Imagine it is present day and a an archeological team has just unearthed bones in an Israel tomb which all point to be the bones of Jesus. But how can that be? If there are bones then doesn’t that change everything we know and believe about the resurrection?
This book is from my 2005 book journals. I am planning on converting my hand written reviews to Book Journey, and therefore will occasionally be presenting one of the amazing reads of my pre blog days.
This book qualifies as one of those amazing reads. I have always been a fan of a good suspenseful mystery. I also like a good Christian Fiction read. This one gave me a big dose of both with a little theology thrown in for good measure. The topic of this book blew me away.
What Paul Maier presents in this book is what would happen to the world in the face of the death of Christianity. Main character Johnathon Weber, an archeologist and Bible Scholar works hard against the clock to prove that these bones could not possibly be the bones of Jesus.
This book is for anyone who likes a good suspenseful novel that makes you think. To this day, this book brings back wonderful memories and I have two sets on my shelf. One is mine and one is to loan out to friends.
In Paul Maier’s follow up to A Skeleton In God’s Closet, archeologist Johnathon Weber is once again called to investigate what is either an elaborate hoax, or the return of Christ.
When Joshua Ben-Yosef, an Israeli from Galilee-born in Nazareth to parents Mary and Joseph-begins assembling twelve followers, attracting crowds, and performing miracles, the world takes notice. Is this the return of Jesus?
It seems everyone is a believer including Johnathon Webber’s wife Shannon.
You have to hand it to Maier…. he doesn’t mess around with light subjects. I devoured this book almost as soon as I closed the last page to A Skeleton In God’s Closet. Another book that really made me think…. how would I react in such evidence? Seeing is believing…. right? And if that’s the case…. I can truly understand how people must have struggled with Jesus performing such acts even when he did walk the earth.
The more I think about this book, the more I like it. This is another one that I have on my “keeper” shelf and have a spare around to loan out.
Dr. Maier is The Russell H. Seibert Professor of Ancient History at Western Michigan University and a much-published author of both scholarly and popular works. His novels include two historical documentaries: Pontius Pilate and The Flames of Rome, as well as a theological thriller that became #1 national bestseller in Christian fiction: A Skeleton in God’s Closet. A sequel, More Than a Skeleton, appeared in 2003.
I purchased both books from Christianbooks.com
Book Journey 
I need to add these to my wishlist. lol
Rae Reads these are two wonderful suspenseful books. i hope you read them and let me know if you do – I would love to see your reviews.
I’ll have to check either my catalogue or their website to see if they still carry it. Sounds like they will both be good reads. I like good suspense and books that challenge what we believe. Too often books are entertaining, but don’t make us really think. These two seem to be perfect in all respects.
Having lost several favorite books after loaning them, I stopped letting people take them. Having an extra copy to loan is a great idea.
Thanks for bringing these books to my attention.
Pat they are older books. I had ordered mine originally from Christianbooks.com and for a while they were both books for $4.88. I ordered several sets fro friends – a set for our church library and an extra set for me – so i would never lose mine. 😀
Hi Bookjourney,
I’m sorry. I thought the top stamp in your right hand corner was a button. Now, I know it’s not because the place is empty. I’m so sorry. Just wanted to represent you with other bloggers stamps on my blog. I’m going to remove it. I am so sorry.
Hi Tea – it actually is my button – you would just have to copy it and then link it back to my blog. I have no idea how to code it to that like some blogs can.
Thanks for the effort though 😀
this is why i love blogs…..i have never heard of this author or his books but they sure sound interesting!!!!
it’s nice to get reviews of older books instead of 20 reviews in a row of the latest book….
looking forward to reading more of your pre-blogging reviews!
I like picking up on the older titles too Diana 🙂 Paul Maier is an incredible writer!
I enjoy books that make me think. This is one that I’m going to share with a friend for sure who I think would enjoy it as much as I think I may!
Oh good Staci! I hope you can find the books. 🙂
I read both of these back in the day; I remember having to wait for the second one to come out though — I didn’t get to read them back-to-back!
I agree, they were quite fun reads, I look back on them with fondness. Somehow, it seems, only the 2nd one is on my shelf, though.
Hannah I agree – totally remember these two as being fun suspense. I seen on line that Paul Maier wrote a third book, I think it came out even before these two did but I have not read it. I am going to take a closer look at that one. I really enjoyed his writing.
Really? I wasn’t aware of any of his books other than these two, either.
Yes, Pontius Pilot and I just checked again, apparently a book called Flames of Rome as well.
I do like your idea of having a “keeper” shelf and a loaner copy of those very special books that have spoken to you in some way. Thanks for sharing another great reading idea!
Sure Linda – when I was able to pick these up as a set for $4.88 it was easy to decide to get a spare set 🙂
Your description really reminds me of the plot of The Eighth Scroll – the book I’m reading now! It deals with archaeology, suspense, and the possibility of a discovery that could challenge certain religious beliefs. I’ll have to be on the lookout for the 2 titles you mentioned!
Hi Bailey – I am not familiar with the Eighth Scroll. Hope you are enjoying it 🙂
I definitely want to read both of these. It reminds me of The Davinci Code,, which definitely changed the way I looked at Christianity.
Hi Vivienne! These are good books – I hope you can find them and enjoy them 😀
Those sounds like great reads and I’ve read a lot of archaeological fiction Thank you for sharing a past read or two.
Page I think you would love these!
I’ve never heard of this book or this author before. If this is ever made into a movie I wouldn’t be surprised if it gets the same treatment The Da Vinci Code got.
I enjoyed the Davinchi book Ladytink but not the movie. I would live to see these books turned into movies! 🙂