The title of this book initially bothered me because I did not know the intention with which it was written. Both authors are Catholic, so I think they are trying to give a deeper meaning to the events that took place at the crucifixion.
I had seen the book on display when traveling through airports, but I didn’t want to spend money that I couldn’t afford on a book that I might not have liked. I saw it in the large print section of the library and checked it out.
The authors went a little further back in time to expose the violent nature of the rulers during the era of the Roman Empire. There was a section that I did not enjoy about the graphic nature of the bad things that a particular ruler does to children. I don’t think it is necessary to include it because I understand the context. For me, it helps me understand why sometimes God would want to erase the earth completely.
I am grateful that I did not live in that time. I am grateful that today I live in a free country. In many parts of the world, people are currently oppressed by the forces of evil and will remain so until the end of time. I am thankful that one day there will be a new heaven and a new earth. I am thankful that Jesus gave his life. I’m not brave. I’m afraid of pain.
One detail I didn’t understand was that the authors believe that Jesus was thirty-six years old when he died, instead of thirty-three. I will have to take out my Bible and look again. I think they briefly referenced the writings of Josephus for clues about the historical timing of the events. Furthermore, they declared that Mary, Martha’s sister, was not Mary Magdalene. I’ll have to check that again as well. I thought it was the same person.
I do not believe that the authors made their intention clear or gave a conclusion about their beliefs. They clearly did a lot of research, but somehow they didn’t appeal to me as a reader. I have to know the story behind what an author thinks in order to be able to relate to them.
I’ve only seen that happen in one book. That is another review. The author of that book shared her story’s connection to the topic. It was usually a topic on my head. Once she shared the connection between her and the subject, I was hooked.