Uniquely among those
who tell the life of Jesus, Damon So succeeds in bringing out the
Trinitarian character of these relationships to be seen in Jesus' story. He does this not
in a merely theoretical way but in order to bring out practical implications for the Christian
believer, the whole church, and for Christian mission in the world. The last chapter itself,
‘The Trinity, The Kingdom Of God and Human Society,’ is worth the price of the whole book.

Joe W. Martin

Advisory Council
Chaplain for the Oxford University Graduate Christian Union, honourary staff member in St Ebbe's
Church, Oxford,
former L'Abri worker

Dr. Damon So´s work is a very
timely reminder of the need to recover the New Testament view of Jesus in intimate
relationship with his Father through
the Holy Spirit. All too often Christology has ignored this Trinitarian approach. As a result, it has
failed to give proper account of
the spiritual basis for Jesus' life and ministry as well as for his death and
resurrection. This book provides a necessary corrective for this failure and shows the
relevance of a Trinitarian
Christology to the life and mission of the church in today's world. I wholeheartedly
recommend this work by one of the most capable theologians from the Majority World.

C. Rene Padilla,
President Emeritus, Kairos Foundation, Buenos Aires, Argentina.

The Forgotten Jesus is perfect for
undergraduate theology and religious majors including postgraduates in this
area of study and especially
useful
for the contemporary mission field in which the church strives to make Christ
known.

Joseph Galgalo, Academic Dean and Professor of Theology,
St. Paul's University, Limuru, Kenya.

A
unique feature of this fascinating presentation of Jesus is its Trinitarian emphasis—the
intimate relationship of Jesus with his Father in the

Holy Spirit. This biblical
presentation of Jesus in vivid
images
of interpersonal love is inspiring and relevant for the life of the church in the contemporary world.
This book will greatly
benefit
church leaders and those engaged in Christian ministry who are looking for resources to enable
them to present more effectively
the
Trinitarian Christ and the Christian message of forgiveness, reconciliation and liberation to a
needy world. I wholeheartedly
recommend
this book.

Corneliu Constantineanu, Executive
Director, Areopagus Center for Christian Studies and Contemporary Culture, Romania

This excellent refreshing look at
the Trinitarian engagement in mission provides a comprehensive tool for holistic
involvement in society... He has
shown us that insightful and scholarly reflection can be both
accessible to the community of disciples as well as faithful and deeply reverential to
the Trinitarian revelation of God. The book will be a welcome resource for those who
seek a holistic understanding
of Christian faith and mission.

C.B. Samuel, Chairman,
Micah Challenge India

About the author: Damon W. K. So studied theology at Oxford University and Wales University.
His first doctorate was in Atmospheric Dynamics at Imperial College, London. He is Research Tutor
in theology at the Oxford Centre for Mission Studies, and the author of Jesus’ Revelation of His
Father: A Narrative-Conceptual
Study of the Trinity with Special Reference to Karl Barth (2006).

Chapter 5: The Journey With Needy Humanity To The End

1 Introduction

2
The Birth of Jesus

3
The Childhood of Jesus

4 The Baptism of Jesus

5 The Temptations of Jesus

6 Jesus' Identification
with Needy Humanity in his Compassionate Ministry

7 The End of the Journey

8 The Resurrection of Jesus and a New Beginning

Chapter 6: The Trinity, The Kingdom Of God And
Human Society

1 Jesus' Own Rest in His Father and His Revelation of His Father

2 Jesus and the Holy Spirit

3 The Mystery of the Trinity

4 The Divinity and Humanity of Jesus Christ

5 Meditation
on the Lord Jesus Christ

6 The Trinity, the Church
and Human Society 6.1 Freedom and Moral
Reference

6.2 Freedom from Self-Interest 6.3 Freedom for the Poor

6.4 Freedom from
Structural Evils

6.5 Freedom from
Conflicts: Reconciliation

6.6 Trinity and Human Society

6.7 Trinity, Church and Mission in
the World

7
Conclusions

Appendix A: Meditation on Jesus'
Lordship and Servanthood
Appendix
B: Jesus Suffers With Us

Appendix C: Holiness and Love

Appendix D: He Did Not Turn Back

Appendix E: He Lives-He Rose from the Dead

The Forgotten Jesus and the Trinity
You Never Knew

(Eugene: Wipf and Stock, 2010), 254
pages

by Damon W.K. So, Research Tutor,
Oxford Centre for Mission Studies

Excerpt and roadmap of the book:

Meditation on the Lord
Jesus Christ

He
is the unique Jesus Christ, the one who is at once authoritative and yet humble, powerful and at
once gentle, demanding perfect righteousness yet gracious and forgiving,
patient yet overturning tables in the temple, one before whom we stand in awe and
yet one who is approachable, calm and yet with deep feelings and emotions,
apparently concealing and yet in truth revealing himself to us, drawing
people’s attention to himself and yet totally non-egocentric, condemning sin and yet
willing to die for sinners, died and yet has risen, having all things and yet giving
up all, one who is rich and yet standing alongside the poor, one who fully
understands us but is himself not understood.

He was not of the world
but he looked on the lost and broken world with compassion and sympathy. He understood their
pains, he understands our struggles. His heart goes out to the needy,
his hand reaches out to the poor. Though he was not of the
world, he was in the world and in his love and compassion he committed
himself totally to the world to save it. He was born not in a palace but a
stable and a manger were sufficient for him. He was not protected by an army of
royal palace guards but he was persecuted and exiled as an infant refugee (to
Egypt). He chose not to grow up in a wealthy and well-known family but in a carpenter’s home he was
raised. He could have been rich
and famous, but he chose to stand in
solidarity with the humble and the needy. Indeed he came to preach
good news to the poor, he came to comfort those who mourned. He came to heal
the broken-hearted and bind up their bodily wounds. He reached out his hand
to those crying, imprisoned, and set the captives free. He gave sight to the
blind that their eyes could see the light. He drew close to the rejected and
despised that they might know his love. He touched those who were afflicted so that
they might be restored. He spoke tenderly to the downcast that they might have
hope in him. He was gentle with the weak that they might gain strength from him.
He came to those who faced death that they might live again. A bruised reed he
will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. He wept with those
who wept and cried with those who cried that they might know that their
Lord is by their side.

He treasured each and every human
life; for each he came to live and die. He came to heal and to
preach, that we may know God’s Kingdom had arrived. He came to teach
God’s Kingdom and righteousness that we may repent and do God’s perfect
will. He spoke not as one with borrowed authority, but he spoke with full conviction and
the very authority of God. His words pierced our hearts, his teaching awakened our
spirit, his righteousness exposed our darkness and vain conceit. He came
not to condemn, he came not to judge, he came to show the way of eternal life
to us. He had no home to stay, he had nowhere to lay his head, but he came to
bring us to our eternal home of rest. He longed for us to come under his wing, but
there were many who were not willing. He grieved at their stubborn will, but
for one sinner who repented, with the angels in heaven he rejoiced. He was the one doing the greatest things in
the history of the world
and yet he remained humble and unassuming. He could have
enjoyed the admiration and the praises from the people (or even from
himself), but he retreated from these so that no vain conceit was found in
him. He sought not his
own glory but the glory of the one
who sent him. He was the one not doing the things that the crowd
expected or desired but he was the one who resolutely did the will of God and
fulfilled his Father’s mission for him.

He was born under the law but he was
not bound by the law, but rather
fulfilling it. He saw that the letter
kills but the spirit gives life, and freedom. He was living in a world
plagued by barriers to relationship (religious/ritualistic, ethnic or otherwise) but
he was daring to challenge and overcome these barriers. He boldly taught the
unconditional love of his Father and practiced this revolutionary love in his
own life—courageously, radically confronting and transcending these
barriers to set the people free. His radical teaching and his revolutionary action
liberated the people to experience the unconditional love of his Father, but he
aroused the anger of the religious leaders who eventually put him to death. He was
veiled to those who rejected and persecuted him but he opened wide his heart
and offered his friendship to those who trusted in him. He was not aloof from the
people, but was found approachable by those who drew near to him. He was not
ascetic, but with his friends and disciples he enjoyed and gave thanks for all
that his Father had provided. He was not indulgent or enslaved by anything,
but he was free to abstain for his Father’s will (e.g., the temptations in the
desert). Indeed he was free from bondage, fear and guilt; in his freedom he shared his
love and his life with those around him and fulfilled the very will of God. He
did not look at the outside of a person or the outside of

things but he looked into the
heart of the matter and people’s hearts. He was never lost for words but
in every situation he always knew and spoke his words of wisdom and his words
of grace; with authority and decisiveness he showed himself to be the Lord. He was not merely teaching the
greatest truth in the
history of the world, but he was
practicing what he preached. He was never divided, but his inner
and outer were always integrated in truth. He is truly the way, the truth and the
life of God and he is the Lord.

He had the power to make himself king in this world, but
he chose to be a servant of all. He was indeed King but his Kingdom was not
of this world. He was living a lifestyle of poverty, but was making many
people rich. He sought
first his Father’s Kingdom and
righteousness, trusting that his Father would provide for him. He was
faced with many threats and persecutions, but he trusted in his Father to
work through all things to accomplish his sovereign will. He knew that he was not
alone, but that his Father was always with him. His yoke was easy and his
burden was light as he found rest in his loving heavenly Father (Matt 11:30). He
knew that his Father always heard his prayer and answered him. He knew
that his Father loved him and had entrusted all things to him. He loved his Father
and obeyed his will in all things. He lived in a world of sin but he remained pure
to the end. The world was laden with guilt but he knew no guilt in himself. As
the Father was holy and perfect, he himself was holy and perfect. The Father was
in him and he was in the Father. As the Father had life, he had the same life in
himself and was one with the Father. Living in the personal presence of his
Father, sharing the same spirit with his Father through the Holy Spirit, he
breathes in the atmosphere of the Spirit and thinks, sees, hears, speaks, teaches,
preaches, acts, heals and lives, all in the unity with his Father through the
Spirit. He is one with his Father through the Spirit and those who see him in faith see
the Father through him.

He was conceived by the
Spirit and he lives in the natural atmosphere of the Spirit from birth;
there is nothing alien or external to him about the Spirit, the Spirit is inherently
in him. Yet, he is not identical with the Spirit; he is in a mysterious sense distinct
from the Spirit. When he heals, exorcises, and does mighty works in the
power of the Spirit, he does all these with the power which he experiences as his
very own, which he exerts and wields at his own authority and will. He is the
subject, the Lord, who possesses the Spirit. He is one in unison with the Spirit
and yet somehow is mysteriously distinct from the Spirit, being the Lord and yet
giving the Spirit the highest honor, exercising the Spirit’s power as his own and yet
acknowledging the Spirit’s power in him. It has always been in his nature
and existence to move and live in the Spirit. And it has always been in the
Spirit that he experiences his Father’s holy and loving presence; it has always
been in the Spirit that he lives and moves in holy communion and loving
unity with his Father (Mt. 11:27–30).

In all respects he was fully human
and yet in the fullest sense he was truly divine, revealing the
glory of his Father. He was himself the life-giver but he gave himself unto death,
even death on the cross. He had committed no sin, yet he was condemned as a
criminal and a blasphemer. He endured gross injustice, but did not indulge in
self-pity. He could have denied his true self to save himself, but he made no
compromise with the truth. He could have argued vehemently with those who
unjustly accused him, but in dignity he briefly stated his case. He was
meek in person and yet he was firm with the truth. Indeed he was meek as a
lamb, but through his meekness he revealed the greatness of God. He had
failed and lost in the eyes of the world, but he had triumphed with the
greatest victory. He was broken and weak but through his brokenness, he
demonstrated the strength of God. He was foolish to those of the world, but in truth he
revealed the wisdom of God. He was apparently shamed in his death, but in
truth revealed the glory of life. He suffered the pain of the cross, but for the joy
before him resolutely endured it to the end. He was crucified by his enemies,
but he prayed and interceded for them.

He who was innocent received the
taunts and ugly violence of sinful men so that the sinfulness
of sin might be exposed. He endured the sins of sinful men but through it he
overcomes sin and sets men free from their sins. He was God’s beloved Son and yet for
the will of his Father was forsaken by him. He who knew no sin was made sin
for us so that we sinners might become the righteousness of God. He
was condemned for the sins of sinful men that we might be freed from our
guilty conscience and the fear of condemnation by God. He was alienated by God
so that we may be reconciled to God and have peace with him. He knew his suffering was God’s salvation
to the world and he voluntarily gave himself on the cross, not wishing it to
be otherwise nor bearing
any bitterness or resentment. By his
suffering and death he showed us what is love: he loves us who
are sinners to the extent that he laid down his life for us, that he suffered the
agony of the cross for us—the nails of the cross, the sneers and taunts of sinful men,
being forsaken by his friends, and finally being forsaken by his Father.
His heart was pierced, his spirit was drowned with sorrow and grief; no
words could be his consolation, no answer could soothe his pain; in desolation and
dereliction, he cried out to his Father, “O God, O God, why have you forsaken
me?” There was no one to help him; there was no one to abate his sorrow. He
alone bore it to the end, and cried, “It is finished” as he

breathed his last. He was forsaken by men and he was forsaken by
God, but in his resurrection he has been vindicated by his Father. He
tasted humiliation and
death on the cross, but was raised to
life to the glory of his Father. He had gone to the lowest and
darkest place, but now is exalted to the glorious and highest throne, seated on the
right hand of his Father. He was mocked, insulted, and beaten, but now is given a name which is above every name,
that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow and every tongue confess that Jesus is Lord.

Now he is not seen on earth but is reigning in heaven with
his Father, and living in our hearts by his Spirit. He was judged by men
while he was on earth
but he will come back to this earth
to judge the living and the dead. The world will not see the like of
him again as he towers over history. He was in history for a short time but he
gave the ultimate meaning and reference to history. He had no army, fought no
war, conquered no country, but he has had the greatest impact on the history of the world. He did not
count equality with God something to be grasped, but humbled himself to come into
the world, a world broken, lost, and starved of love, justice and truth. He
so loved the world that he
gave all of himself for the world.
His heart for us in the world is still the same. He is reaching out to us
and saying to us that he loves us. He was and is and will be the same, the same
uniquely glorious Jesus Christ. He was the Word with God, the Word became
flesh and the Word was and is God. To him be praise, glory, honor, and power
forever and ever. Amen.

He now asks all of us to open wide our hearts to him, to
receive his grace and
unconditional love, to receive the forgiveness through his cross, to acknowledge and confess
him as Lord, to take up our cross everyday and follow him. He tells us that he
understands us—that he sympathizes with us in all our sorrows and struggles,
that he sees all our hurts and pains, he knows all our fears and worries, our
hopes and our dreams. He asks us to trust him and his Father who fathers us
with his everlasting unfailing love, the perfect love that the Father has for him
from eternity to eternity—as the Father has loved him, so he has loved us. He
promises to be with us by his Spirit that we may know him and his Father, that we
may be drawn into the Trinitarian life of communion and love. He asks us to turn
from our old self, live in his spirit, according to his Spirit, and fulfill the
righteousness of God. He asks us to stand up and be counted, to commit
ourselves to him and to the world as he had committed himself to the world;
not only to receive and enjoy his love for ourselves, but also to be his channels
and instruments to bring his Kingdom and himself—his healing, restoration, his
truth, his life and his love—to this lost, aching and broken world. He promised
to be with us to the end.

His Kingdom has come and will fully
come. The King has come and he will come. He will come
on the clouds of heaven to bring an end to evil, darkness, pride,
injustice, rebellion, hypocrisy, lies ... all that are opposed to the will and the Kingdom of God. The King will come,
gather his people, consummate his Kingdom and transform us to his likeness.
He will bring us to the city of light, the New Jerusalem where we shall see
him face to face, where
our Father will wipe away every tear
from our eyes, take us into his eternal glorious presence, fill
us with his peace, love, joy, and truth and bestow on us the gift of eternal life in the Kingdom of his Son, so
that we may praise him for
his Son, for his power and majesty,
for his authority and humility, for his righteousness and his
grace, for his truth, his life, and his love, that the Father is truly glorified through
his Son Jesus Christ.