Book Review: Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt
Anne Rice is an interesting lady.
I read Interview With The Vampire ... what? Twenty years ago? Almost, anyway. Ms. Rice had a somewhat unique view of vampires that captured everyone's attention. About eight years ago she returned to the Catholic Church and dedicated her writing to God.
Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt was published in 2005 but since the second book, Christ the Lord: Road to Cana is due out next month I thought now would be a good time to write a review.
I first thought Ms. Rice was being a bit presumptuous with writing a fictional account of Jesus' early years. And in the first person, no less! What was she thinking? But after actually reading the novel I think I understand and I really did enjoy it.
Ms. Rice didn't try to add to scripture and say "this really happened" but instead took several myths and traditions of Jesus' childhood and wove them into an interesting story. She certainly focuses on Jesus' humanity in that there is a great deal of descriptions of His home life and His feelings. Ms. Rice also treats the rather odd occurrences that surround His birth as somewhat of a mystery. The seven year-old Jesus does not know all the details nor does He understand those parts He has learned. But bit by bit He pieces the complete story together.
While not specifically offensive, I think writing a fictional account of Jesus - not a Jesus-in-another-world like Aslan but the historical and scriptural Jesus - comes too close to the "adding to scripture" problem that Fundamental Christians have in general. This is by far the biggest hurdle Ms. Rice will have with all these novels. This is a work of fiction and not designed to promote heresy... yet it does - sort of.
Scripture reveals very little about Jesus' early years. There's His birth, the flight to Egypt, that time in the Temple when He was twelve, and then on to an adult. There is certainly room for some fictional accounts and there have been some over the years, specifically the myth of Jesus performing miracles as a child. John 2:11 tells us "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him." [emphasis added] From this we assume Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine. Yes, I said "assume" and I meant it. Without specific knowledge given by God we cannot know for certain that Jesus didn't perform any miracles as a child. I doubt He did but I do not know for certain.
Despite the problems mentioned, Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt is an excellent book and is clearly written to celebrate faith and not mock Jesus. You may disagree with the miracles of a young Jesus, but Ms. Rice uses them to confirm His deity and to add to the confusion Jesus experiences as He discovers who He really is.
So, what will Christ the Lord: Road to Cana be like? I'll just have to wait a little longer to find out.
I read Interview With The Vampire ... what? Twenty years ago? Almost, anyway. Ms. Rice had a somewhat unique view of vampires that captured everyone's attention. About eight years ago she returned to the Catholic Church and dedicated her writing to God.
Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt was published in 2005 but since the second book, Christ the Lord: Road to Cana is due out next month I thought now would be a good time to write a review.
I first thought Ms. Rice was being a bit presumptuous with writing a fictional account of Jesus' early years. And in the first person, no less! What was she thinking? But after actually reading the novel I think I understand and I really did enjoy it.
Ms. Rice didn't try to add to scripture and say "this really happened" but instead took several myths and traditions of Jesus' childhood and wove them into an interesting story. She certainly focuses on Jesus' humanity in that there is a great deal of descriptions of His home life and His feelings. Ms. Rice also treats the rather odd occurrences that surround His birth as somewhat of a mystery. The seven year-old Jesus does not know all the details nor does He understand those parts He has learned. But bit by bit He pieces the complete story together.
While not specifically offensive, I think writing a fictional account of Jesus - not a Jesus-in-another-world like Aslan but the historical and scriptural Jesus - comes too close to the "adding to scripture" problem that Fundamental Christians have in general. This is by far the biggest hurdle Ms. Rice will have with all these novels. This is a work of fiction and not designed to promote heresy... yet it does - sort of.
Scripture reveals very little about Jesus' early years. There's His birth, the flight to Egypt, that time in the Temple when He was twelve, and then on to an adult. There is certainly room for some fictional accounts and there have been some over the years, specifically the myth of Jesus performing miracles as a child. John 2:11 tells us "This beginning of miracles did Jesus in Cana of Galilee, and manifested forth his glory; and his disciples believed on him." [emphasis added] From this we assume Jesus' first miracle was turning water into wine. Yes, I said "assume" and I meant it. Without specific knowledge given by God we cannot know for certain that Jesus didn't perform any miracles as a child. I doubt He did but I do not know for certain.
Despite the problems mentioned, Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt is an excellent book and is clearly written to celebrate faith and not mock Jesus. You may disagree with the miracles of a young Jesus, but Ms. Rice uses them to confirm His deity and to add to the confusion Jesus experiences as He discovers who He really is.
So, what will Christ the Lord: Road to Cana be like? I'll just have to wait a little longer to find out.
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