About the Book:
In this poignant capstone to the trilogy, the man called Barabbas—infamous former thief, murderer and prisoner turned Christian—and his wife Chanah continue their mission of spreading the gospel across the known world as cauldrons of political and military chaos boil across the Roman Empire. Nero is increasingly erratic, and it’s only a matter of time before the sharp knives of imperial politics finish him off. Various successors vie for position. Who will strike first, and who will come out on top?
Meanwhile, the rebellion in Judea has intensified, the Jewish zealots exerting great influence over the minds of the people. General Vespasian and his son Titus aim to put a permanent end to the insurrection. How many lives will ultimately be sacrificed on the great altar of Jerusalem? Can the Jewish nation survive the fulfillment of Jesus’s prophecy? What will become of the Jewish Christians and the apostles and sisters who lead them? And where will Barabbas and his family find lasting peace?
My Thoughts:
"If any of you came here thinking this would be easy, I hope you realize now it will not." (p. 313)
Establishing the first churches within the Roman Empire and the known world was anything but easy, but it is what the apostles and disciples dedicated their lives to after Jesus commissioned them before ascending back to His Father. In this third installment of Barabbas' story you get a front row seat to the intense labor involved in every aspect of this journey. The travel alone makes me exhausted. I can't imagine the time and labor involved in getting from one place to another.
Barabbas and his family answer their call to become leaders in the early church. They must leave family and loved ones behind, knowing they may never see them again this side of heaven. Relationally, this is a very realistic story. The disagreement between the apostles, between believers and non believers is real and sometimes intense. It's not so very different from today, sadly. Human nature, without the transformative power of the Holy Spirit remains unchanged throughout time.
My only criticism of this book, is that establishing the church seems too focused on temples of worship and statues in memorial. In one passage the apostle talk about the "regional headquarters " and I'm not sure that was even the point. I wouldn't have paid it any mind, but it kept being referenced, and I personally didn't like it. Maybe Barabbas' faith needed concrete things to see and touch (beautiful temples and statues) but it detracted from the depth of faith I wanted to believe he possesses.
If you want to experience the establishment of the early church in fiction, the Barabbas story is a good place to start. It was not an easy or quickly established network, and many times it cost folks everything - life itself. Enjoy this installment of the Barabbas story!
About the Author:
M.D. HOUSE is the author of The Barabbas Legacy, as well as the first two books in the series, I Was Called Barabbas and Pillars of Barabbas. He also wrote the science-fiction novel, Patriot Star, with a sequel coming in 2022.
Before beginning his second career as a writer, he worked for twenty-five years in the world of corporate finance, strategic planning, and business development. Now, he lives in the mountains of Northern Utah with his wife, where he spends his time writing and enjoying his children and grandchildren.
Learn more about M.D. House and his work at www.mdhouselive.com
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