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James Michael Becher

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Of Such Is The Kingdom, A Novel of Biblical Times in 3 parts

Literature & Fiction

synopsis

Synopsis

Can a cynical, nonconformist, dry-goods salesman, a disgruntled blacksmith, and a musing mendicant all find true fulfillment in ancient Palestine? And at what cost? Find out in this intriguing 2020 Readers Favorites award winner.
• The nonconformist, Manaheem, Herod's truth-seeking foster brother, is hired by Herod Antipas to foment an insurrection against Pontius Pilate, whom Herod fears.
• Manaheem, in turn, recruits the disgruntled blacksmith, Barabbas, to lead the insurrection - much to the dismay of Barabbas's Godly but fearful wife.
• Imagine Pontius Pilate as a weak ruler, whose wife pushes him to take over Herod's territory.
• Imagine a young pensive mendicant, who joins with an older beggar unsympathetic to his younger partner’s musings.
• Meanwhile, Manaheem reunites with his former wife, Claressa. Then, in need of money, after much soul searching, tries to blackmail Herod, losing Claressa in the process. Will he win her back?
• Barabbas turns to robbery, enlisting the aid of the two beggars.
• Timotheus, the younger beggar almost turns back
Does redemption lie ahead, and at what cost to those who find it? Find out in this incredible tale filled with conflict, suspicion, and treachery.

bio

Author Biography

I, was born in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, on June 8, 1943 to a Christian family and accepted Jesus at an early age. In Jr. High School, I became interested in writing and drama. I wrote poems, articles and a few short stories, and plays. In college, I won second prize in a contest with a Biblical short story, which now forms part of my first novel, “Of Such Is The Kingdom, A novel of the Christ and the Roman Empire,” published in 2003. In 2010, I wrote the sequel, “Of Such Is the Kingdom, Part III, Power and Persecution, A Novel of the early Church and the Roman Empire.” I also wrote a Sci-fi novel, “Impossible Journey, A Tale of Times and Truth” and a non-fiction book, “Principles of the Kingdom." I graduated from Clearwater Christian College in 1970 with a B.A. degree in Bible-Literature, and from Biblical School of Theology in 1974 with a M. Div. Ordained in November, 1974, I served as assistant pastor/Bible teacher in several churches. I also served in a foreign-student ministry, where I met my wife, Berenice Carett from Venezuela. In 2014 I wrote an American historical novel, called "The Christmas Victory."

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Author Insight

Crime And Punishment

Here's all of Part II Chapter 11 as a follow-up to my previous BookBubble, "Palm Sunday Robbery And More," where the robbery attempt goes bad and Barabbas, in an act of mad desperation, stabs the protesting shop owner to death and they are caught. In this Chapter, they await their fates in their prison cell and go over Barabbas' "perfect alibi." But Timotheus is bothered by the memory of the Nazarene astride the donkey days earlier. Here is another place in the novel where I weave poetry into the prose. Then we see that Barabbas is found guilty of both the insurrection and this robbery/murder, while the other two await their fate. If you know the scripture, you know what happened to Barabbas, and can you guess by now who the other 2 end up being?. (More later.)

Book Excerpt

Of Such Is The Kingdom, A Novel of Biblical Times in 3 parts

PART II CHAPTER 11:

FIRST SENTENCE

The wages of sin is death.

---Paul (Romans 6:23)

The wheels of justice turned slowly in those days. Our three criminals were kept in a small damp holding cell for four days before they were to be tried. They could hear the sound of soldiers’ feet marching back and forth and a small window looked down into the courtyard.

During these intervening days, Barabbas briefed the others on how to put over his “perfect alibi.” They would say they came to join in the festivities and then, when nearing the shop, decided to buy something--some headgear--and so went to the shop, but when they entered, they found the owner tied in the chair and groaning for help. Barabbas came to see how he was and was starting to pull out the knife when the soldiers came entered and the man breathed his last.

It all seemed so simple. Yet the fear and gnawing pain in Timotheus’ heart continued to mount. His only consolation lay somehow in a mental picture of a lowly Nazarene upon a donkey.

What kind of man this Nazarene

Astride that lowly ass

To bring such glowing praises

From Jerusalem’s teaming mass?

What kind of man this Nazarene

Aglow with visage tan?

With passion he had never seen

In any other man?

What kind of man, what kind of man?

But alas! For fear – cold heartless fear

Did soon itself prevail

And all of Barabbas’ strategies

Did seem to no avail.

Barabbas was tried first. He was tried for the insurrection against Pilate first and found guilty since several witnesses said they remembered him. Then he was tried for the robbery and murder. It seems there was a witness who swore that the shopkeeper was fine when he had left the shop and that as he left to join the festivities he saw the big bronzed man walking toward the shop. That was all that was needed to convict Barabbas since he had already been found guilty of insurrection. He was moved to a separate cell, near the front entrance, to await his fate.

Lucas and Timotheus were taken to another nearby cell to be tried jointly on charges of robbery and of being accomplices to murder.

Of Such Is The Kingdom, A Novel of Biblical Times in 3 parts

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James Michael Becher

Of Such Is The Kingdom, A Novel of Biblical Times in 3 parts

Synopsis

Author Biography

Author Insight

Crime And Punishment

Book Excerpt

Of Such Is The Kingdom, A Novel of Biblical Times in 3 parts

Comment on this Bubble