*Go and Do Likewise! by John Hendrix

In Go and Do Likewise, as in Miracle Man, John Hendrix offers a fresh take on the life and teachings of Christ.

*Go and Do Likewise! The Parables and Wisdom of Jesus by John Hendrix. Abrams, 2021, 32 pages.

Reading Level: Picture Book, ages 4-8

Recommended for: ages 5-up

Miracle Man (see our starred review) was a stunning picture-book narrative of the life of Christ, using word art and symbolism as well as representational art. Go and Do Likewise is similar in presentation, with a focus on what Jesus said as well as what he did. The Son of God is pictured here, as in the previous book, as an itinerant preacher in ragged, dusty clothing, sometimes carrying a staff in the shape of a cross. Cross symbolism occurs throughout, though no direct reference is made of it. Nails and a mallet illuminate the first letter of the story of the wise builder; Jesus contemplates a dark landscape suggestive of Gethsemane. Not all the teachings are parables; metaphors like the light of the world, the speck and the log, and a handful of beatitudes are included. Parables of the Good Samaritan, the Pearl of Great Price, and the Lost Sheep come to a climax with the story of the Prodigal Son.

Hendrix pulls no punches about the identity of the central figure: “I am the way, the truth, and the life, and no one comes to the Father but alongside me.” Scripture is liberally quoted and lightly paraphrased using the ESV and NIV as primary sources. Faithful to the text and imaginative in presentation, Go and Do Likewise is a worthy addition to any church or home library.

Overall Rating: 5 (out of 5)

• Worldview/moral value: 5
• Artistic/literary value: 5

Also at Redeemed Reader

Review: We highly recommend John Hendrix’s heavily-illustrated life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, aThe Faithful Spy.

Review: It’s totally different in content, but John Hendrix also illustrated Ronan Boyle and the Bridge of Riddles, a fun fantasy series-opener.

Resource: See our interview!

Resource: It’s not a parable—technically an allegory—but you might want to take a look at our Guide to The Pilgrim’s Progress.

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