Jesus, the untold story

by Gerjo van der Horst, Rob Heitkamp (Illustrator)

Overview

Most people know Jesus from the four gospels in the Bible and have built up a picture from that material. In our times, other writings have been found that show a very different Jesus, such as the gospels of Thomas, Mary Magdalene and Judas. The Jesus in those writings is much more spiritual, sometimes even a mystic, showing us the way to our inner selves through insights that we also come across in Buddhism, Hinduism and Taoism.

This touching novel tells us about Jesus’ childhood, the untold story that cannot be found in the Bible. The recently discovered manuscripts help shape the story. The author has woven some wonderful spiritual insights into the narrative. Judas is for instance no longer the traitor and Mary Magdalene no longer the whore.

The story brings Jesus close like never before, wrestling in a very human way with the burden that has been placed on his shoulders. The choices that he has to make are so identifiable that many readers will recognise aspects of themselves in him.

Reactions from readers:

“What a fantastic book Jesus, the untold story is. I was really touched by it and I came across it at just the right time. My compliments.”

“I came across Jesus, the untold story by chance and it touched me in the deepest part of my soul. You have told the tale so beautifully, with so much positivity and purity. I even had to wipe away a tear a couple of times...”

“Jesus, the untold story: a book like a warm bath. Thank you ever so much, Gerjo!”

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9789081991056
Publisher:	Fiola Publishers
Publication date:	08/15/2018
Sold by:	Barnes & Noble
Format:	eBook
Pages:	244
File size:	573 KB

About the Author

Gerjo van der Horst grew up in a non-religious family; they never spoke about faith. Perhaps that is the reason why everything to do with religion interested her. The movie Jesus Christ Superstar impressed her enormously. She understood that Jesus had been merely a human, with his own emotions, fears and doubts. Gerjo continued her spiritual search, studying theology at Saxion High School in Enschede in the Netherlands. Rather than picturing Jesus as a miracle-worker, she has described how he showed people that they carry the key to real inner peace within themselves.

Table of Contents

Chapters:Bethlehem, Nazareth, Qumran, Jerusalem, India, Persia, Galilee, Mary, Capernaum, Judea, Passover.

This story narrates of the life of Jesus, from his carefully arranged birth to his violent death on the cross. It tells a lot about Jesus’ childhood, the untold story that cannot be found in the Bible. Even at an early age, he has to confront the special assignment that may be his destiny. To prepare him for his task, his parents take him to the monastery of the Essenes near Qumran where he astonishes the abbot with his insights. When he is twelve, he gets into his first conflict with the priests in Jerusalem and decides to leave for India to continue his education there. His sense of justice is thoroughly tested and he realises increasingly that an almost impossible challenge awaits him. When he eventually returns to Israel, he soon becomes entangled in a web of misunderstanding and political intrigues. Throughout all this, we see the sincere love of Mary of Magdalene for this exceptional man. However she too cannot prevent him from becoming a pawn in a political and religious game of chess.

Author Gerjo van der Horst: "I never had the intention to write a book about Jesus. So many books are already written about him. What could I add? But a performance of Steve Balsamo, the great Welsh singer who has sung the role of Jesus in the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar" touched my heart and overnight the words and lines just like that came up in my head. This story just had be to written and I started to write without knowing where it would lead to. All the time I felt that it became beautiful and that I was doing Jesus justice with it.

Many readers are really moved by the story. I received many beautiful, personal reactions which inspire me to go on making a success of this story."

LITERATURE USED

Dowling, Levi, The Aquarian Gospel, Schors Publishers

Lommel van, Pim, Consciousness Beyond Life, Ten Have Publishers

Frederiksson, Marianne, According to Mary Magdalene, Maarten Muntinga Publishers bv, Amsterdam

GNOSTIC WRITINGS

The gospel of Mary Magdalene

The gospel of Judas

The gospel of Thomas

THE BIBLE 

Isaiah, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, Zechariah

 

Editorial Reviews

Life story of Jesus of Nazareth. The author describes Jesus as a spiritual figure: a boy and later man who inspired his environment and lived to spread the message from God. Because the early life of Jesus gets most attention in this story, it makes the whole fascinating. Very well written and easy to read book with wisdom and spiritual insights. Dutch Library Association.

This book delivers what it promises: you get a different view of Jesus. The story carries you away. This alone helps to get rid of a certain image and see everything from a different perspective. I find it very strong. Piet Monsma, pastor PKN (Dutch Protestant Church).

In this book we get to know Jesus as a very special man who was inspired by God's spirit. It is fascinating to read the famous stories from a very human perspective. The book therefore offers a new and broader angle on the New Testament. The most important message is that the Kingdom of God is closer than we think: it is in ourselves! Blog ‘Relimam’.

What a fantastic book Jesus, the untold story is. I was really touched by it and I came across it at just the right time. My compliments. Noortje Light, reader.

I came across Jesus, the untold story by chance and it touched me in the deepest part of my soul. You have told the tale so beautifully, with so much positivity and purity. I even had to wipe away a tear a couple of times. Ilona van der Zijden, reader.

Jesus, the untold story: a book like a warm bath. Thank you ever so much, Gerjo! Fred London, reader.

From the Publisher