The Family of Jesus by Karen Kingsbury offers a brand new
idea- the idea of Biblical Christian fiction paired up with a bible study
section to bring together a brand new experience for her readers. This concept
is a good one I think, as I know personally when I read good Biblical fiction,
it sends me running to my Bible to see if what the writer’s imagination has
come up with is “plausible” in terms of matching up with what the Bible says
about that particular person in the scripture. This is exactly what Karen
Kingsbury set out to do by using Bible scholars to help her in terms of running
these stories by them to see if they could be possible. And so, while we do get
a look at the relatives of Jesus in a brand new way with the lovely help of
Karen Kingsbury, it is refreshing then to spend some time at the back of the
book as she provides 5 days of actual study into the character that she wrote
about. And in the end, just as she hoped by taking this journey in learning
about the “family of Jesus”, it helps you to love Jesus that much more.
The book opens with the story of Joseph, described as the
protective stepfather and what his journey might have been like, his
relationship with Mary, etc. We then move to Zechariah, the knowing Uncle, John
the Baptist, the chosen cousin, Elizabeth, the faithful aunt, James, the
doubting brother and of course ends, with Mary, the loving Mother. In usual Karen
Kingsbury style, the reader can’t help but engage with the characters and be
moved as you witness the great love shown in the relationships such as in Mary
and Joseph’s relationship at the onset in hearing that Mary is pregnant. You see great faith in the impossible in
Elizabeth’s life and heart as the impossible came to pass and great sacrifice
in the life of John the Baptist as his whole life was preparing for Jesus and
then dying as well. And as a mother, my heart was moved, of course, by Mary’s
story, a mother just wanting to save her son, but helpless to do so. Love,
sacrifice, and faith and of course the tears were flowing- grab your Kleenex box
as you fully engage with this story. I
greatly enjoyed the journey.
As always when you are reading something like this where
there is a fictional component, it’s wise to keep the two separate in terms of
what we know scripturally versus what can be possible. But I think the beauty
and value in this is remembering that they were real people with real emotions,
struggles and joys and heartbreak. In taking this journey, it helps to bring
these character’s alive in a new and precious way. I am glad that I took this
journey and hope that you take it as well, and fully engage in both parts- the
story section on the character as well as the bible study section as it makes
for a very moving experience and one that makes you dig into these character’s
lives through the Bible as well.
4 stars.
I was given a complimentary copy of this book through the
publisher in exchange for an honest review. All opinions expressed are my own.
