Review: It Comes Alive for You!
Rating: 5 out of 5
Date: 04 15, 2013
"The Easter story is told in the Bible in the four Gospels by four authors who tell the story from four different perspectives." The author takes these four perspectives and weaves them into an historical novelette. Where information is missing the author provides creative conjecture and speculation based on historical facts. Each chapter begins with a Scripture section from the point of view of the chapter's main character. The chapters are arranged chronologically.My family listened to this novelette on our trip to visit my daughter the day before Easter. I was drawn to each characters' emotional struggles, recovering from the death of their beloved friend, Jesus. They were surrounded by a fog of confusion, trying to make sense of the recent events. And they couldn't figure what to do next. When the women found Jesus' tombstone rolled away and the tomb empty, the entire group was afraid. When Salome and Mary saw Jesus and talked with him, the disciples didn't believe them at first. But then some of the disciples talked with Jesus on the road. It's a bit of irony that we sometimes miss reading the events in Bible verses.When Jesus appeared to many of the disciples, their supporters and friends, the emotional reunion hit me anew. I could see how they were recharged with purpose. It seemed they suddenly understood that Jesus had power over death. If that were true, then what could they possibly be afraid of after that? Jesus spoke to them plainly the following forty days of appearances, including the time he appeared before 500 people, explaining why things had to have happened the way they did. It left me thinking how it wasn't surprising then that the book of Acts was so full of energy, miracles and drive. The disciples had finally taken ownership of their purpose as Jesus' followers. How can we possibly do any less?