Take This Cup

The Jerusalem Chronicles #2

by Bodie Thoene, Brock Thoene

Nehemiah, the young son of a Jewish woman, a weaver from Jerusalem, is born and raised among the Jews who didn't return to Jerusalem from the Exile. Educated by Rabbi Kagba, one of the magi present at Jesus' birth thirty years earlier, Nehemiah grows up with the expectation of a soon-coming Messiah. Could the Yeshua of Nazareth, who is walking the earth, reportedly doing miracles, be that Messiah? When young Nehemiah must travel the long caravan road to Jerusalem, he is charged with an unusual mission---to carry a mysterious object back to the holy city of Jerusalem . . . an object whose reappearance heralds the Messiah's arrival.Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem just as the final events of Jesus' earthly ministry are coming to a climax: the Feast of Dedication, the Triumphal Entry, the last cleansing of the Temple, and culminating at the Last Supper in the Upper Room. Only Nehemiah understands the true sacrifice that is to come as he makes the cup worthy of his Savior.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Historical Fiction, Biblical Fiction, Fiction, Christian, Historical, Inspirational

400 pages, Hardcover

First published March 25, 2014

About the author

BODIE AND BROCK THOENE (pronounced Tay-nee) have written over 45 works of historical fiction. These best sellers have sold more than 10 million copies and won eight ECPA Gold Medallion Awards.

Bodie began her writing career as a teen journalist for her local newspaper. Eventually her byline appeared in prestigious periodicals such as U.S. News and World Report, The American West, and The Saturday Evening Post. She also worked for John Wayne’s Batjac Productions (she’s best known as author of The Fall Guy) and ABC Circle Films as a writer and researcher. John Wayne described her as “a writer with talent that captures the people and the times!” She has degrees in journalism and communications.

Bodie and Brock have four grown children—Rachel, Jake Thoene, Luke Thoene, and Ellie—and five grandchildren. Their sons, Jake and Luke, are carrying on the Thoene family talent as the next generation of writers, and Luke produces the Thoene audiobooks.

Bodie and Brock divide their time between London and Nevada.

Reviews

[Jerry (Rebel With a Massive Media Library) · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Thoenes hit it out of the park again! This fictional account of Bible times brings the Scriptures to life! I can't wait to read the next one!

[Abby Burrus · Rating 5 out of 5]

Do you know how many times I've read this book?

Three, at least!

This was one of the first books I read of Bodie and Brock Thoene's work. I'm a person who enjoys learning about the rich deep full history of the Jewish people, and their interpretation of the scriptures. The Old Testament is the key to the New.

And what I so enjoy about the Thoene's work is their weaving of those things into the story, which just creates an absolutely amazing, fulfilling, and satisfying tale.

A lot of it is Jewish myth, if you will, not actually included in the Bible but a lot of it is drawn from it. The legend of the White Hart may or may not be an actual legend in Jewish history, but either way, it's so neat and the Hart is one of my favorite characters.

Plus, there's Joseph's cup, and prayer shawls, and the Messiah himself! What more could you ask for? Oh it's so amazing. *chef's kiss*

[Jami Bennington · Rating 5 out of 5]

The novel is full of vivid imagery, and it will draw on your heartstrings. I highly recommend this novel to individuals who enjoy a bit of Biblical history. http://www.jamiswords.com/take-this-cup/

[Caryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

COMPELLING! I was immediately drawn into the story. It is well written and nicely paced. I came away with a deeper appreciation for Jesus sacrifice. I highly recommend this book.

[Sara · Rating 5 out of 5]

https://momentosdemagia.wordpress.com...

[Joyce · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Thoene's are enormously popular among the readers of faith-based fiction and justifiably so. This, the second in their Jerusalem Chronicles, relates primarily to the last weeks of Jesus' teaching and involves a young boy from the sticks, a sheep-grazing area weeks from Jerusalem where the Garden of Eden is said to have been located. He's found a cup and with the help of his rabbi (who was also present with the shepherds to celebrate Jesus' birth) and a voice that speaks to him in his dreams, he realizes that this is the cup that was given Joseph when his dream prophecies got him out of jail and second in command in Egypt. Now he, Nehemiah, is the cupbearer, tasked with carrying the cup to Jesus. It's an arduous trip but he makes it to Jerusalem and Jesus uses the cup at the last supper--so the cup then becomes the famed holy grail. This is a gentle message-driven story, earnestly told; there are myriad details but they are filtered through a lens that softens the tough realties of life. The narrator is very low key, but his reading is matter-of-fact and heartfelt.

[Denise Griffin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I cannot help but give this book 5 stars. Bodie Thoene is my favourite author for a reason. Her work is exquisite. She creates a tapestry of characters that come together in ways you could not imagine.

In Take This Cup a young boy named Nehemiah travels through dangerous situations to take a very important cup to the Lamb who takes away the sin of the world. You will love this young boy and his heart for righteousness and you will enjoy being reunited with some familiar characters that you have met through The Zion Legacy series and the A.D. Chronicles.

I recommend Bodie's books to anyone willing to dive deep into Israel's history, and their search for the Messiah and the hope of a nation reborn.

[Allan67 · Rating 4 out of 5]

Notice: Boiler-plate paragraph follows.
Another book that I read to Diana. We can't do much anymore after her stroke, so I read to her to spend time together. Diana has always loved to have someone to read to her - and I like to do just that.
end: Boiler-Plate paragraph.

Eight year old Nehemiah has come into possession of an ancient silver cup and has been tasked to deliver this cup to Jesus. In the story Nehi seemed to be quiet mature for his age and some of the story seemed to contain a little fantasy. But it is fiction and intended to be entertaining. Diana though four stars. We are reading these stories for her, so four stars it is.

[Randy Tramp · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nehemiah, the child of Jewish exiles, hears whispers and sees visions. As a young cupbearer, he's destined for a higher purpose. To get there, he would travel through trouble.

From the site of the Garden of Eden, Nehemiah journeys to the land where Jesus walked.

This is one of those books that changes a person. It's like a rain that goes deep into the ground. My spirit was saturated with the words of Jesus. Not only that... The actions and motivations included.

I'll long remember this book. Nehemiah will be on my mind for a long time. I savored every word of this book and loved the conclusion. I'm looking forward to the next book.

[Audrey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nehemiah or Nehi, as he preferred to be called, knew a great task was in store for him. As a young boy he began to have visions and was sent by God to Jerusalem to meet King Jesus. He has an incredible and courageous journey across the dessert to reach the Holy City. Nehemiah is commissioned to polish an ancient silver chalice belonging to Joseph, The Dreamer of Dreams. He learns the truth of Messiah and what the Cup signifies and is able to present it to Jesus at The Last Supper. This is one incredible book and my poor review can't do it justice!

[Sasha (bahareads) · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.5 Stars
The Thoenes never cease pushing out good books.

Once again I was sucked back into 30 AD. Where a young boy, named Nehemiah, is certain God is calling him for something.

As we went through Nehemiah's experience I could really see that a lot of work went into the book as they drew out characters from their other books and made the world come alive. Overall I was not disappointed and am ready to go read some more of the Thoenes.

[Robin Hatcher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book wasn't at all what I expected, but in a good way. Mystical and imaginative, it follows the story of Nehemiah, from before his birth up to the time he (still a very young boy) is present at Jesus' last supper. During the adventurous story, Nehemiah is visited in dreams and visions by Joseph (son of Jacob) and protected from robbers by a great white stag. But it is this boy's longing to fulfill his mission and bring the cup to the Messiah that most touches the heart.

[Joy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked up this audio book at our library’s annual sale, and that’s how I ended up with book 2 before reading book 1 in this series. The narrator was not my favorite but the story made up for that. It felt like a sneak peek into the life and traditions of a typical Jewish family that lived during the time of Christ. Now to find the others in the series.

[Betty Turner · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a book in a continuing series based on the last days of Jesus. Brock and Bodie Thoene bring a unique and personal quality as if reading between the lines of what might really have happened. I am always looking forward to the next one!

[Rachel Bowman · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was a sweet biblical fiction story.

This novel centers around a boy who becomes cup bearer to the King (Jesus) during the last supper. Upon finding an ancient cup used by royalty of old, Nehemiah is tasked with delivering this cup to the King of Kings. We follow his travels and adventures as he seeks to fulfill his quest, and watch as he unravels the mystery of this King who did not come to save them from their earthly oppressors after all.

Parts of it seemed a bit drawn out, and I didn’t like how it depicted Peter. He seemed grumpy rather than zealous. I thought the dreams that created a parallel between the main character and Joseph (who possessed the multicolored coat) was creative, if a little far fetched; there wasn’t enough subtlety there for me, though. Lots of creative license - similar to “The Bronze Bow” in that regard.

I did love that we saw Joseph of Aremathia, and thought the way the authors wove him into the narrative was brilliantly done. I also enjoyed the addition of “the Sparrows,” a group of orphan boys that Nehemiah becomes acquainted with.

A good book, but I probably will not reread.

[Sally · Rating 2 out of 5]

Bodie and Brock Thoene are among the most popular of Christian fiction authors. They’ve written over 65 books, and several people have recommended them to me over the years. After reading two of their books, however, I have to say I don’t share that love.

Take This Cup is an enchanting tale that asks what if the cup of Joseph was also used at the Last Supper. It’s definitely supernatural in parts as young Nehemiah is guided in his quest to take an ancient cup to the Messiah in Jerusalem. Through dreams, he learns of the cup’s history with the assistance of one of the previous owners of the cup. There are also vivid descriptions of a Jerusalem preparing for the upcoming Passover, and plenty of familiar characters such as Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus.

So, where did I have problems with this book? Firstly, I couldn’t quite believe that Jeremiah was only eight. I realize that children grew up quicker in ancient times, but this child is making a journey of over 1000 miles on his own. He must make decisions on which people he can trust and travel with. My nephew is 10. I can’t picture him making this journey. Nehemiah also sounds very mature in many of his conversations with adults. The only times I could accept his age was when he was playing with other children.

My second problem is scriptural. We are all familiar with Jesus saying that it’s easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter heaven. In this novel, the writers substitute ‘rope’ for ‘camel,’ have Nehemiah believe it’s an issue of understanding Aramaic, and then have him describe why a rope makes more sense. This was something that grabbed my attention. Where did they get this from? I looked through several Bible translations and couldn’t find one instance of rope. I also brought this up in conversation with other people, including my Pastor. None had come across this before.

Take This Cup is the second book in the Jerusalem Chronicles. Book one ended on Palm Sunday. This one also describes Jesus’s entry into Jerusalem and advances the story to the Last Supper. How many books will it take to reach the Resurrection? Will I be able to stay with the series until that point? Those are two answers I don’t have.

Thank you to Zondervan and BookLookBloggers for my complimentary copy of Take This Cup, which I received in exchange for an honest review.

[Hallie (Hallie Reads) · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the lands where the Garden of Eden used to exist, young Nehemiah grows up hearing the prophecies of the Scriptures and tracking the movements of the stars. Time and again, these prophecies and movements point him to the imminent arrival of a Messiah who will free the world and restore Eden’s innocence. When bandits force him from his childhood paradise to travel the lengthy road to Jerusalem, Nehemiah discovers and takes upon himself an unusual mission – to carry the legendary cup of Joseph, polished and shined, to the Messiah. This task – destined for him, whose name references the king’s cupbearer of old – brings Nehemiah to Jesus of Nazareth, just as his earthly ministry, filled with parables and miracles, begins to conclude. Could this respected and despised teacher and healer be the one for whom Nehemiah eagerly prepared the cup?

Bodie and Brock Thoene’s Take This Cup fascinated me. The Thoenes have an extraordinary ability to weave together prophecies and histories and teachings from all over the Scriptures into one brilliant and cohesive story. The narrative presents and connects the material in an original way, one I hadn’t previously considered even though I am familiar with the referenced texts. In light of Indiana Jones and Monty Python, this exploration of the Holy Grail’s theoretical origins and history leading to the Last Supper continually and completely intrigued me, and I would recommend it to anyone with an interest in biblical literature. Although it is the second novel in The Jerusalem Chronicles series (following When Jesus Wept), Take This Cup can be read on its own without confusion. Thanks to BookLook Bloggers, I received a free copy of this book, as well as the opportunity to honestly review it. I was not required to write a positive review, and all 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.”)

http://pagebypagebookbybook.blogspot....

[Shelley Alongi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Now I have read all three books. I think of all of them I liked this one the best. The idea was certainly intriguing and I didn't think the character of Jesus was overdone. Sometimes in fictional portrayals he comes off too weak, but not in this case. There is a response though that I wonder about: so much time is used to set up the historical settings that when an actual biblical reference is made it just seems over simplified. Maybe this is because I know the biblical accounts. I suppose someone who doesn't know them would not pick up on this. It does not make the book unreadable by any means. My only real problem with the book is the point of view of Nehimiah, the child character narrating the tale. It just seems like he knows too much for the story. I kept wondering the age of this character. I must have blinked because first it seemed as if he was 6 years old and then by the end of the story he was nine years old. It's always hard writing this kind of fiction because we all get attached to our ideas and think the stories should portray certain things and have certain elements. I did like this book and I would not discourage anyone from reading it.

[Dona · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoy reading books by Bodie and Brock Thorne. Although it is tone of my favorites but still enjoyable and thought provoking. It is The story of a young shepherd boy, Nehemiah, who travels to Jerusalem to meet Jesus and give him a cherished cup.
I love the way this husband and wife team take a biblical story enhance it with fictional characters and incidences. I learn quite a bit from them and they keep me thinking about the real people in the Bible and how they must have lived.
I didn’t give the book 5 stars because I didn’t really enjoy the reader. Also I can’t figure out who the book was it written for. Adults or children?

[quiltingbeautyandbooks ~ Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another awesome book by Bodie and Brock Thoene!!!

This book followed the life of Nehemiah. A young boy who started seeing visions and found out that he would be destined to be the carrier of Joseph’s cup.

After being separated from his parents and then his Rabbi, Nehemiah is to carry forth with his mission protecting the cup until the time was right.

This cup was special, for this cup will be given and used by the One True King.

Bodie and Brock wrote about Nehemiah and his adventures along with some good page turning fighting. It was definitely a joy to read and I look forward to reading book three!

[Shauna · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nehemiah is a young Jewish shepherd boy living in the hills far from Jerusalem. His Mother is a well known weaver, whose parents have a weaver’s shop in Jerusalem. Nehemiah is charged with taking the cup of Joseph back to Jerusalem to see if the man named Jesus is the Messiah. He arrives in time for the Feast of Dedication, Jesus Entry into the City, cleansing of the Temple and the Last Supper.

[Paula · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this book and then my son read this book. After months I still want to read it again. Very few books grab my attention so that I want to read again but this book does exactly that. The book fueled my quest to know Christianity’s Jewish roots. My son also enjoyed this book, he’s 12, and he keeps asking when the author will make another sequel based on the another journey of Nehemiah. My son and I loved reading this book

[Cass · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing Retelling of the Greatest Story Ever Told

This story follows Nehemiah, the boy named after the Old Testament prophet, as he grows spiritually and physically when he becomes custodian of the cup that Jesus Christ would use at the Last Supper. If you know and love the Biblical account of the life of Christ, you'll relish this book. It's so very well written and told. Five stars for sure.

[Kimberly Purcell · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Thoenes have done it again - bringing to life the time of the New Testament. This one is from the perspective of a little boy named Nehemiah - cup bearer to the King. This story follows Nehemiah through his treacherous travels to Jerusalem in search of a man who might be the long awaited Messiah. The Thoenes weave together their imagination with Scriptures to tell a an adventurous tale that keeps you turning pages.

[Cathy Bickerstaff · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love Brock and Bodie Thoene's books. They are always well written and well researched. I also enjoy the fact that they weave story lines and characters from other books and series together. While each series can be enjoyed, if you read them all, it is richer, deeper.
I recommend Take this Cup for anyone who enjoys historical fiction.

[Margaret Fraleigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is the second book in this series - The Jerusalem Chronicles.

This book is about Nehemiah. His name means 'Cupbearer".

We read how Nehemiah obtained the chalice and the how his mission was to give it
to Jesus in the Upper Room. How Nehemiah met the Sparrows and became their friend
and eventually part of his family.

[Wilkister Kiyumbu · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Of the Thoene books that I've read, I like how the characters are developed and when I reflect on th book, it is in terms of what those characters taught me.
With this one, it was about absolute faithfulness to God even with the seemingly mundane and simple things. It all fits in in the tapestry of grace; God's grand Sovereign plan

[Sarah · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked it in many ways but docked down the review because I felt like the first part (mostly) had a lot of magical qualities to it, which I think detracts from trying to say the rest is based on real events.

[Marvin Breshears · Rating 4 out of 5]

Woven story

Interesting blending of scripture and the imaginative story of Joseph's cup. Without a thorough knowledge of scripture however, one might not be able to differentiate between the two. The story is engaging and pulls you along and through it like a good story should.

[Jim Rickard · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite book by these two

Loved the book. I could picture the visions in my mind. The story line was good. Nice subplots. Even though most who read this line the scriptures the extra things added were great