Behold the Man - A Book Review
About the Book:
Encounter the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth in this culmination of the Jerusalem Chronicles.
How could Jesus—who preached righteousness before God, and love and mercy toward neighbors—be so hated and pursued? To the Temple officials, he was a threat to the livelihood and authority of the priesthood. To Herod Antipas, he was a threat to his ambition to be the King of the Jews. And to the Roman overlords, he was seen as a dangerous threat; a man who commanded an army of the common people. He could heal wounds, offer miraculous provisions, and even raise from the dead. If Jesus had accepted popular acclaim and become an earthly king, he would have been unstoppable.
Jesus’s last days are explored through three people who interacted with him: Governor Pilate, for whom Judea will either make or break his career; Pilate’s wife, Claudia, desperately seeking aid for her much loved, crippled son; and Centurion Marcus Longinus, caught in the middle between loyalty to the Empire, love for Claudia, and an ever-increasing belief in Jesus as the Son of God. After encountering Jesus, none of them will ever be the same.
About the Authors:
Bodie and Brock Thoene are best-selling authors of over seventy works of historical fiction. Their timeless classics have sold more than thirty-five million copies in twenty-three languages and won eight ECPA Gold Medallion Awards. Visit them online at www.thoenebooks.com Facebook: Bodie-and-Brock-Thoene Twitter: @BodieThoene
My Review:
If I had to sum up my thoughts about this book in a single word, that word would be "Wow!" Behold the Man is the third book in The Jerusalem Chronicles series and details the backstory of Pilate's wife, Claudia, and Marcus, the centurion who came to know Christ. With a mixture of historical facts and fabulous fiction, the authors weave a story of action, intrigue, and passion. The miracles of Jesus and his last days before the crucifixion come to life through the eyes of several characters whose stories intertwine with His.
This isn't a book you read. It is one you absorb. It evokes so much emotion that I felt like I was living it. I discovered new levels of dislike and anger toward Herod, Pilate, and Caiaphas, as well as a renewed love and appreciation for Jesus Christ, the Lord of all. My heart ached during the mock trial, beatings, and crucifixion of Christ, and as I read of His final moments, I couldn't stop the tears from flowing. Fortunately, that sadness was turned to rejoicing in the epilogue when the writers told of the resurrection of my Lord. Talk about a happy ending!
If you enjoy Biblical fact and imaginative fiction, you'll love this book. In fact, if you're anything like me, once you start, you won't want to put it down. I'm eager to read the other two books in this series and probably many more books by these authors. It is not often that I give a book a five-star rating, but if I could, I would give this book even more than that. It was truly that good!
