My rating: 4/5
An impressive work of biblical historical fiction, The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem by Kurt Brouwer is the first book in a three-part series, that features the later life of the Apostle John, the youngest and beloved disciple to Jesus. Immersive and inspiring, the novel is an intriguing read that emphasizes the pious and loyal nature of the disciples of Jesus Christ, the transformative power of Christ’s life and teachings, and the impending Roman onslaught in Jerusalem.
An engaging read with themes of hope, faith, trust, and retribution, the novel follows the intricate journey of John about thirty years after the death, resurrection, and ascension of Jesus Christ. He is faced with upholding his calling to spread the Gospel outside of the territories of Israel. John tackles the discomfort of his purpose, along with accepting the upheaval that Jerusalem is entering, as a rise of Jewish rebels and zealots’ intent on the destruction of Roman officials and soldiers, threatens the security and future of Jerusalem and its inhabitants.
“Now Jesus had returned to heaven, and it was up to John and the others to tell the parables, the stories, and to share the Gospel message that Jesus had made into flesh and brought into being. It was their responsibility to bring those thoughts and memories into a whole new group-the vast world lying outside Israel” (The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem).
The novel marvelously depicts the relationship between John and Mary, the mother of Jesus, thirty years following the responsibility that Jesus gave to John regarding Mary after His death (John 19:26-27). Their relationship is beautifully outlined, portraying the admiral bond between mother and son, emphasizing the love that they have for one another that transcends biological connections.
“For Jesus told him he would be the son-that is, the protector and guardian-of Mary. Through her, he had learned so much. Out of all the believers, she and she alone helped him stay connected to Jesus” (The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem).
Although the protagonist of the story is John, there were an array of secondary characters included in the narrative, including several disciples of Jesus. Their lives and characteristics are mentioned in the novel, which allows the reader to fully grasp the impact that personally following Jesus had on their lives. The disciples mentioned in the story included James, Paul, Peter, Bartholomew, and Simon. Other noteworthy characters were Symeon, the son of Cleopas, and Joseph bar Symeon known as “Emmaus”.
Adequately woven with Christian and biblical history, I quite enjoyed the book. It was evident that profound research went into this novel as it was apparent within the plot. Brouwer provided well-detailed descriptions of locations within Israel as well as intricate Christian historical knowledge. The author explains at the end of the book, the direct biblical references were not provided within the narration, because the sequence of scriptural references such as the book, chapter, and verse were not used during the time frame that the book chronicles. However, the author provided comprehensive references of the specific biblical scriptures used in the story, as well as inclusive sources used from his extensive research.
There were some points in the novel where I expected more action, however I appreciated the author’s superb ability to remain within the biblical outline of the story. If you enjoy biblical historical fiction and desire an inspiring and enthralling read, don’t hesitate to read this book.
“John, I believe we must not be negligent. Rather, we must do our part so that all people can remember the things given to us by our Lord. And the books our brothers are writing through the Holy Spirit, these books and letters-even those by Paul-are key” (Peter, The Last Disciple: Crisis in Jerusalem).
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