Available December 2024

Jubilee means joy—a joy that’s not fleeting, a joy that lasts.

In biblical times, a jubilee was a time to rejoice. And this is still the case when the Church announces a jubilee.

In Jesus and the Jubilee, biblical scholar John Bergsma gets to the roots of the jubilee, showing how this practice was established in order to preserve freedom, family, and the fullness of God’s blessing for the ancient Israelites.

But what the Israelites were promised by God—and experienced partially—was truly fulfilled by Jesus. As Jesus and the Jubilee reveals, the Catholic Church is the perpetual jubilee, offering redemption, release from spiritual bondage, return to our true home and family, and rest in God’s fullness.

Discover how the jubilee is the very center of Jesus’s mission and how we can fully participate in this ongoing “year of favor.”

John Bergsma is Vice President of Mission for the St. Paul Center and Professor of Theology at Franciscan University of Steubenville. Bergsma is a former Protestant pastor who entered the Catholic Church in 2001 after years of searching for theological truth. He holds a Ph.D. in Theology from the University of Notre Dame, with a concentration in the Old Testament and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Dr. Bergsma has written over twenty books on Scripture and the Catholic faith and speaks regularly both nationally and internationally. He and his wife, Dawn, reside in Steubenville, Ohio and are blessed with eight children and a growing number of grandchildren.

“In Jesus and the Jubilee, John Bergsma masterfully summarizes the entirety of salvation history through the theme of jubilee. He concludes that the Holy Spirit is the Spirit of jubilee, offering forgiveness, freedom, family, and fullness in Christ. I was especially enthralled with the chapter on the ‘Liberating Power of Confession.’ In it, John shares his experience with deliverance prayer as a Protestant pastor, which helped him recognize the power of the Holy Spirit to bring healing and deliverance through the sacraments of the Catholic Church. Overall, this book provides a compelling foundation for the ministry of healing in the Church. I encourage everyone to read it and put it into practice.”

Bob Schuchts, Founder of the John Paul II Healing Center

“John Bergsma’s work has had a profound impact on me personally, helping me to better understand and love Sacred Scripture. His latest book, Jesus and the Jubilee, promises to offer the same deep insights and biblical wisdom that have made his teachings so valuable.”

Matt Fradd, Creator and Host of Pints With Aquinas

“By re-telling the story of salvation through the lens of freedom, Jesus and the Jubilee connects the dots between the things God did in the past and our life of faith today. John Bergsma traces the ancient celebration of the jubilee back to its even more ancient roots in creation, unveiling its timeless relevance. The jubilee is more than a nice but quaint practice: it is an integral part of God’s plan, relevant to you and me today! Written in the engaging, personal style Bergsma is known for, this book is a must-read for biblical scholars, teachers, and lay people alike—anyone who yearns for true freedom, real family, and the fullness of faith. I highly recommend it.”

Sarah Christmyer, General Editor of the Living the Word Catholic Women’s Bible

“Celebrate—it’s time for a jubilee! I absolutely love the spirituality of jubilee and I can’t think of a better person to explain what a jubilee is and why it matters to Catholic Christian than John Bergsma. In Jesus and the Jubilee, Bergsma does a masterful job connecting what the Church participates in during a jubilee year, to, well, creation and then the Exodus, and the prophets. He shows how important jubilee was to our Jewish brothers and sisters and how ultimately Jesus ushers in the eternal jubilee. Finally, he explains why jubilees are important today and not merely some remnant of the past.  No doubt the reader will come to a deeper understanding of the nature of jubilee, but surely more importantly, will begin to live a life of jubilee faith.”

Fr. Dave Pivonka, President of Franciscan University of Steubenville

“John Bergsma is one of the most knowledgeable biblical theologians on the history of the jubilee. He not only provides an excellent and easy to read history of the year of God’s favor but also shows its relevance to all of us today.”

Ralph Martin, Director of Graduate Theology Programs in the New Evangelization, Sacred Heart Major Seminary, Archdiocese of Detroit

“John Bergsma has accomplished something rare and worthy: a book combining the riches of biblical theology and the connection of personal stories. This accessible book makes the message of the Bible and of the Catholic Church come alive. Read this book—now—and experience the jubilee won for you by Jesus Christ!”

Michael A. Dauphinais, Fr. Matthew Lamb Professor of Catholic Theology, Ave Maria University, Host of The Catholic Theology Show