The Christ Commission (Mass Market Paperback)

by Og Mandino (Author) "I SETTLED BACK into the crushed ebony velour of the Cadillac limousine's spacious rear seat and checked my Omega..." (more)
Key Phrases: Christ Commission, Joseph of Arimathea, Mary Magdalene (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
In front of eight million TV viewers, "The Greatest Mystery Writer in the World" bragged he could prove Christ was actually stolen from the tomb and never really rose from the dead . . . if he were given just one week back in ancient Jerusalem.  That night author Matt Lawrence got his wish.  A knock-out punch took him right out of this world and landed him in Biblical Judea in 26 A.D., just six years after the execution of Jesus at Golgotha.  In relentless pursuit of his investigation, Lawrence walked the same streets Jesus walked, visited the same places . . . and found himself facing the same dangers.  Eyewitness reports might lead him to a discovery that would shake the world--but will he live long enough to tell the 30th century that he just solved the greatest mystery of all time?

From the Publisher
In front of eight million TV viewers, "The Greatest Mystery Writer in the World" bragged he could prove Christ was actually stolen from the tomb and never really rose from the dead . . . if he were given just one week back in ancient Jerusalem. That night author Matt Lawrence got his wish. A knock-out punch took him right out of this world and landed him in Biblical Judea in 26 A.D., just six years after the execution of Jesus at Golgotha. In relentless pursuit of his investigation, Lawrence walked the same streets Jesus walked, visited the same places . . . and found himself facing the same dangers. Eyewitness reports might lead him to a discovery that would shake the world--but will he live long enough to tell the 30th century that he just solved the greatest mystery of all time?

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Product Details

• Mass Market Paperback: 272 pages
• Publisher: Bantam (October 1, 1983)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553277421
• ISBN-13: 978-0553277425
• Product Dimensions: 6.7 x 4.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #352,217 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Well Known, but Worthy, Worthy, Worthy, January 13, 2002

By	"verdi26" (Erwin, TN) - See all my reviews

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.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspirational Without Being Overbearing, September 28, 2004

By	James Choma - See all my reviews

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.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Informative, skeptical view of the Evidence, December 27, 1999

By	Andrew R. Craven (St. Paul, MN) - See all my reviews

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.