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Sisters of Lazarus #2
Glory Revealed
GLORY REVEALED is the second book in the SISTERS OF LAZARUS series.
Beauty Unveiled, the first book of the SISTERS OF LAZARUS series, introduces Martha and Mary, the two sisters of Lazarus, who couldn't have been more different. Martha, the elder, is plain and self-conscious; Mary, the younger, is beautiful and vain. One saw her value only in serving, while the other believed her outward appearance was her only asset. Their worlds were turned upside down when Lazarus offered hospitality to an intriguing new teacher named Jesus.
GLORY REVEALED: Sisters of Lazarus, Book Two picks up immediately where Beauty Unveiled ended, and carries the story of Christ to its glorious conclusion as seen through the eyes of those who witnessed firsthand the greatest story ever told.
Paula K. Parker's evocative writing draws readers in, allowing them to feel like a fellow guest sharing the sisters' wonder at meeting Jesus and his transforming power.
Beauty Unveiled, the first book of the SISTERS OF LAZARUS series, introduces Martha and Mary, the two sisters of Lazarus, who couldn't have been more different. Martha, the elder, is plain and self-conscious; Mary, the younger, is beautiful and vain. One saw her value only in serving, while the other believed her outward appearance was her only asset. Their worlds were turned upside down when Lazarus offered hospitality to an intriguing new teacher named Jesus.
GLORY REVEALED: Sisters of Lazarus, Book Two picks up immediately where Beauty Unveiled ended, and carries the story of Christ to its glorious conclusion as seen through the eyes of those who witnessed firsthand the greatest story ever told.
Paula K. Parker's evocative writing draws readers in, allowing them to feel like a fellow guest sharing the sisters' wonder at meeting Jesus and his transforming power.
328 pages, Paperback
Published July 12, 2016
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
August 5, 2016
"Glory Revealed: Sisters of Lazarus, Book Two" is the sequel to "Sisters of Lazarus: Beauty Unveiled." In the first novel, author Paula K. Parker introduced us to the family of Lazarus, the man Jesus of Nazareth raised from the dead. Folks who have been to Sunday school as children have at least a flannel-graph familiarity with the story. But Parker does more than simply rehash the facts presented in Scriptures. She puts flesh on the bones and blood in the veins of the characters, presenting them as real life people with real life interpersonal conflicts, frustrations, joys and foibles - very much like people you probably know; maybe even people you are related to...or maybe even you.
"Beauty Unveiled" presented two sisters, Mary and Martha, who were very much at odds with each other, each with their own personal baggage, and each with their own agendas. Both are transformed by their encounter with the prophet from Nazareth, and share the mind-numbing miracle of having their brother restored from the grave. (It's easy to just read the story in the Bible and think, 'oh, that's pretty cool,' and then move on to the next story; but stop and ponder for a moment. This is not the story of a loved one whose heart stopped on the operating room table, and the doctors put the paddles on and yelled, 'clear!' and his heart started beating again. This is the story of a loved one who was dead...dead and buried...dead and buried four days ago. If it was your brother, whom you saw die. Then you buried him, and a week later some guy tells you to dig him up, and then your brother gets up out of the coffin and comes home for dinner?! I mean seriously, how would you feel? Okay, enough pondering; back to the review.)
SPOILER ALERT IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE FIRST BOOK - "Beauty Unveiled" ends with Mary anointing Jesus' feet, pouring out the only thing of value she has; the precious perfume from her alabastron. "Glory Revealed" picks up immediately after this event and carries the story through to its glorious conclusion at the ascension of Christ. It is a magnificent re-imagining of the Greatest Story Ever Told, from the viewpoint of those who loved Jesus best; and those who hated Him most. It puts you in the middle of the story, making you a fly on the wall during the trials of Jesus, giving insight into the motivations of those who wanted Him dead, and offering a plausible explanation for the actions of those who wanted to spare Him from death on the cross.
Highly recommended!
"Beauty Unveiled" presented two sisters, Mary and Martha, who were very much at odds with each other, each with their own personal baggage, and each with their own agendas. Both are transformed by their encounter with the prophet from Nazareth, and share the mind-numbing miracle of having their brother restored from the grave. (It's easy to just read the story in the Bible and think, 'oh, that's pretty cool,' and then move on to the next story; but stop and ponder for a moment. This is not the story of a loved one whose heart stopped on the operating room table, and the doctors put the paddles on and yelled, 'clear!' and his heart started beating again. This is the story of a loved one who was dead...dead and buried...dead and buried four days ago. If it was your brother, whom you saw die. Then you buried him, and a week later some guy tells you to dig him up, and then your brother gets up out of the coffin and comes home for dinner?! I mean seriously, how would you feel? Okay, enough pondering; back to the review.)
SPOILER ALERT IF YOU HAVEN'T READ THE FIRST BOOK - "Beauty Unveiled" ends with Mary anointing Jesus' feet, pouring out the only thing of value she has; the precious perfume from her alabastron. "Glory Revealed" picks up immediately after this event and carries the story through to its glorious conclusion at the ascension of Christ. It is a magnificent re-imagining of the Greatest Story Ever Told, from the viewpoint of those who loved Jesus best; and those who hated Him most. It puts you in the middle of the story, making you a fly on the wall during the trials of Jesus, giving insight into the motivations of those who wanted Him dead, and offering a plausible explanation for the actions of those who wanted to spare Him from death on the cross.
Highly recommended!
March 23, 2023
When Lazarus and his sisters Mary and Martha invite the Teacher Jesus ben Joseph to visit one night a week before Passover, they know that they are inviting more than just a rabbi into their home. After all, raising Lazarus from the dead is only one of many miracles this prophet has performed.
But when Mary breaks open an alabaster vessel of spikenard that night and anoints Jesus' head and feet with it, the scandalous and wasteful act contributes to the untimely death of their friend. But, WAS it untimely? As WAS the act wasteful, or a pure act of worship to one who is far more than he seems?
Content:
Drug Content:
G - While wine is used in this novel, it's squeaky clean. The Roman soldiers are accused of being drunk, but even THEY weren't having any excess..
Violence:
PG-13 - You cannot talk about or in any way describe the flogging by a Roman soldier, the abusive games by them, or the horrors of crucifixion, without getting rather gory. While this novel did a reasonable job describing the events of the crucifixion, the descriptions are not wantonly graphic, and fall far short of the Mel Gibson movie, Passion of the Christ. In one place the flogging, as it's going on, is dispassionately described as the torture it is, by one of the Roman characters.
Language:
G - While there is some swearing in this book it contains none of the common curse words in English, and involves oaths more than cursing. The language in this book is squeaky clean.
Adult Content:
PG - There are quite a few conversations about marriage and the consummation of a wedding, but no details at all. A significant part of this book revolves around one of the characters and her fielding hopefuls for her hand in marriage, and the alignment of houses. In some ways the interactions could make the book more of a romance, but again, it's squeaky clean..
Christian content:
This is a retelling of the last week leading up to the Passover and crucifixion of Jesus. Christian content is heavily laced throughout. It covers the social and spiritual interactions leading up to that critical historical event from the juxtaposed perspectives of characters that are either aligned FOR, or AGAINST, the savior.
Final analysis:
This is a masterfully written, immersive vignette into the lives of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, and the impact crater of Jesus Christ on their lives, both socially, and spiritually. The world-building is phenomenal. The plot is incredibly gripping, no matter how often you've read the biblical account. The character arcs are fully three-dimensional, and you get a better feel for the conflicts in such pivotal characters as Judas Iscariot, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Nicodemus. I couldn't put this book down, it made me late coming home from work, I had to finish it! Five Stars!
But when Mary breaks open an alabaster vessel of spikenard that night and anoints Jesus' head and feet with it, the scandalous and wasteful act contributes to the untimely death of their friend. But, WAS it untimely? As WAS the act wasteful, or a pure act of worship to one who is far more than he seems?
Content:
Drug Content:
G - While wine is used in this novel, it's squeaky clean. The Roman soldiers are accused of being drunk, but even THEY weren't having any excess..
Violence:
PG-13 - You cannot talk about or in any way describe the flogging by a Roman soldier, the abusive games by them, or the horrors of crucifixion, without getting rather gory. While this novel did a reasonable job describing the events of the crucifixion, the descriptions are not wantonly graphic, and fall far short of the Mel Gibson movie, Passion of the Christ. In one place the flogging, as it's going on, is dispassionately described as the torture it is, by one of the Roman characters.
Language:
G - While there is some swearing in this book it contains none of the common curse words in English, and involves oaths more than cursing. The language in this book is squeaky clean.
Adult Content:
PG - There are quite a few conversations about marriage and the consummation of a wedding, but no details at all. A significant part of this book revolves around one of the characters and her fielding hopefuls for her hand in marriage, and the alignment of houses. In some ways the interactions could make the book more of a romance, but again, it's squeaky clean..
Christian content:
This is a retelling of the last week leading up to the Passover and crucifixion of Jesus. Christian content is heavily laced throughout. It covers the social and spiritual interactions leading up to that critical historical event from the juxtaposed perspectives of characters that are either aligned FOR, or AGAINST, the savior.
Final analysis:
This is a masterfully written, immersive vignette into the lives of Mary, Martha, and Lazarus, and the impact crater of Jesus Christ on their lives, both socially, and spiritually. The world-building is phenomenal. The plot is incredibly gripping, no matter how often you've read the biblical account. The character arcs are fully three-dimensional, and you get a better feel for the conflicts in such pivotal characters as Judas Iscariot, Mary the mother of Jesus, and Nicodemus. I couldn't put this book down, it made me late coming home from work, I had to finish it! Five Stars!
December 13, 2016
For anyone who loves books and a good read - especially during these cold winter evenings near a warm fire and a hot beverage - I highly recommend these two books! Paula K Parker has brought to life the stories of Mary and Martha in the first book of the 'Sisters of Lazarus' series. Her attention to historic research is evident - this is not a couple of 21st century women stuck in a backdrop of Biblical scenery. See the Biblical story unfold in a well written, engaging and dramatic story! In the second book, the story picks right up where the first story ends and unfolds during the Passover week through the Ascension of Christ. Once the book got to the Triumphant Entry I couldn't put it down until I had finished it!!! For the purists out there - - Paula has a link to her website that details which parts are historic fact in her book, along with the documented research, and which parts were written as creative license to tell this dramatic Story. Though one usually thinks of reading this Story around Easter time, I found it especially meaningful reading this during the Advent Season
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews