whoever relaxes one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do the same will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven." Matthew 5:17-19

Here's the bottom line: In a work that strives to illuminate the grandeur of God's plan and the magnificence of Jesus' life, why not expound on the glory of the mystery instead of proposing all sorts of extra-Biblical nonsense. Is the Bible's account not interesting enough? Is it stale or incomplete? L'Engle communicates a hypostatic union skewed to Jesus' humanity, and a disrespect for the most valuable source we have about Jesus, in a work that seems to be somehow trying to glorify Jesus. It's a confused mess.

This is one of those books that I would have loved to see edited more closely. It has a lot of unrealized potential, and some illuminating ideas, the concept of the "Glorious Impossible" chief among them. But unfortunately, in contrast to Giotto's reverent portrayal, the L'Engle has treated her subject too lightly. Writing this review has made me realize I simply cannot recommend this work, and every time I edit this review, I find myself taking more stars away. For those seeking a more respectful and broadly contemporary fusion of narration and image, I recommend Sally Lloyd-Jones' "The Jesus StoryBook Bible". Perhaps a family could share about 25 sections from it on the life of Jesus for Advent or Lent?

The Jesus StoryBook Bible: Every Story Whispers His Name, Sally Lloyd-Jones. 2007
https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Beautiful.

Good theology, written by an amazing author, illustrated with the frescoes of an incredible artist whose work has already stood the test of time. Although it is certainly too long to read in one sitting, it is perfect for reading aloud, one page at a time, with someone you want to share the story with.

This is not the only picture book out there based on Giotto's Scrovegni Chapel frescoes. Géraldine Elschner's The Nativity is another, though The Glorious Impossible covers Jesus' life through the Ascension (and Pentecost, too).

I love children's picture books with historic art, and this book reproduces Giotto's work well, and lets it speak for itself. I liked that it guided the book rather than the book guiding the art.

L'Engle's text left me a little confused. The text in this book is long. Way too much to read in one sitting for most of the picture-book set (and, indeed, the Annunication to Pentecost is a lot to receive in one sitting!). Some pages are chock-full of text, though a few have a bit less to say. The text is based on the Scriptures but L'Engle does add narrator-commentary moments and a few contextual insights. I had mixed feelings about these. Some instances felt awkward ("This Joseph must have been a wonderful man") and other instances truly added to the storytelling ("Like love, [the incarnation] cannot be explained, it can only be rejoiced in").

I think this book would be most useful if used like a storybook, reading a section or two at once, not all in one sitting. It focuses on the beginning and end of Jesus' life, with minimal stories from his ministry. It is good for individual use as well, for meditation.

The story of Jesus - from the foretelling of His miraculous birth, through His life and amazing works and words of love, to his glorious Ascension - is well explained for young readers, or anyone just learning about Him, in short chapters. Each is illustrated through the frescoes from a chapel in Italy. A true and remarkable story beautifully presented.
Chapters:
The Annunciation;
The Visitation;
The Nativity;
The Presentation in the Temple;
The Adoration of the Magi;
The Flight Into Egypt;
The Massacre of the Innocents;
Jesus Among the Doctors;
The Baptism of Christ;
The Marriage in Cana;
The Raising of Lazarus;
The Entry into Jerusalem;
Expulsion of the Merchants;
The Pact of Judas;
The Washing of the Feet;
The Last Supper;
The Betrayal of Christ;
Christ Before Caiaphas;
The Mocking of Christ;
The Road to Calvary;
The Crucifixion;
The Lamentation;
The Resurrection;
The Ascension;
Pentecost.
Giotto and the Scrovegni Chapel is an added page which tells about the artist and his revolutionary method of painting.

The anguished expressions and body postures of the angels and followers of Christ in The Lamentation moves me every time.