The Messiah: A Novel

Life of Jesus #3

by Marjorie Holmes

Completing the novelistic retelling of Christ's life the author here recounts Christ's life from the beginning of his ministry to his crucifixion

Genres: Fiction, Christian Fiction, Christian, Biblical Fiction, Christianity, Religion, Historical Fiction

396 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1987

About the author

Marjorie Holmes (1910—2002) was an American columnist and best-selling Christian author of 134 books, 32 of which were best sellers. Holmes is known best for her biblical trilogy which began with the novel Two From Galilee, a love story about Mary and Joseph, published by Fleming H. Revell.

Reviews

[Melisa]

I truly enjoyed reading this. Although at times it seemed to progress slowly, I liked seeing the events of Jesus's life from other's view points. Even though I knew what was going to happen the events were well written. I am not disappointed at all in this telling of the Biblical events. It was very moving, and even though it was fictionalized I felt a deeper understanding of what occurred I would highly recommend reading this novel.

[Julie]

I had a very hard time getting through this book. It seemed to really drag and was very wordy without just getting to the story line. Then the story line seemed to be short. I think the topic of the Savior would be extremely hard to write about because we as human beings do not understand what it means to be God. I believe Marjorie Holmes humanized him too much without bringing his Godhood out more. I did not care for the twist she put on the story of the New Testament. There was too much of her own story line added.

[Lynne]

This is a sequel to "Three from Galilee: The Young Man from Nazareth". It was good, though I didn't always like or agree with how she thought things might have been. I preferred the Orson Scott Card series on the Women of Genesis for a novel on the stories in the Bible.

[Debbie Keith]

This book gave an awesome view of life as it may have been lived within Jesus' family, apostles, and friends. I give him a more human face which is great since I am currently watching AD on TV. I have only given it 4 stars because, while it is a work of fiction, it does not follow the Biblical account of the 5 loaves and 2 fishes and because I felt that there were a few other places where writer's license may have obscured the Biblical account. Overall, I would highly recommend this book.

[Shelley Alongi]

In fictional accounts of Jesus I am always interested in how others treat Gethsemane. I thought it was interesting in that we see it from Peter‘s perspective in a dream because he falls asleep in the Biblical account. I thought that was creative. I’m not sure I really liked Facebook but I can’t tell you why. I appreciate the amount of energy that went into writing it. It’s not bad. It doesn’t employee some of the more conspiracy theories or explanations but I wouldn’t re-read this book.

[Christine]

thought provoking and well written

[Laurie D'ghent]

Really interesting, with a lot of historical detail, but it ran a bit long for my taste.

[Martin Coy]

An amazing fictionalized story of the life of Jesus Christ. Very good read, I thought.

[Janice]

Beautiful. Still.

[Jeanne]

A very good book. She brought the story to life. It was hard to read at the end, but very realistic.

[Valerie]

This was a most beautiful telling of the ministry of our Savior and of His Atonement, death and resurrection. As with the rest of the series, it is at times from our Savior’s point of view, but also from those who loved Him and then believed Him, but also those who hated Him. This was so beautifully and tenderly written by the author who also loved and believed in Him. There are a few issues for which I differ in my understanding, but this was worth the read. Quite beautiful language.
"At first to Peter's consternation, then to his delight, other boats were approaching, rowing as fast as they could, He hallooed his welcome and beckoned they in. Enough fish for all! For had he not found them with the help of his new friend? He felt like a bountiful host. It was wonderful, terrible, glorious, the water splashing until they were soaked, the din of the birds, the shouting and singing, the fish like cascades of heavy jewels as they poured from the nets into the groaning boats. A kind of enthralling madness of sea and sky and greedy birds and men.

[Dkr]

I do like Christian fiction and always take it with a grain of salt knowing it is the writer’s imagination working. I recently dusted this book off my shelf to reread and enjoyed the story. Since the time Marjorie wrote this story the Catholic Church in 1996 has recanted that Mary Magdalene was a prostitute so when reading about her in this book it broke my heart that she will continue to be portrayed as a prostitute. If this book ever goes to reprint, which I seriously doubt, I can only hope the printer adds a disclaimer regarding Mary’s reputation. But again, this is a book of mainly fiction and imagination with much of the biblical account not biblical at all. I suggest people read the Bible for truth.

[Rachael]

This third and final book in the series begun with Two from Galilee was long but good, and I felt like it could have been a primer for the writers of The Chosen videos, haha. It really helped me imagine what Jesus' ministry, teaching, suffering, and resurrection could have been like for his mother and his close followers. I ended up finishing this right around Easter, and I felt it gave me a special connection to the Savior at this season.

[Shirley Brown]

Amazing. The author's depiction of Jesus Christ's crucifixion is well written and very plausible in light of what is recorded in the scriptures. A tender story of a mother's love and devotion to her Son and the depiction of His relationships with his siblings. Well researched and documented. Would recommend it to any one seeking more knowledge and on the life of Christ and his ministry.

[Becky]

Holmes’ attempt to fill in the gaps to give us a more complete glimpse into what Jesus’s life *might* have been like was interesting, moving, and downright gut-wrenching, as one might expect. She humanizes Jesus’s family, disciples, and friends in the most interesting and endearing ways. I hadn’t planned to read this just weeks before Easter, but I’m so glad I did.

[Debbie Lockledge]

I had a hard time getting into this book, as the author tended to drag on & elaborate in areas of the story that were inconsequential compared to other parts of the story. However, in the areas that are most important, she was masterful in bringing those parts of the story to life. Overall it was a great read & I highly recommend it.

[Patti]

An underrated book, I thought it was wonderful. Found my copy at a thrift store signed by the author. Makes you see Christ as a real person, what it might have been like for him before his ministry began.

[Arline]

Whichever format you choose, you will find something to love in this exciting fiction novel.

[Val]

This book gave a different perspective on Jesus’ life. I found it slower than the other two but still good.

[Jamie Painter]

What a great book!!

[Arlene Beilstein]

MARJORIE has done it once more You feel like you are actually there !

[Judy]

I liked the first book in the series the best. This was disappointing.

[Nickole Backman]

I liked it, but really liked the first in her series much better.