My rating: 4/5
Galatians 2:20 (ESV) “I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me”.
Captivating and enthralling, author Ted Dekker takes the single most transformative truth, the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and intricately weaves it into the plot, resulting in a masterful story that includes provocative characters, inspiring themes, and enthralling scenes. A.D. 33 points to the finished work of the cross, and the redemption of God’s children under the new covenant established during the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
A.D. 33 is part-two in a two-book series. It is a continuation of the conclusion of book one, set two years later, and follows the main character, Maviah, considered the Queen of the desert outcasts. She aims to save those oppressed under the brutal rule of the Themud tribe, and is determined to rescue her true love, Judah, held in captivity by the enemy, the Themud. Since her encounter with Jesus two years prior, she has governed the outcasts with compassion, and teaches them the message of hope taught by Jesus. When a series of unfortunate events occur, the lives of those she cherishes may be destroyed, and the hope and faith she has acquired through the teachings of Jesus is questioned. Her quest to save the life of a loved one leads her into another life changing encounter with Jesus, where she learns the wisdom of the Way of Christ that results in the resurrection of her faith. Through sheer heroism, determination, and surrender, she perceives the purpose of life, which is to abandon the ways of the world and unabatedly surrender to the ways of Jesus. This alone will provide true peace and joy.
“The first Adam, son of God, became a living being. Even so, the last Adam, I, became the life-giving Spirit. And just as through one man sin and death entered the world, in the same way through one man, me, life was restored to all men.” (Jesus, A.D. 33).
A.D. 33 is written with great visual imagery that effortlessly engages the reader in the plot of the story. Although intriguing, the pacing of the story was a bit dull at times. The plot is character driven and includes some memorable characters. However, I was disappointed with the portrayal of Maliku, her brother-in-law, who played a significant role in Maviah’s circumstances in both books in the series. The depiction of his character was incomplete, and his fate was left unresolved in the story. Aside from this lapse, I enjoyed the Christian content in the narrative. The riveting message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ echoes far past the conclusion of the novel. If you desire to read an inspiring story, full of encouraging Christian content, and includes some action and thrill, this is the novel for you.
Purchase it on Amazon! #CommissionsEarned
