I received my latest Anne Rice novel in the mail early this week and finished reading it just yesterday. I couldn’t put it down.
The book chronicles fictionally Jesus’ life just before his three-year ministry and concludes with the water-to-wine miracle at the wedding.
This is the second book in Rice’s latest series, “Christ the Lord”, and if you remember, I read and reviewed the first book back in August of ’06. I enjoyed reading it as much or maybe even a bit more than the first book and loved imagining the story taking place as I read the words.
The most striking part of the story for me was Rice’s take on Christ being tempted. Rice gives new clarity to Hebrews 4:14-16:
14 Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. 15 For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. [ESV]
Those verses to a young man like myself growing up trying to be like Jesus was always a curious thought because the only temptations we read about Jesus having were in the wilderness by Satan and those temptations weren’t nearly as tempting to a young teenager!
Ms. Rice gives a great picture of Jesus the man – fully-man – being tempted in thought and action and yet NOT succumbing to the temptations presented to him!
I know the book would be a great discussion-starter for any group of people willing to read it together – with the realization that it is fictional account of the life of Christ built around some extra-biblical stories and the wonderful imagination of Anne Rice.
I can’t wait for Anne’s next book, “Called Out of Darkness” to be released next month.
