Take This Cup Book Review

Jerusalem Chronicles

Book Two

SUMMARY:  Woven into the fabric of prophecy, a young boy named Nehemiah must choose to embrace his destiny as cupbearer to the King of Kings.

     When Nehemiah, the child of Jewish exiles, begins hearing whispers and experiencing portentous visions, it quickly becomes clear to his father and his rabbi that the young cupbearer is meant for a higher purpose . . . but what?  Certain that the Messiah is alive at that very moment, the family waits for the boy's destiny to be revealed.

     From the ancient site of the Garden of Eden, Nehemiah undertakes a perilous journey.  The caravan route is full of danger, hardship, and mystery - all linked to what Nehemiah has in his keeping.  

     In due time, his path becomes clear.  It leads to Jerusalem, to a wealthy pharisee named Joseph of Arimathea . . . and to Jesus of Nazareth.

     In Take This Cup, the second installment of the Jerusalem Chronicles, Bodie and Brock Thoene envision more of Scripture's most enigmatic moments and expand their award-winning canon of historical fiction with unprecedented power and depth.

REVIEW:  This book is different than most I've read.  It mixes bible history and stories with fantasy, stretching my ideas of what could be true and what is purely fiction.  The story starts out in the land where the Garden of Eden was said to exist, with the food and animals raised there direct descendents of the animals and plants that were there before the Fall of Adam and Eve.  The families that live there are descendents of Jewish families who were exiled there and chose to stay when Jews returned to Jerusalem.  Like the first book, liberties are taken with the characters of the bible and the stories of the New Testament: Nehemiah's rabbi being one of the Magi, Joseph of Arimathea having close ties to Jesus, and Lazarus being included with Jesus in the pharisee's "death threats," just to name a few.  While I don't necessarily agree with some of the connections, I do like how everything ties together.  I even saw the potential for characters in future stories in this series.  It would be interesting to see if some of my thinkings actually play out.

     This is an interesting book.

This book was provided by Zondervan and Booklook Bloggers for review without compensation.

Bodie and Brock Thoene are the bestselling authors of over sixty-five works of historical fiction. Their timeless classics have sold more than thirty-five million copies and won eight ECPA Gold Medallion Awards.  The Thoenes have four grown children and eight grandchildren.  They divide their time between Hawaii, London, and Nevada.

When Jesus Wept Book Review

Jerusalem Chronicles
Book One

SUMMARY:  Lazarus - the man Jesus raised from the dead in one of the most extraordinary encounters with The Living Savior in all of Scripture.  But the life of Lazarus holds interest well beyond this miraculous event.  Living in Bethany, near Jerusalem, Lazarus witnessed many of the most important events of Jesus' life and ministry.

     Lazarus owned a vineyard and devoted his life to caring for its vines and fruit.  But he encountered another man - Jesus - whose vineyard was the world, its fruit the eternal souls of men.  When Lazarus' story and the story of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection touch in When Jesus Wept, we are offered a unique vision into the power and comfort of Christ's love.

     Brock and Bodie Thoene's most powerful and climatic writing project to date, When Jesus Wept, captures the power and the passion of the men and women who lived through the most important days in the history of the world.

REVIEW:  When I read books that are centered around stories of the Bible, I tend to read them with a critical eye and find it difficult to read it just as it is meant - as a work of fiction where some liberties may be taken when needed.  The authors do take liberties in linking characters together.  The adulterous woman the Pharisees brought before Jesus to be condemned and stone was portrayed as Mary, Lazarus' half-sister.  Mary was also said to be the one who anointed Jesus' head with oil, washed His feet and helped support His ministry.  The girl who had died and Jesus brought back to life was portrayed as Lazarus' cousin, as was the wedding couple where Jesus performed his first miracle.  Lazarus also shows up in many key events in Jesus' life and ministry: the feeding of the 5000, Jesus walking on water (but Peter never left the boat), turning water into wine, Jesus' baptism, and the healing of the blind, leprous, crippled and paralyzed. 
     This book is about Lazarus' life as John the Baptist begins his ministry and ends at Jesus' triumphal entry into Jerusalem.  Lazarus' life and his work as a keeper of the vines and winemaker show the different ways the Jewish lifestyle and style of worship reflected God and the sacrifice that needed to be made by the Perfect Lamb.  I enjoyed reading how the vines were planted, tended and harvested and seeing how it reflects God's care for his people.  The section describing what happened when Lazarus died was fascinating and I liked their explanations of most things.
      It was also interesting to see how the authors' portrayed Jesus' interaction with those around him: the Pharisees and those condemning him to those seeking the truth and those who acknowledged the truth of who Jesus really was and chose to follow him.  He is portrayed as loving, kind, forgiving, and a faithful friend who struggled with the hardness and depravity of the hearts of men.
     This was an interesting book.  I will be open to seeing how the rest of this series unfolds and advances.

This book was provided by Litfuse Publicity Group for review without compensation.

Bodie & Brock Thoene are best-selling authors of over sixty-five works of historical fiction.  Their timeless classics have sold more than thirty-five million copies and have won eight ECPA Gold Medallion Awards.