Behold the Man by Bodie & Brock Thoene

★★★★★

Behold the Man is the culmination of the Jerusalem Chronicles and brings readers to an encounter with the death and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth.

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.

As can be expected, the Thoenes once again tell a fascinating historical tale that will not leave their readers disappointed. This latest novel, Behold the Man, continues the Jerusalem Chronicles (following When Jesus Wept and Take This Cup) and offers an interesting look at the times surrounding the ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus. Characters, including Pontius Pilate, his wife Claudia, and Roman centurion Marcus Longinus, lend their points of view to the storyline and bring familiar events to life with intriguing detail and fresh perspective. I highly enjoyed Behold the Man, since I just couldn't put it down, and would certainly recommend it to fans of historical fiction - especially this time of year, with Easter not too far away. It’s a great, inspiring read.

Thanks to BookLook Bloggers, I received a copy of Behold the Man and the opportunity to honestly review it. I was not required to write a positive review, and all the opinions I have expressed are my own. (I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”)