The Blood of Innocents
John Bridges tells the story of Jesus Christ’s last days through the eyes of the priests. With a large dose of politics, intrigue and conspiracy he weaves a wonderful story. The author neither supports nor dismisses the possibility that Jesus was the son of God, but highlights the fear of change that his ideas brought to the established religion and it’s leaders.
Centred around Eleazar a young hot-shot lawyer who’s faith and belief in his church leads to his own slow manipulation by Caiaphas the high priest, into finding a way to check the shift in religious views that Jesus brings and thus protect the corrupt church leaders. But for all Eleazar’s intellectual manoeuvring and well phrased traps, Jesus stays one moral step ahead, until Judah Iscariot, a disciple and Jesus’s treasurer, tries to mend broken bridges between his mentor and his church, gives Eleazar his chance.
This is a wonderfully well written book and so believable it really makes you think not whether Jesus was the son of God, but rather what his teachings meant to those around him. Even the use of the phrase “Caesar”, which wouldn’t be in use for 70 years after the death of Christ, does not dampen a truly enjoyable read whatever your Faith or belief.
