I received my latest Anne Rice novel in the mail early this week and finished reading it just yesterday. I couldn’t put it down.

The book chronicles fictionally Jesus’ life just before his three-year ministry and concludes with the water-to-wine miracle at the wedding.

This is the second book in Rice’s latest series, “Christ the Lord”, and if you remember, I read and reviewed the first book back in August of ’06. I enjoyed reading it as much or maybe even a bit more than the first book and loved imagining the story taking place as I read the words.

The most striking part of the story for me was Rice’s take on Christ being tempted. Rice gives new clarity to Hebrews 4:14-16:

¹⁴ Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. ¹⁵ For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. ¹⁶ Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need. [ESV]

Those verses to a young man like myself growing up trying to be like Jesus was always a curious thought because the only temptations we read about Jesus having were in the wilderness by Satan and those temptations weren’t nearly as tempting to a young teenager!

Ms. Rice gives a great picture of Jesus the man – fully-man – being tempted in thought and action and yet NOT succumbing to the temptations presented to him!

I know the book would be a great discussion-starter for any group of people willing to read it together – with the realization that it is fictional account of the life of Christ built around some extra-biblical stories and the wonderful imagination of Anne Rice.

I can’t wait for Anne’s next book, “Called Out of Darkness” to be released next month.