The Day Christ Died

This is one of the best books you will ever read. It takes you there, you see the Roman roads, feel the atmosphere, you gasp, you feel shock, you cry, you rejoice. It is wonderfully written, and it takes you back 2000 years to see for yourself. A moving and true story of Jesus Christ & what He endured as fully God and fully man to sacrifice Himself to redeem us. Magnificent writing.

Jim Bishop has a way of making history come alive. I'm not usually a fan of historical fiction, liking the stories of mankind straight up and as they happened. Jim Bishop does not fictionalize his stories the way a Vidal of Sharra does -- what he does is add color and texture to actual events and actual dialogue to make two dimensional histories come alive. In this book, Bishop, as I understand it, took only the dialogue and scenes appearing in the Gospels to tell the story of Christ's final day on earth. The book is broken down into hour by hour chapters. Three background chapters -- one on Jesus? life; one on the Jewish world and one on the Roman -- give the "greatest story ever told" context and allow the reader to more easily slip back into a world 2,000 years old. As I understand the Gospels -- and I am by no means an expert -- Bishop remains true to the Jesus story and the biblical account. While the Gospels are moving in themselves, having such a skilled writer describe the scenery, the points in Jerusalem where Jesus was taken and traveled and the characters who inhabit the drama enlivens an already supremely rich story.

Jim Bishop writes a book that is not only Biblically accurate, but it is also entertaining. Although I do have a word of caution, remember this is fiction! He has taken Biblical fact and blended them together with fiction to create an understandable flow events during the ministry of Jesus Christ. Nonetheless, Jim does a great job bringing the reader into the Age of Jesus' time using historical research. He reviews the Jewish background (e.g., Law, customs, and more), as well as articulating the structure, politically and religiously, of the Roman Empire. Again, Jim Bishop writes an outstanding book that will educate everyone, and give all Christians who read it a deeper sense and appreciation of what Jesus did for all people.

Anyone interested in a thoroughly engrossing book should read The Day Christ Died. This book covers more than just the day Christ was crucified. It gives a perspective of ancient Roman and Jewish life in the first centry. Bishop gives excellent insight into the personalities of those involved in this drama that continues to effect all of humanity 2000 years after the event.

Jim Bishop seemlessly weaves his biblical scholarship and anthropological knowledge with scripture to create a full accounting of the last days Christ's life. Divorced from the realities of life under Roman rule, modern Christians may lack an understanding of the visceral realities of the crucifixion-which Bishop provides. Altogether a beautifully spiritual book.

A truly remarkable well written book on the last hours of the world's most famous man. Mr.Bishop's time and efforts are well applauded in this beautiful book. I read it three times then hesitantly loaned it out. I first borrowed it from the local library then had to buy a copy to have for myself.