Through My Eyes: Bystander Glimpses of Jesus

A collection of short stories, the book is a retelling of the accounts of the gospels from the viewpoint of eyewitnesses, with fictitious backstories to fill in gaps. Using the literary genres of prose and free verse, it tells the story of first-century Palestine as recorded in the first four books of the New Testament. It shows the emotions of the actors, making them relatable as not just some other-worldly personae. It captures their fears, hopes, expectations, and doubts. Relive the story of Simon as he returns from the barley fields surrounding Jerusalem. On what should have been an ordinary day, he ends up carrying the cross of a rabbi sentenced to death by the Roman governor. See how the heart of Jericho’s chief tax officer changes after a simple conversation and follow Jairus as he runs around the streets of his city, seeking help for his little daughter, who lies in agonizing sickness at home. Though told in different voices and by various actors, the central theme of the stories is clear. They portray Jesus of Nazareth as both a humble teacher, approachable by peasants and little children, and the master of nature who can command spirits and inanimate objects to do his bidding.