What do you think?
Rate this book
His Final Hours
His Final Hours traces the final thirty-six hours of the Savior's mortal ministry detailing the events and lessons of the central point in human history.We have the sense of following the Savior through the streets of Jerusalem during the last hours of his life. Beginning with the Savior's triumphal entry into Jerusalem and the Last Supper and culminating with his resurrection and reunion with the Father, Brother Marsh identifies such lessons as handling trials without self-pity, enduring irony, dealing with unreciprocated love and understanding the importance of submitting to the Father's will.We see dramatically that the events of his final hours bear eloquent testimony of the Savior's love and mercy for us, and we more fully understand how his grace can bear us up today. Christ's magnificent example encourages us to take his yoke upon ourselves and strive to develop his pure love. March 2000 127
127 pages, Hardcover
First published February 1, 2000
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
May 26, 2019
Read this for Easter this year and while there were a few aha moments, I was expecting something a bit more masterful, but that could be because I am also reading, Jesus the Christ by Talmadge this year. For someone not wanting to invest the time in Jesus the Christ, this book would be fine. Marsh sums up the last days of Christ's life well and includes plenty of documentation and references for follow-up. Since I did find myself reflecting on Christ's life and underlining parts of the book for future reference, I call it a success and time well-spent.
March 25, 2010
Every once in a while there is a book that defines a genre. Near the turn of the 20th century James Talmage wrote such a book. Jesus the Christ is the seminal work about the life of the Savior, at least for LDS readers. (I understand that Strong's is probably more accepted amongst most Prodestant religions.) Talmage's work is so masterfully written and beautifully told that I often wonder why any aspiring author would even try.
At first I tried to justify this with a comparison to how many other things are repeated by authors trying to fill the footsteps of their literary heroes. Fantasy writers, until the last ten years, with only a few exceptions, just repeated Tolkien's epic, with different names. Some of them still do. Romance writers, until the era of the Harlequin were repeating Jane Austen. Hollywood has been repeating itself for nearly one hundred years with a period of about five years. If you don't believe me go to tvtropes.org – you might spend all day there.
Then I realized that the comparison falls apart pretty quickly. Fantasy doesn't have to be like Tolkien, as we've seen in some books lately. It's just taken us awhile to grow beyond his shadow. The same applies for other genre defining works. They are fiction, other fiction can be imagined that is different but still has the same feel. Love stories don't have to be pretentious multi-syllabic arguments amongst naïve members of the british aristocracy. Fantasy books don't have to have elves, dwarves and hobbits-by-another-name.
On the other hand, any writer who attempts to claim any kind of authority on the life of Jesus Christ has only the accounts from the New Testament. There is no innovative way to develop a magic system. There is no new setting for the romance. It is the story of Jesus Christ. It happened.
I guess this is all to say that after James E. Talmage wrote Jesus the Christ it seems to me that books of this sort are kind of redundant and more than a little unnecessary. Maybe even pointless.
I reread Jesus the Christ every few years. It is a powerful, well researched account of Christ's life.
His Final Hours by W. Jeffrey Marsh could be recreated by lifting three or four chapters out of Jesus the Christ and binding them separately. It might even be a longer. This book isn't original, there's not much originality to be had in this 'genre' of book. The writing is competent and easy to read but lacks Talmage's mastery over written communication. It is an accurate account of Christs final hours on the earth.
I know it isn't really fair to compare the writing of any author with Talmage. Because, honestly, who can write like Talmage? But, by writing a book that is about any part of the Savior's life that kind of comparison is invited.
I found myself wanting to put down His Final Hours and go read Jesus the Christ instead. On the other hand if you haven't read Jesus the Christ (first of all you should) then this is a much lighter, less intimidating book if you just want a little something to uplift you spiritually.
(4/10)
At first I tried to justify this with a comparison to how many other things are repeated by authors trying to fill the footsteps of their literary heroes. Fantasy writers, until the last ten years, with only a few exceptions, just repeated Tolkien's epic, with different names. Some of them still do. Romance writers, until the era of the Harlequin were repeating Jane Austen. Hollywood has been repeating itself for nearly one hundred years with a period of about five years. If you don't believe me go to tvtropes.org – you might spend all day there.
Then I realized that the comparison falls apart pretty quickly. Fantasy doesn't have to be like Tolkien, as we've seen in some books lately. It's just taken us awhile to grow beyond his shadow. The same applies for other genre defining works. They are fiction, other fiction can be imagined that is different but still has the same feel. Love stories don't have to be pretentious multi-syllabic arguments amongst naïve members of the british aristocracy. Fantasy books don't have to have elves, dwarves and hobbits-by-another-name.
On the other hand, any writer who attempts to claim any kind of authority on the life of Jesus Christ has only the accounts from the New Testament. There is no innovative way to develop a magic system. There is no new setting for the romance. It is the story of Jesus Christ. It happened.
I guess this is all to say that after James E. Talmage wrote Jesus the Christ it seems to me that books of this sort are kind of redundant and more than a little unnecessary. Maybe even pointless.
I reread Jesus the Christ every few years. It is a powerful, well researched account of Christ's life.
His Final Hours by W. Jeffrey Marsh could be recreated by lifting three or four chapters out of Jesus the Christ and binding them separately. It might even be a longer. This book isn't original, there's not much originality to be had in this 'genre' of book. The writing is competent and easy to read but lacks Talmage's mastery over written communication. It is an accurate account of Christs final hours on the earth.
I know it isn't really fair to compare the writing of any author with Talmage. Because, honestly, who can write like Talmage? But, by writing a book that is about any part of the Savior's life that kind of comparison is invited.
I found myself wanting to put down His Final Hours and go read Jesus the Christ instead. On the other hand if you haven't read Jesus the Christ (first of all you should) then this is a much lighter, less intimidating book if you just want a little something to uplift you spiritually.
(4/10)
March 23, 2008
I really enjoyed this book when I read it as a teenager. I have always wanted to read it again at Easter time, and this year I finally did it. It helped me to think about the events in Christ's life leading up to the atonement, his amazing sacrifice for each of us, and his glorious resurrection. It made me want to heed Christ's call of "Come follow me."
November 4, 2011
It is clear this author knows his stuff. Read this book with a highlighter - there are so many things he brought to my attention about Christs last week I had never noticed, or didn't understand the profound symbolism of some of the things did. I borrowed this book originally, but have since purchased my own copy. I really wanted a copy of it for my library.
April 9, 2012
This was one of the best books I have read in a very long time. I read it in preparation to teach the YW Easter lesson, and I am so glad I did. It's all about the last week of Christ's life. Very insightful. I learned a lot, and came away better than when I started.
November 29, 2007
Jeffrey Marsh is one of my favorite LDS authors and religion professors at BYU. He writes clearly, and thoughtfully about various religious topics.
August 6, 2008
The last thirty-six hours of Christ on earth. I enjoyed focusing on just this portion of his life...the culmination of his mission. I came away with a greater appreciation of him as my Savior.
April 14, 2008
this is a short book, but really good. it helped me understand a little better (if possible!) something as incomprehensible as the Atonement
May 9, 2008
Supeior book on the last hours of Christ's life.
June 17, 2010
I loved this book. It brought a new perspective of the Savior. If you want to find a closer relationship with Him, this is a book to read.
Read
January 3, 2011A nice, easy read, giving historical context to this important story. i feel i learned alot, and am reminded of the importance of HIS life in mine.
April 11, 2022
I really loved this book and the insights into our Savior's final week. This book is perfect to read in preparation for Easter.
May 27, 2013
Easy to read, easy to glean beauty and meaning from.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews