I recently had the chance to review The Barabbas Legacy, the third in a trilogy by M.D.House that follows a potential trajectory of Barabbas' life after he was released at Jesus' crucifixion.
Like the other two books in the trilogy, there is obviously a lot of speculation in the story, as we don't really know much about Barabbas' life. The trilogy gives him quite the redemption arc, seeing him as being instrumental in the spread of the Gospel. Whether or not he was, the book is quite interesting, with insights into early Christianity and life just after the time of Christ. It weaves in enough well-researched early history of what is known to make a compelling case for what might have been.
Book 3 of the Barabbas series, The Barabbas Legacy, deals directly with major world events and travels more broadly than the prior two volumes. What excited you most about these new journeys?
As I’ve journeyed with Barabbas, his family, the apostle Paul, and the centurion Cornelius, researching many of the places they could have traveled and the events they may have witnessed, my desire to know the people of that time and those places has intensified. My respect for them has also grown. How did they survive, and even thrive, in circumstances so difficult and often desperate?
I remind myself that God loves each of his children equally, aiding them in the best ways possible in all ages of the earth. He sent his son to advocate for all of us, from our first earthly parents, Adam and Eve, to the very last baby born before the advent of Christ’s millennial reign.
What research into the history and politics of the time did you do?
History is written by the victors. It is also often changed later by those in power who seek to cast a particular light on past events, groups of people, etc. in order to promote current political or social aims. With that in mind, I used what I consider the most reliable of the ancient sources—the New Testament—and built frameworks from there that made sense given some of the secular histories and our common human nature.
Why is the New Testament proving with every passing day (note the fantastic ongoing work of Biblical archeologists) to be our most accurate source of historical truth? Because Jesus Christ won the supreme victory, and he actively inspired its writing, even after his ascension. To call him the ultimate historian is a vast understatement.
P.S. If you want to learn more about recent archeological discoveries firming up the historical foundations of the Bible, check out Eric Metaxas’s new book, “Is Atheism Dead?” You won’t regret it.
Other significant Biblical figures make appearances in the novel. How did you choose them?
The apostle Paul continues to play a prominent role, and that has been a personal blessing. I’ve spent a considerable amount of time studying his epistles, trying to understand better both what he taught and who he was. Among the other apostles, we get to know Philip a bit, along with Thomas. We also, of course, see a number of the apostles being martyred. Dates are hard to pin down, but between 65 and 75 AD, the apostles may have lost half their number, which was a staggering blow. We know others were called, as was Matthias (who replaced Judas Iscariot), but at some point the apostleship sadly (and literally) died out.
I loved Cornelius’s new role in Legacy. He’s older, he has grown children, he’s no longer in the Roman legions, and he is a great asset to the burgeoning Church of Christ. It was so much fun to journey with him a final time as well.
Finally, we encounter Mary Magdalene—and one of her daughters—in Legacy. There is some evidence she moved to Armenia, which is a fascinating place to research (and on my bucket list to visit someday). Perhaps her presence there still lingers powerfully, as Armenia, which was the first officially Christian country, is still almost 95% Christian. Amazing.
What significant non-Biblical historical figures appear in the story?
We see Nero’s final scenes, and then we get the brutal year of four emperors … which must have made many Christians believe the world had gone stark, raving mad and Christ needed to return ASAP. The most significant figures to this story are Vespasian and his son Titus. Vespasian was a respected general who came out on top in that fateful year of emperor roulette. His son Titus (who also later become emperor) engineered the final siege of Jerusalem.
That event, prophesied by Christ himself, was almost too horrific to contemplate. Jerusalem, swollen with pilgrims to a population of nearly one million people, lost as much as 90 percent of its population, effectively ending the Jewish state for nearly two thousand years.
What are the primary themes of the capstone of the trilogy?
The triumphs and failures of the early saints, in the context of the fierce maelstrom of the human condition—which was no different then than it is now—gave backdrop to a fascinating opportunity to explore my own strong desire for the Lord's return. We may be tempted to focus too many of our pleadings on bringing forth the glorious, joyous day of his coming, while slackening in our efforts to serve others and rejoice in the challenging life we’ve been given.
We can also be tempted to stray from the true path, and for various reasons. We may become discouraged amid hardship or persecution. We may decide to seek joy or solace in succumbing to our passions. Or we may allow “new, superior, modern” ideas to take root in the soil of our souls and sap the strength of the true vine. Apostasy is a very real danger, and it comes in many forms. The early saints struggled with it as well. But Christ is faithful, and there is nothing in our experiences or in our “modernity” that he doesn’t understand completely. Continued trust in him will be well-rewarded, both now and in the next life.
A great example to me of steadiness in the hope of Christ is Dietrich Bonhoeffer, the courageous German pastor who opposed Hitler and was executed shortly before the end of World War II. His faith was an active faith, which in the end led him to a courage he had so often feared would elude him. His trust in God through all adversities, diligently focused through the lens of the life and mission of Jesus Christ, engendered in him eternal perspective and full confidence in God’s sure promises. He wrote,
“Mere waiting and looking on is not Christian behavior. The Christian is called to sympathy and action, not in the first place by his own sufferings, but by the sufferings of his brethren, for whose sake Christ suffered.”
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M.D. HOUSE is the author of The Barabbas Legacy, as well as the first two volumes in The Barabbas Trilogy, I Was Called Barabbas and Pillars of Barabbas. He also authored the science-fiction novel, Patriot Star. Before beginning his second career as a writer, he worked for twenty-five years in the world of corporate finance, strategic planning, and business development. Now, Michael lives in Utah with his wife, where he spends his time writing and enjoying his children and grandchildren. Learn more about Michael and his work at www.mdhouselive.com.
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