Book Review–The Stones of Jerusalem by Bodie and Brock Thoene (Zion Legacy book 5)

Title:  Stones of Jerusalem

Authors:  Bodie and Brock Thoene

Publisher:  Viking

Pages: 266

ISBN:  0670030511

Synopsis:  This fifth book in the Zion Legacy series continues the story of Yeshua and those whose lives He touched.  Of course, this is the inner story; this story’s true place in the the series is that Moshe and Alfie are underground in Old Jerusalem in a storehouse of ancient scrolls and manuscripts.  They lost the battle for the City, but they saved its most important heritage.  Moshe, trained as an archaeologist, removes yet another scroll from its container and reads another story, which we are privileged to read “over his shoulder.”  This story is primarily that of three orphan boys: Avel, Emet, and Haor-Tov, whose names appropriately mean Mourning, Truth, and Good Light.  Avel has never had anyone to love him besides a fellow orphan who lost his life under the hoofs of a Roman mount.  Emet has been deaf and mute since birth, and Haor-Tov has been blind since birth and has lately been a beggar outside the gate of El’azar of Bethany.  The boys, who obviously have nothing to lose, set out to join the rebels led by Bar Abba and fight against Roman oppression.  However, instead they manage to get close enough to Yeshua to see what He’s all about, and of course, in the end He does some amazing things for them.  Interwoven into their story is that of Nakdimon, the Pharisee and member of the Sanhedrin.  He has been commissioned by his uncle and colleague of the Sanhedrin, Gamaliel, to investigate this Yeshua of Nazareth.  Hovering on the edges of this story, as always, are Marcus Longinus and Miryam of Magdala, both of whom have been touched by Yeshua.  It is an amazing tale that attempts to “fill in the gaps” of the New Testament and create a beautiful story of what Yeshua did.

My Thoughts:  Oh Lord, I loved this book.  I have yet to finish one of these books about Yeshua without tears in my eyes.  The Thoenes simply bring the story to life.  It is such a rich story.  They describe Jesus in such a beautiful way that I find so convincing and believable.  The part I love the most, I think, is how they take Jesus’ teachings in the New Testament and provide them with a back story.  For example, the story of the Good Samaritan actually happens in this novel, and while the details are a little different, the story is obviously the same.  When Yeshua tells the story in the synagogue, the persons involved in the story (in this case, Nakdimon, El’azar, and Marcus Longinus) are present and recognize the story as their own.  What amazing storytelling!  I really can’t say enough about this book (or any of them, for that matter!).  Just read them.