An inspirational read, very full, I think it could have gone on another few hundred pages but it is long enough.

While the author Oursler covers some aspects of Christ's life very well, from the Annunciation to Jesus being found in the Temple, he seems to cover a few other events scantly. "The Passion of the Christ" had not been made into film yet and I don't think the whole episode of Christ's Agony in the Garden of Gethsemane is covered enough, for as important as that episode is to the Gospels. I think it is signficant that during the arrest of Jesus, the Pharisees arresting him were indeed all were fallen down by the whole episode and not by physical means, before Jesus the Lamb of God submitted to their arrest. I do enjoy however, the trial of Jesus by the Sanhedrin in court. I do find this to be a very viable visualization of how such a trial may have taken place.

The Nativity narrative may well take some from the Apocrypha, Protovangelium, Infant Gospel of James, whereas, Mary's parents, Joachim and Anne accompany Joseph and Mary during the birth of the Christ-child. I do find the first part of the book thoroughly enjoying in relating those incidences we know best from the Gospel of Luke and some from the Gospel of Matthew. I do understand that Herod probably did have some Arabic blood in him, in part if not totally, but I am not sure if an apt description for Herod is calling him an Arab King as he does two or three times in the book. Still, this is a minor detail.


All in all, I am not sure if this is the inspiration for the movie of the same nameThe Greatest Story Ever Told (Movie Only Edition), but the years of Christ's ministry and the parables and the miracles he worked with are well covered here as well, considering this book was written shortly after World War II. It also has made me want to read other biographical type books on Jesus. This book is very much worthy of reading and to then relate one's own knowledge of the Gospels back to it.

It is an excellent book to visualize every detail of Jesus' life.

It is an excellent book to visualize every detail of Jesus' life.