Review of Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana
August 14, 2008
I just finished reading Anne Rice’s second Jesus novel, “Christ the Lord: The Road to Cana.” The book begins with Jesus as a simple carpenter in His late twenties. It finishes with Jesus beginning His public ministry.
This one took me longer to read than the last one. It’s not really a longer book. It might actually be shorter, but some nights I just had a hard time picking it back up. One of the plot threads of the book just didn’t sit well with me. I’ll explain below the image, but I want to warn you that what I’m about to write is kind of a “spoiler.”
We know that though Jesus is 100% God, He is also 100% human (for more detail see Arianism and Nestorianism). We know that humans are tempted. We also know that Jesus was tempted—it’s in the Bible. Yet when the Jesus of Anne Rice’s novel is tempted by a beautiful girl, I find it tough to read.
Is it plausible? Sure. We know Jesus was tempted before. And in this novel, as in the biblical accounts, Jesus never gives in to the temptation. But it still bugged me a little. I guess, plausible or not, I just don’t like viewing my Lord that way. It doesn’t fit my image of Him.
So, unlike the last novel in the series, in this one, I maintained my guard throughout the entire book.
I had some other complaints too. I really didn’t like the portrayal of James. There is a part of him that seems right, but he ultimately comes across as a jerk. Also, there are times when Jesus seems…I want to say reckless, but I’m not sure that’s the right word.
Overall, it was an enjoyable read. There are really a lot of good things about the book. I like how Mrs. Rice depicts Jesus’ self-realization. I thought the account of His baptism by John the Baptist was really good—I cried when I read it. Also, like the last book, I enjoyed delving into a part of Jesus’ life we don’t know much about. But most importantly for me, I enjoyed spending time contemplating the God-man, Jesus Christ.
Though I have my complaints, I’m glad I read it. But I can see this one rubbing some (maybe many) people the wrong way.
August 15, 2008 at 2:57 am
Saturday I picked up Out of Egypt. I’m only on chapter 6. I can’t put it down when I’m reading it but I’m a procrastinator so it takes me a while to pick it back up.
August 16, 2008 at 2:22 am
I’m having a hard time with Out of Egypt because of Jesus not being fully aware of His divinity and also things like not knowing or remembering places and names.
I can understand your hesitations about the portrayal of Jesus being tempted by a woman, especially if she was a professional type (I’m trying to be nice
)
The more I think about it though I can picture Jesus thinking to Himself “He (the devil) really believes that he can tempt me with what I have created, he uses what he thinks is her worth but I see her true value.
August 16, 2008 at 3:06 am
That makes sense.
August 16, 2008 at 12:00 am
August 16, 2008 at 2:50 am
Richard,
I kind of had a problem with that at first too, but it works out in the end. I don’t want to spoil it for you, but the reason He doesn’t know everything is part of His plan.
His human self has to learn who He is just like His human self has to learn how to walk. It’s obviously just speculative, but I think it is possible. Even in the Bible He states that there are things He doesn’t know. But of course as God He knows everything. So, it must just be the human Jesus who doesn’t.