Christian Bookworm

This book is the 5th and final book in the Lineage of Grace Series by Francine Rivers. It is the story of Mary, Joseph and the birth of Jesus. We start the book with Mary as a teenager and see the visitation by the angel telling her of God’s plan, see her willingness to be used and then the conception, birth, and death of Jesus through her eyes, the eyes of a mother whose son is a sacrifice for the rest of the world. I loved this book and very often had tears in my eyes while reading.

Although we all know the story of Jesus, this book gave me a new perspective on it because we are seeing it through the eyes of Mary. She knows her son is special and has a special purpose, but no one believes her and she suffers much ridicule for her belief and when Jesus begins his ministry. She expects that as the savior he is going to conquer and defeat the Romans, not that he is going to be killed as the perfect sacrifice. Although I know the author added dialogue and thoughts, the story is true to the biblical account and does not take away from that, but in my opinion adds to it. An example of this is in the beginning of the book, when Mary becomes pregnant by the Holy Spirit. We get a look into the thoughts and values of the day and see just how scandalous her pregnancy was.

As a mom I can relate to her anguish at her son’s humiliation and death. When I finished this book, after wiping away the tears, I had a new appreciation for the sacrifice of Jesus for our sins.