Synopsis
In an ancient land in a time foretold by prophets, a babe was born beneath a shining star. Thirty years later, Jesus of Nazareth began teaching a message of hope, peace, and love. He claimed to be the Son of God, and his words - and his life - would change the world. In Fishers of Men, the first volume in the new series The Kingdom and the Crown, best-selling author Gerald N. Lund transports us to the days of Christ's mortal ministry and invites us to experience the emotions and events of those extraordinary times. Reports of Jesus of Nazareth have reached the ears of David ben Joseph, a merchant in Capernaum, who has waited and watched for the Messiah ever since a special, starlit night thirty years ago. He and his family decide to see for themselves whether or not the rumors are true and journey to hear Jesus. Though David is quick to accept Jesus as the Messiah, the rest of his family is more cautious. His wife, Deborah, and his son, Simeon, leaders in the rebellious Zealot movement, look for a Messiah that will crush the Romans with power and the sword, not one preaching a message of love and forgiveness. Meanwhile, reports of Jesus have reached into the very heart of Jerusalem, and both the powerful Sadducee Mordechai ben Uzziel and the Pharisee Azariah are growing uneasy with the news. Though they hold opposing political views, both agree that something must be done to stop this man from Nazareth before he gets out of hand. However, in Mordechai's own household the influence of the carpenter from Nazareth begins to create conflict. Fishers of Men is a sweeping epic filled with memorable characters who bring to life an extraordinary time in the history of the world. It is a story about the importance of family, the power of faith, the miracle of forgiveness, and the strength needed to follow your heart.
Reviews
Lund's nine-volume series the Work and the Glory, which chronicled the beginnings of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in 19th-century America, has sold three million copies, mostly in the Mormon market. With this new series (projected to include four or five volumes), Lund expands his religious focusDand likely his audienceDby turning his imagination to the beginnings of Christianity. The novel opens with the commencement of Christ's ministry in A.D. 30, and follows the story through many of Christ's early miracles and Messianic proclamations. Lund writes in pulp fiction style, weaving page-turning plots around fictional characters who come into contact with Jesus and his disciples. But he vividly describes the geographical and cultural backdrop of Christ's time in Israel, and uses these facts and texture to bring many of Christ's teachings and parables into sharper relief, giving them context and deeper meaning. An avid biblical scholar will learn little from his commentary, but more casual readers may enjoy the insights he offers clothed in an easy-to-read tale. Readers who have wondered what it might have been like to be in Jesus' presence, and how ordinary people would have responded to him, will overlook the novel's literary flaws and appreciate its sympathetic insight into both those who embraced and those who rejected Jesus and his teachings. (Oct.)
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