Bodie and Brock Thoene have an engaging writing style that brings history to life. Their World War II series, the Zion Covenant, is among my favorites. So, when I saw they had a new novel out that revolved around the subject of Easter, it intrigued me.

Behold the Man, third in the Jerusalem Chronicles series, follows the story of several individuals who encounter Jesus during his ministry. The two main characters, Pilate’s wife Claudia and Marcus, the Centurion present at Jesus’ crucifixion, give the primary perspectives. We get a glimpse into their lives as well as their reaction to Jesus.

The story of Jesus life, death, and (spoiler alert) resurrection has been told from many angles, though none can beat the actually telling of it in the Gospels. The Thoenes use their beautiful prose to craft the story, but unfortunately, they chose character too close to the history books to allow their fictionally narrative to fully develop. I cared about the characters and wanted to learn more about what happened
to them, but felt the plot tugged me away from their story.

My favorite parts were when the Thoene’s were able to let their writing loose, so to speak. In those times, I could feel the life and struggle of Judea at Jesus’ time. I felt upset at the injustice that paved the way for Jesus’ death. And enjoyed watching the character arch transpire around Claudia’s son Philo.

If you are looking for a different perspective on such a life-changing story, Behold the Man is a good choice.

——
For more information about Behold the Man, please visit Zondervan’s Product Page.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookLook Bloggers book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. 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.”