Out of Egypt

Christ the Lord: Out of Egypt is a very well written book by Anne Rice. The novel covers just over a year of Jesus’ life as a boy growing up during the ages of seven and eight. The story starts out in Egypt with Jesus living with his family there. Then they return to Israel and are in Jerusalem during the start of a great revolt. Traveling out of the city they go through the war torn areas of the nation as the Romans are fighting to put down the revolutions. Finally, they make it to Nazareth and begin life there. After a year has gone by they return to the temple for Passover and this time bloodshed will not drive them away. All throughout this journey Jesus is trying to figure out what the big secret his parents are keeping from him.

Through bits and pieces throughout the story he learns of special occurrences and circumstances surrounding his birth. Also, Jesus learns that he has the power to give or take life. He can heal and control the weather at will. In this, Jesus knows there is something his parents are keeping from him but they don’t tell him. Finally at Jerusalem for the second time he finds out the whole story of his birth, from the amazing circumstances to Herod murdering all those children in order to try and find him. By the end, Jesus realizes that he is the Christ.

As for points that challenged me or broadened my thinking, I’ve been having trouble identifying parts of this novel that did this. I’m trying to approach this in humility, and not in the arrogance of “I know so much,” or “I am so firm in my beliefs that NOTHING can change what I believe.” In the same breath, I’m not sure exactly how this book is supposed to challenge my faith. Whether or not Jesus killed a boy doesn’t challenge my faith. I don’t believe he did it, but even if he did, apparently he can still be the pure lamb sacrificed on the cross for our sins, to redeem creation to himself. If he is still that, then who cares what he did as a kid, as long as it’s congruent with that.

Or even her belief that Mary remained a virgin for the rest of her life, how catholic of Anne Rice! Again, whether or not that’s true has zero impact on my walk with my Lord. I believe that she had sex with Joseph and had other kids by him, but no big deal if that’s not true. I feel like people get hung up on these minor details all the time and forget to see the big picture. I loved the book. I thought it was wonderful and it helped me imagine the environment of Jesus life!
The greatest gift that the novel gave me was to picture Jerusalem and the Temple in my mind. Reading scripture makes it hard to imagine, and diagrams in my Bible (even the ones in color!) don’t help me see it the way that First Century Jews did. On the other hand, I am an avid reader with a colorful imagination and for Anne Rice to do so much research on the temple and to put her imagination into writing helps me picture what the temple must have been like during Jesus time on this earth.

My favorite parts of the Gospels are the ones that put dust in the sandals and smell to the cloaks of the people. I love knowing that just as real and colorful as our world is today, so it was back then. I think it’s wonderful how God created humans, people, with personality, charm, humor, and all the other wonderful characteristics, and we have been interacting with each other from the beginning of time. It helps me walk with Jesus daily, remembering that he walked this earth too. He’s felt the prickle and soft of walking on grass, he understands the hot days and the rainy showers. I love remembering the humanity of Christ; it brings him closer to my heart, and draws me nearer to him. My Lord came as a baby to this earth. He is not a high priest I that doesn’t understand my trials and temptations, but rather he is an advocate for me before the Father. He is my savior, my friend, and I cannot wait for the day, in New Jerusalem where we can walk together by the Sea of Galilee! It’s going to be a good day.