Risen by Angela Hunt
The Fiction Story
Clavius, a high ranking, first-century Roman soldier is a man of duty. But he is growing weary of it because his duty is death. Everyday he confronts it; he sees it, smells it, touches it, he even causes it. That is why he is happy to take on a straight forward assignment- keep the already dead body of Yeshua, dead and buried. Easy right?
His assignment turns arduous when the body goes missing, and more arduous when there appears to be a cover-up of what actually occurred at the guarded tomb. Just like that, Clavius is back in one of his death-ridden assignments, hunting down Yeshua's disciples and investigating scandals. His only refuge is in the arms of Rachel, a Judean woman with whom he is having an affair. (not in the movie. Not glamorized) Rachel is important in the story because she has seen Yeshua, first on that previous Friday as he carried his crucifixion cross-beam through the streets of Jerusalem. She had seen his gruesome death and has heard the rumors of his resurrection. Her hopes for a risen savior mounts as Clavius wades deeper into the mystery of Yeshua's missing body.
Clavius finds momentary peace in confiding in Rachel, but ultimately, true refuge comes one day when he kicks in the door of a Jewish home and sees something he cannot understand. It generates my favorite line from the movie and what is also my favorite line from the book; in a letter to his superiors he writes:
“I have seen two things I cannot reconcile, a man dead without question and the same man alive again...”
With that letter Clavius abandons his obligation to Rome, as well as his desire for Rachel in order privately investigate the matter. If death can be defeated, he must understand how.
With death having been defeated, we move into gospel territory.
The Gospel Story
It’s a no-brainer, right? The gospel message of this book is summed up in a single word. He is Risen! That was three words but you get it.
For Clavius the Gospel is summed up in four words. A day without death. It is a line from the movie, but the book deepened it and made it a more powerful notion. Clavius tries to explain in a letter written to Rachel:
“A day without death. Every day, every hour I cause it, mourn it, and investigate it, except it. Death has become my life. Roman or Jew it takes us all. Everything dies in the end. I long to be free of that, if only for a moment. I am not unfeeling, Rachel. Death is. And it continually strives to mold me in its likeness.”
A day free from gruesome duties is not the gospel. But it is an apt metaphor in this story because a risen savior is gospel.
Along the way, Risen did not miss the opportunity to point out that when Yeshua was crucified it was as a substitution for sin.
2 Corinthians 5:21 Also, when He was risen it was as one who is first born of many- that we too will rise. A day without death! An eternity of life!
I recommend both the book and the movie.
This is not Angela Hunts first good work. You may be familiar with the movie Paul, Apostle of Christ. Hunt wrote the novelization of that as well. Check it out, along with the rest of her books on Amazon.
You might also like this
Fiction Candle Recommendation.
Not in the Heart by Chris Fabry
Thank you for reading! If you're looking for a bright gospel-centered book, please Let me recommend one. Or check out one of my own
gospel-centered books.
Until the next book, remember Christ the author of salvation and the reader of our hearts.
