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The Thirteenth Disciple
As a crowd of angry men spill out of a garden dragging a preacher who has dared to challenge the established order and the misery it has caused a young man follows at a distance. But he is spotted by two other men, who run back and grab hold of him. Terrifed, the boy wriggles out of the linen cloth he is wearing and runs naked back into the darkness.
Who was that boy and why was he there?
The Thirteenth Disciple is the story of fourteen-year-old Daniel, who yearns to make a difference in the world and who unexpectedly comes face-to-face with Jesus of Nazareth.
Astonished to be invited to travel the country with him and his disciples, Daniel's starry-eyed vision of the future soon evaporates when he becomes involved in the running battles with the authorities. But he is held together by Jesus's friendship, the wonder of his miracles and his determination to stand up for the ordinary people.
And when he becomes aware of the shattering consequences if he stays faithful to his hero, Daniel races through the darkened streets of Jerusalem on the longest of fateful nights, knowing he must decide his own future before it is too late.
"In telling the story of Daniel, a rebellious teenager in first-century Palestine, Philip Platts brings us face-to-face with Jesus of Nazareth as we journey with him in his preaching, Passion and Resurrection from the dead. I commend this imaginative and well-written book to anyone who wishes to get deeper into the Gospels and the challenge which they still offer us." Most Rev Malcolm McMahon OP, Archbishop of Liverpool
Who was that boy and why was he there?
The Thirteenth Disciple is the story of fourteen-year-old Daniel, who yearns to make a difference in the world and who unexpectedly comes face-to-face with Jesus of Nazareth.
Astonished to be invited to travel the country with him and his disciples, Daniel's starry-eyed vision of the future soon evaporates when he becomes involved in the running battles with the authorities. But he is held together by Jesus's friendship, the wonder of his miracles and his determination to stand up for the ordinary people.
And when he becomes aware of the shattering consequences if he stays faithful to his hero, Daniel races through the darkened streets of Jerusalem on the longest of fateful nights, knowing he must decide his own future before it is too late.
"In telling the story of Daniel, a rebellious teenager in first-century Palestine, Philip Platts brings us face-to-face with Jesus of Nazareth as we journey with him in his preaching, Passion and Resurrection from the dead. I commend this imaginative and well-written book to anyone who wishes to get deeper into the Gospels and the challenge which they still offer us." Most Rev Malcolm McMahon OP, Archbishop of Liverpool
304 pages, Paperback
Published February 28, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
March 20, 2015
The Thirteenth Disciple by Philip Platts wouldn’t rank among the list of my favorite books but I’m immensely impressed by this fictional characters Daniel through whom we get to hear this story as he is the narrator. Written in the first-person, this sixty-nine chapter story is divided into three parts, with the first taking place in Galilee, Decapolis, Phoenicia and Caesarea Philippi, the second covering Samaria, Judaea and Peraea and the third in Jerusalem.
The story of The Thirteenth Disciple is a collection of the stories of healing and miracles performed by Jesus during his earthly ministry. They are familiar and well-known – many of them we have heard for a dozen times. In fact, it is mostly about the life and ministry of Jesus, with the author giving prominence to the healing and miracles that Jesus performed. What makes The Thirteenth Disciple unique is the manner in which author Philip Platts implanted the fictional character of a fourteen-year-old boy Daniel into the story.
As the narrator of the story, as seen through his eyes, it is David’s story yet it is not. It is brilliantly conceived and written in a simple language that’s easy for everyone. Though it is about Jesus and biblical Palestine during the first century A.D. it is a story suitable for all groups of people irrespective of religion.
The story of The Thirteenth Disciple is a collection of the stories of healing and miracles performed by Jesus during his earthly ministry. They are familiar and well-known – many of them we have heard for a dozen times. In fact, it is mostly about the life and ministry of Jesus, with the author giving prominence to the healing and miracles that Jesus performed. What makes The Thirteenth Disciple unique is the manner in which author Philip Platts implanted the fictional character of a fourteen-year-old boy Daniel into the story.
As the narrator of the story, as seen through his eyes, it is David’s story yet it is not. It is brilliantly conceived and written in a simple language that’s easy for everyone. Though it is about Jesus and biblical Palestine during the first century A.D. it is a story suitable for all groups of people irrespective of religion.
March 8, 2016
Do you want to know more about Jesus' life on earth, his last months wondering around, preaching and healing? If you are curious you could join young Daniel. This book is a simple and plain narrative of nearly all the miracles and some of the preaching reported in the Bible seen through the eyes of a thirteen year old boy who left everything behind to join Jesus.
The emphasis really lies on the healings and miracles and his arguments with the Pharisees, not on his love and forgiveness. Those readers who know their Bible will miss the purpose of Jesus life and death, his most famous words: "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me" (John 14,6). The "Good News" - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3,16) - is missing.
By reading this book you will meet a fascinating very human Jesus but you won't understand why he had to die.
This might be a first approach for young readers or those who really don't know anything about Jesus' life on earth, but those who know him won't find anything new.
I got a free copy trough NetGalley.
The emphasis really lies on the healings and miracles and his arguments with the Pharisees, not on his love and forgiveness. Those readers who know their Bible will miss the purpose of Jesus life and death, his most famous words: "I am the way, the truth and the life, no one comes to the father except through me" (John 14,6). The "Good News" - For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3,16) - is missing.
By reading this book you will meet a fascinating very human Jesus but you won't understand why he had to die.
This might be a first approach for young readers or those who really don't know anything about Jesus' life on earth, but those who know him won't find anything new.
I got a free copy trough NetGalley.
February 27, 2015
What a good story, well written in a very readable style. I'm not a religious person but then this is not really a religious book. Whilst it's all about the life and times of Jesus Christ, the writer has managed to tell the story without preaching. Of course, even a non-religious person like me knows what's going to happen but somehow this does not detract from the read.
Most of the bible stories used as the scenes in this book are very well known but it's interesting the way the fictional Daniel has been set amongst them. It's a clever plot device and works well. Sometimes Daniel's comments on the message behind the parables are quite thought provoking and ring true.
Anybody who enjoys a good story would love this book. If you are interested in the bible then you will be truly fascinated by this new approach. It brings these ancient stories to life.
Most of the bible stories used as the scenes in this book are very well known but it's interesting the way the fictional Daniel has been set amongst them. It's a clever plot device and works well. Sometimes Daniel's comments on the message behind the parables are quite thought provoking and ring true.
Anybody who enjoys a good story would love this book. If you are interested in the bible then you will be truly fascinated by this new approach. It brings these ancient stories to life.
May 10, 2015
l was fortunate enough to receive the book for free through Goodreads First Reads.
l am not a religious person. l enjoyed the narrative as l like to read historical novels and this was very well written.
Appropriately enough l began to read the book on Easter Sunday and l finished it on Easter Monday. l couldn't put it down.
l enjoyed reading the well-known stories from the viewpoint of Daniel the 13 year old narrator.
l am not a religious person. l enjoyed the narrative as l like to read historical novels and this was very well written.
Appropriately enough l began to read the book on Easter Sunday and l finished it on Easter Monday. l couldn't put it down.
l enjoyed reading the well-known stories from the viewpoint of Daniel the 13 year old narrator.
November 4, 2017
"Coming face to face with your heroes can be disappointing."
The last years in the life of Jesus of Nazareth as seen through the eyes of 14yo Daniel, who encounters Jesus and decides to follow him. Neatly divided into three parts, the story is narrated by Daniel, and in a non-preachy way, we are taken back to the time when the heretical teachings of one man established a world-wide religious phenomenon.
The last years in the life of Jesus of Nazareth as seen through the eyes of 14yo Daniel, who encounters Jesus and decides to follow him. Neatly divided into three parts, the story is narrated by Daniel, and in a non-preachy way, we are taken back to the time when the heretical teachings of one man established a world-wide religious phenomenon.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews