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19 of 20 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Inspirational Without Being Overbearing, September 28, 2004
This review is from: The Christ Commission (Mass Market Paperback)
Even though this is a work of fiction, Og Mandino has done a wonderful job assembling a cohesive story around the six years following Jesus' death and resurrection.
While appearing on the Tonight Show to discuss his recent book, Mystery writer Matt Lawrence is asked by Johnny Carson if there is a mystery out there Lawrence would like to explore further. Lawrence states he's always been intrigued with the death of Jesus and would like to put the resurrection to the test. This would be done by forming a commission to explore the event and interview the key characters. By insinuating that the resurrection was possibly a hoax, Lawrence angers the crowd and, while at a bar after the show, is knocked unconscious after a fight.
Lawrence wakes up in first century Jerusalem, in the home of Joseph of Aramathia, six years after the death of Jesus. With Joseph as his guide, Lawrence has been given the opportunity to take on the role of his fictional Christ commission and interview Ciaphas, Matthew, Mark, John, Peter, Pilate, Mary Magdelane, and Nicodemus among others who had been involved with Jesus. Mandino takes creative liberties with the interviews, but does an excellent job of tying everything together for a satisfactory ending.
I'm now reading this for the second time and have enjoyed this book almost as much as the first time I read it. After being bombarded with negative news from the papers, television, and radio, reading something inspirational like this was just the ticket. And Mandino does a great job of providing this inspirational message without being overbearing, and that adds to the beauty of this book.
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14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Not Well Known, but Worthy, Worthy, Worthy, January 13, 2002
This review is from: The Christ Commission (Mass Market Paperback)
I read this novel several years ago. Even with all the hype of The LaHaye-Jenkins series (which is worthy), this single novel stands out as a lighthouse in Christian Fiction. In fact, CF writers today would do good to read this and learn something. The novel begins with the protagonist appearing on the Johnny Carson show. When asked if there was ever a mystery novel he never finished, he replies that he once began writing a novel about a commission of investigators who proved that Christ rose from the dead, just as the Scriptures say. However, while doing his research, he came to the conclusion that Christ's body was only stolen from the tomb and, if he could go back and interview eyewitnesses, he could prove it! Later that night, he is in a pub watching his Johnny Carson appearance. The remarks offend people there, and one of them gives him a punch which sends him 2000 years back in time. What follows is a riveting character study with some good action, and the most interesting ending of a novel this reviewer has ever read. My advice again is read this novel and see how well a Christian novel can avoid the pifalls of blatant didactycism.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Informative, skeptical view of the Evidence, December 27, 1999
This review is from: The Christ Commission (Mass Market Paperback)
This story weaves an excellent, informative telling of the evidence of Christ's Resurrection. It's told from a skeptic's point-of-view and draws you in with its narrative style. For such an informative book, it truly is a page-turner! I recommend it to believers and seekers alike.
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