There is no doubt that Jesus Christ worked very hard, tirelessly to spread His message of love, a love that would unite all peoples of the World we live in. Crowds of people thronged to hear him, leaving behind their lives, discarding their jobs just to hear this message of love and peace. They were mesmerised by his calm face exuding peace, love and compassion and when He cured the lame, the blind, they never left him even for a moment. They were shocked when He raised the dead, who was this Healer of a tired, dispirited people under the yoke of mighty Roman Empire. You see they lived under the powerful heel of the Roman Empire, longing for deliverance as any enslaved people would. John the Baptist screaming in the desert, a Mighty King would follow him and save them from their terrible lives. Oh yes, they longed for such a person, a Messiah, save us, save us they wept, but could it be this mild person? They were consoled when he gathered around him a band of disciples, just twelve but in time there would be many, they would be free. Strangely, there was no mobilising of forces, no calling all able bodied men to battle, the band of twelve helped Jesus in his healings and organising the crowds that thronged around him. Maybe they said, give him time……..But all of a sudden, Jesus veers off the track, starts talking about a ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ and ‘My Father’s Kingdom’ leaving everyone utterly befuddled and disheartened, what’s all this? Just imagine John the Baptist, utterly bewildered and completely demoralised, was this the Man he had been preaching about? At His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, Jesus sits on a snow white donkey, weeps and says ‘O Jerusalem! Jerusalem! How often would I have gathered you-as a hen gathers her chickens under her wings-but you would not!’ People fling the palm fronds in utter disgust and bewilderment and leave not out of unkindness but out of utter confusion.Utter bewilderment strikes me too, what is this ‘Kingdom of Heaven’? ‘It is after death’ diehard Bible readers tell me. But what about His message of love and peace? I insist ‘That’s there but the ‘Kingdom of Heaven’ is the message of Christ.’ A thought strikes me, we were given a brand new world, a wondrous world, full of amazingly beautiful animals, plants, rocks, rivers, beaches and what did we do? We try our best to destroy this beautiful world. The world fights back to keep itself alive and whole despite our best efforts to annihilate it.And I think what about keeping this wondrous world alive, healthy, before we head off to another world and destroy it too.
Simon ontmoet Jezus tegen de achtergrond van het leven in Palestina tijdens de Romeinse bezetting. Simon is is een visser op het meer van Galilea, maar gaat Jezus volgen als discipel. Door Simons ogen, zien we de wereld van tweeduizend jaar geleden en de daden van Jezus. Simon die de naam Petrus heeft gekregen, wat Rotssteen betekend, verloochend Jezus uiteindelijk drie keer.Waardering/meningEen apart verhaal waar ik heel lang over heb moeten nadenken over hoeveel sterren ik het moest geven. Omdat ik het niet goed kan plaatsen en ik sommige dingen toch echt wel twijfelachtig vind, geef ik het een twijfelachtige 3 sterren. Ik hoop dat ik het boek nog een keer kan lezen. Mogelijk speelt mijn gevoel tegenover het kerkelijke verhaal wel mee.Over de auteurGeboren in 1877 in Columbia City. Hij was een Amerikaanse minister en op latere leeftijd een auteur. Zijn hele leven heeft godsdienst en vooral Lutherse religie een belangrijke rol gespeelt. Dit komt ook terug in een aantal van zijn boeken. In 1929 brengt Douglas zijn eerste boek uit "Magnificent Obsession". Hij schrijft "The Robe" uit en daarvan verkoopt hij de rechten om een een film ervan te laten maken. Deze komt uit in 1953. Na zijn overlijdenIn 1951 overlijdt Douglas. Meer informatie kan je vinden ophttps://www.goodreads.com/author/show...of ophttp://www.imdb.com/name/nm0235160/Overige boekinformatieUitgeverij: De Geïllustreerde Pers 375 pagina's; HardcoverLeesperiode : november 2006 Het boek is verfilmd als "The Big Fisherman" en is in 1959 uitgebracht. Hoofdrolspeler is Howard Keel. Director is Frank Borzag. De vrouwelijke hoofdrol werd gespeeld door Susan Kohnen
Do You like book The Big Fisherman (2015)?
A story about the disciple Peter before and after meeting Jesus. The first sixth of the book develops a story of the ages-old conflict between the Jews and the Arabs. As I was reading it, I was rather confused about how it connected with Peter and the other disciples. Later it became clear and the characters from the first part had their own encounters with John the Baptist, and later, Jesus. Reading this, I found myself wondering what it was like living in the days when Jesus walked the earth. We have 2000 years of history to look back on - but what was it like at the time hearing about this prophet and the teachings and the miracles.
—Sue
This was an amazing, inspirational historical fiction centered around Simon Peter as he hears of Jesus, initially rejecting what had been said of him. A big, burly guy, Simon had long denied the fervent religious teachings from his father. He is strangely drawn to find out more about Jesus and is profoundly changed by meeting him. So when Jesus says to follow him, he does and we are taken through the story of Jesus out into the countryside where thousands follow to hear his teachings. We go with Simon who has now become Peter into Jerusalem where he fears for Jesus and denies him but overcomes his shame when Jesus returns and takes on a mantle of gravitas spreading the Word even as far as Rome where he ultimately is put to death. The book has lots of other quite interesting characters - some historical and others fictional. All, however, are impacted in some way through knowing or knowing of Jesus and/ or his teaching. One side story is that of Fara and Volti, Arabians who find themselves in Israel during the time of Jesus's ministry and specifically in Jerusalem when He is crucified. The story first begins with King Herod and the Arabian King Aretas who though coming from nations who have for centuries been bitter enemies agree for their beloved children to marry in order to forge an alliance against further invasion by the Romans. Unfortunately the marriage was a huge mistake and only serves to further divide the Jews and Arabs adding to the hatred between the two cultures.There is so much of interest and relevance in this book. It gives a historical perspective of the Passion Play. I
—LemonLinda
