Three From Galilee: The Young Man from Nazareth

Life of Jesus #2

by Marjorie Holmes

The sequel to the best-selling novel Two from Galilee portrays the life of Jesus from the age of twelve, when he debated the elders in the Temple, through age thirty, when he began his ministry, a period not covered in the Bible. Reprint.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Christian Fiction, Biblical Fiction, Religion, Christian, Christianity

304 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1985

About the author

Marjorie Holmes (1910—2002) was an American columnist and best-selling Christian author of 134 books, 32 of which were best sellers. Holmes is known best for her biblical trilogy which began with the novel Two From Galilee, a love story about Mary and Joseph, published by Fleming H. Revell.

Reviews

[Rosa · Rating 2 out of 5]

I have such mixed feelings about this book. As a story, it was pretty good. But when you think of it as the life of Jesus, it's completely messed up. For that reason, I really struggled to get through this book. And I really don't think that I could recommend it in good conscience.

There were multiple times throughout the book that something felt "off" about her depiction of Jesus. By the end of the book, it was clear that the author's theology is very messed up. While I believe that Jesus was both fully man and fully God at the same time, the author clearly makes him too human. Throughout much of the book, "Jesus" doesn't even realize that he is the Messiah. At the age of 12, his cousin John told Jesus he is the Messiah and Jesus doubts it all his growing up years until finally when he's nearly 30 years old, his mother has a heart-to-heart talk with him and tells him everything as if somehow God would not have revealed that to Him sooner.

The author depicts Jesus as having a very strong love for animals, even above mankind much of the time. She depicts him as detesting sacrifices at the temple because it was so cruel to the animals. There's no mention at all that the sacrifices had any spiritual significance.

And then, during the doubtful growing up years, the author decided to throw in a woman who "Jesus" fell in love with. He was so obsessed with her that he stopped meditating alone in the fields and then he argues with his mother when she tell him that he should never marry. And suddenly, Mary had more wisdom than Jesus?! That whole part of the story was disappointing because, aside from the messed up theology she brought in, it was just not necessary.

It became clear toward the end of the book that the author was a modalist when at Jesus' baptism... John asked Jesus why He needed to be baptized if he had not sinned and Jesus replied, "How do you know the secret torments of my heart? How do you know my doubts and my desires? All this must be washed away, John. It will give me strength for what lies ahead, it will give me courage." There's SO much wrong with that statement!!

Also, her statement "He must show them the the kingdom of heaven exists right there on earth, if we simply love the Father enough to love each other, and to live by the Father's rules. Above all, he must save them from the tempter. Through love he must save them." Where do I even start explaining how much wrong is in this statement?! It was clear that she had no concept of true salvation.

I also did not like how the author was too frank in her sexual references and threw in several modern curses.

What I did appreciate about the book was that it did make you stop and realize that the lives of Jesus and even Mary and Joseph were more than just a few verses in the New Testament. They were real lives - they experienced hardships, pain, and heartaches as well as fun, peaceful times.

I wouldn't say it was a "bad" book, but if someone is not sure of their theology, this book could really mess them up! I did feel like the book was somewhat a waste of time.

[Van Reese · Rating 2 out of 5]

Where do I begin? First off, not being a follower of Catholic theology, I naturally differed in the interpretations given. The author tried too hard to make Jesus' family be the source of several biblical parables. Aside from Mary and Joseph, His family are kind of whiney losers. Jesus came off as a really nice guy, but not the literal Son of God. She takes away from His divinity. Also, Jesus is portrayed as almost scornful of the Mosaic Law which I don't picture really happening. My biggest issue was how marriage relations are portrayed as a necessary evil to perpetuate the human race, but basically sinful. The celibacy thing just doesn't make sense for me. Also, several times it went from fiction to science fiction or even fantasy. The bottom line, too many doctrinal disagreements for me.

[Frankie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Three From Galilee well-depicts the unrecorded childhood of Jesus Christ, including the believable, multifaceted aspects of what is in an adolescent’s life today. It has an intriguing prompt of expressing Jesus’s ‘missing years’ in the Bible, and the author has a unique way of interpreting what had happened throughout this time. At the beginning of the book (entitled “Boyhood”), it shows Jesus as a toddler and as a pre-teenager, and the second half portrays Him as a young man (“Young Manhood”). He has a dog named Jubal, many siblings, a loving family, and he finds himself facing many everyday trials that are often still prompted by society today. One of the main themes throughout the book was that Jesus was a regular person. He felt both our physical and emotional pain, in which it shows that the only difference between us and Him was that he was the son of God, and He consciously chose not to sin.

Readers were easily able to grow with the characters throughout the novel, although most especially alongside Jesus. Any Catholic readers who grew up with Christ were able to experience how He grew up, and develop a new closeness with Him. Something that was essential throughout the book is that Jesus shows a strong connection with animals. For example, He freed a trapped dove when He was a child, was unwilling to sacrifice a lamb during His first visit to a Jerusalem, and He grew up with a dog named Jubal (despite the fact that it was frowned upon if people of his class owned a canine). Holmes shows how much Jesus cared for His animal friend on page 65 of her novel, in which Mary says “‘...It isn’t the custom for people like us to have a dog.’ Jesus sat upright. ‘Bad customs should be changed, Mother!’” This showed that Jesus loved Jubal, and was willing to change the societal norms in order to keep him. The author also used descriptive vocabulary, and did a wonderful job in showing and not telling the readers what the scenery looked like. An example of one of these vivid moments include when Mary was showing the toddler Jesus what the world had to offer: “The sun was bright; the air was sweet with the perfume of hyacinths—whole hillsides were painted with their blue, as if someone had dumped on them buckets of sky” (Holmes, 24). The author could have used much less descriptive and more simple phrasing, such as ‘the scene was beautiful,’ although it was easy to tell that Holmes took a lot of time and effort into her writing.

Overall, this book was extremely enjoyable. I was impressed that Marjorie Holmes was able to put all of the aspects of a child’s life today inside of it. It had an intriguing plot, lovable characters, and descriptions of settings that could make anyone feel as if they were right there. This book is a wonderful read. The fact that it was so believable only makes readers want to read more, and it is quite easy to feel present every step of the way.

[Susan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A year or so ago, my mom told me that the church of my childhood (you’re well acquainted with it if you read my memoir) was getting rid of its library. WHAT? This really surprised me, and made me a little sad. I had many good memories of hours spent in that little room — just off the choir room in my day — while my mom played for adult choir, or when I was stuck at church for some other reason. I checked out so many books there. I felt sad for generations of kids who won’t have that chance now, although who knows? Maybe not too many kids today are availing themselves of the opportunity. I know that the library had been moved to a room way over on the periphery of the building.

Anyway, books were available for the taking. My mom picked up a few she thought I might like, among them “Three from Galilee.” I finally got around to reading it.

This book was published in 1985, and even that date brings me back to my teenage years. It’s the second book of a trilogy, the first being “Two from Galilee” about Mary and Joseph, and the final being “The Messiah.” It attempts something I would never even want to consider: writing about Jesus’ life, from his toddlerhood up through the beginning of his ministry. Obviously it has to be fiction, since we know little to nothing about those years, but author Marjorie Holmes jumps in with a real story complete with conversations, etc. We get back-story (again, fictional) on Mary and Joseph’s siblings, parents, etc.

I think Homes did a nice job making the book believable, with thoughts Jesus might have had: “Genesis was almost too familiar, he knew the story of creation too well, it was as if he was there, a part of it, drowning in the blankness, the darkness when the earth was without form and void.” This conversation between Mary’s parents seemed realistic — them feeling sad about his current shabby clothes but comforting themselves by thinking that “one day he will be a king! … He will have a dozen rings and bracelets, and robes that will put his cousin’s, or even Solomon’s, to shame.” Or a teenage Jesus, looking over a group of villagers, thinking “They were being born to him, somewhere in his being, yet he had known them all since the beginning of time. Every breath and bone of them, every experience of birth and death, every sin and hope and dream and fear.”

Think of Mary and Joseph, discussing Jesus as he grew up. It’s easy for us in retrospect to assume they knew the full story, as we do. But obviously they didn’t. “‘If only we had some direction!’ Joseph exclaimed. ‘Why doesn’t the Lord speak to us? He spoke to the patriarchs … he guided them. And he once spoke to us, Mary, he chose us — you, at least, you are the very mother of his son … But what of now?'” Holmes also weaves other bits of Scripture in, making them part of the story — the Prodigal Son parable being one example of this.

I enjoyed reading this book as it did make Jesus come alive as really a person in all his humanity. It was a little strange reading about him falling in love with a young lady and wanting to marry her, but after talking with Mary seeing that this was probably not part of his calling. But … we just don’t know, do we?

Well-written, thought-provoking book.

[Rosie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have a distinct memory of asking my Sunday school teacher what Jesus was like as a kid/teenager, since the Bible doesn't mention any of those years after the time He was teaching in the temple at the age of twelve. I'm sure a lot of people have wondered about those years of Jesus' life since the next time we see Him is when He is an adult beginning His ministry.

That being said, this book creates a fictionalized version of Mary and Joseph's family as Jesus begins to grow up from a toddler into a young man. The book creates a family for Jesus, complete with grandparents, brothers, and sisters, much like a family they would have been at the time. As Jesus grows up, He looks for direction in what His future will be. Mary and Joseph know He was born for a special purpose, but it takes some time for this purpose to be revealed and understood.

This wasn't necessarily a "bad" book. It definitely depicts Jesus as human with His own feelings, moments of doubt, and desires, very similar to what we experience at times as well. How else would Jesus understand us if He had not experienced the same things as we do? I would keep in mind that this is a fictionalized thought of what Jesus' growing up years could have been like. It's not a substitute for the Bible, of course, but on its own, this story is an interesting story that gives a look into who Jesus would eventually become.

[Melisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book was an enjoyable read. I liked how it kept jumping from character to character, and shared with us their thoughts and feelings. I did get a little bit tired of the rambling descriptions though. It is good to have descriptions, but they don't always have to take up pages. I would recommend this as a enjoyable must read sequel.

[Lacey Louwagie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I should probably start out by saying that this is a very high three stars. There were a lot of things this book did right. The writing was vivid and beautiful in places, and like all books that seek to humanize Jesus, this one captured my heart and my attention with the possibility of who this iconic person really was. This book covers Jesus' childhood, which, as we all know, is barely mentioned in Scripture, so there's a lot of room for artistic license. And with the license that Marjorie Holmes took, it was clear from her writing that she did so in a way that was loving toward the religious tradition begun by Jesus and all those who follow it.

Even so, this book works because it still took a few risks, although portraying Jesus as fully human should hardly be perceived as a risk (yet, contrasted with much of the Catholic writing on the subject, in which Jesus was born in a burst of light and not vaginally, and in which he spoke full sentences at birth, you can see why this is refreshing). The book is probably most compelling in the way it examines Jesus against the backdrop of his family -- the way he fits a little awkwardly into the picture as eldest son, who remains unmarried even after most of his younger siblings already have families; in the tension between him and his siblings because they've always sensed something "different" about him and the way their parents respond to him. As such, this isn't just a book about Jesus, but about the family that surrounded him -- siblings, parents, grandparents, inlaws, pets, etc., all quite well developed and drawn.

Now, for the few issues I had with the book that kept it from getting its four stars. There were a few times when Marjorie Holmes fell into "authorial intrusion," inserting a paragraph here or there to "justify" why she had written a certain thing, such as the story's assertion that Mary and Joseph had sexual relations after the birth of Jesus -- a paragraph that seemed inserted purely for the "benefit" of the Catholics who may have stumbled upon this book (like me ;)). And it's hard to write about Jesus, who epitomizes perfection to so many people, without coming across as a bit ... precious. Also, sometimes it felt like Marjorie tried *too* hard to work certain of Jesus' parables and teachings into his childhood experiences, so that his family life was something of a grab bag of Scriptural lessons. I guess that irked me because the whole point of parables is that they're stories that *stand for* something else -- they sort of lose their meaning when they just become Jesus' childhood memories. Then it's like he's just justifying the way he was raised rather than imparting transcendent wisdom.

[Bob · Rating 5 out of 5]

First of all, this is a great story, very well written, and clearly by an author with a heart for sharing God with her readers.
Now, I am an avid reader. I love books and stories. I apply to God my own personal view of Him as an Author Who loves stories so much that He has created the ultimate in-depth, hands-on, interactive story. Because of this, I do not mind when a writer takes “liberties” with facts in order to deliver the story.
This is important in reading Three From Galilee, because her story will challenge many ideas and ideals held by so many readers. Jesus - Lord and savior, God incarnate, king of kings - is portrayed in His fully-God-fully-Man presence as wholly Man.
Confused about His true nature, feeling out of place with almost everyone around Him, wrestling with all the humanness of this world, Jesus is wandering somewhat blindly. And the situations can shake some readers to their core. For example, Jesus dealing with the feelings of sexual awakening when He sees a beautiful young woman bathing (how like David, His forebear!), and then falls in LOVE with her! His holiness and his fleshliness conflict like so many of His earthling children’s do, too.
Ms. Holmes has created a great story, as I said at the first. In order to fully enjoy it, though, you must open your heart and your mind.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5 stars. I have recently read several historic fiction books with settings and characters from the New Testament. I liked this best - I think the writing is less old-fashioned. Mostly I read it as a fantasy with characters whose names matched up with members of Jesus' family. That way, any anachronisms were less annoying. And I could skip over the theological differences.

The author included inspiration from some of the well known parables, and based some incidents in the book on them, letting Jesus and his family play the parts of, for example, the lost sheep and the prodigal son. There was a fairly lengthy set-up for the latter and I could see it coming - still it was well presented, including the attitude of the faithful son and the loving response of the father to his concern.

This is actually book 2 of a trilogy. The first book, Two From Galilee is described as a love story of Mary and Joseph. The third one is called the Messiah, and finishes the story from the gospels. I haven't read either one, and probably won't bother. The book was from the library and I worried whether the remaining week would let me finish it. I need not have been concerned, I wrapped it up the very next day after counting the number of chapters remaining.

[Kerith · Rating 3 out of 5]

I first read this when I was in high school, I think, or at least the early years of college -- I had certainly very recently become a Christian at the time. I remember thoroughly enjoying Holmes's three books.
It's interesting to go back and read this now, a little under 20 years later. While still clearly fiction and a good, quick read, it falls short for me. It is just too romanticized, and very clearly based on a literal reading of the gospels (this can be seen even though this novel is based on the "lost years" of Christ's life). Everything is...sanitized. This is fine, as it is fiction after all, but for those of us who have read the Bible many, many times, and have a fascination for the history behind it, it is not enough.
Still, Three From Galilee is worth a read.

[Monica · Rating 4 out of 5]

I wouldn't say that I agreed with everything in this book. Nor can I say that I devoured it with the rate I would have if it would have been about someone that wasn't real and not of Someone who is real and whose life I have read lots about.

I will say that it was neat because it helped me to see Jesus life before His time had come to teach and heal in the world. It shows Him as being a human, which He was. It shows His trials as a real man, helping me know that He truly suffered like each of us suffer.

I really did like it. Parts of it I had a little hard time getting past, but I was glad that I kept going. It was enlightening and I enjoyed it.

[Nickole Backman · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed her writing, but since we know nothing of Jesus' life from 12 -30, I couldn't get past the idea that it was only her interpretation of what happened. I especially couldn't believe that he would fall madly in love in 3 short days and that he knew so little about his mission here on earth. His encounter with Satan at the end did help me visualize the possibility of what might have happened then. I read Two from Galilee many years ago, but with that book we had more facts to base the story on.

[Bonita · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was an amazing continuation of the original "Two From Galilee". You can't read one without reading the other to get the full story, so don't expect to read only one of them. I read these when they first came out, and since then have moved many times and lost my copies. But I'm seriously considering buying another copy of each to reread them with my daughter. Great story that brings the story of Jesus to life in our imaginations. It also gives us details on what life was like when Jesus walked on earth. Great book and a must read!

[Megan · Rating 2 out of 5]

While I lovelove, Two from Galilee, the love story of Mary and Joseph, Three left me feeling a little apostate and full of speculation. The author obviously does not claim to know anymore about the life of Christ than any of the rest of us but I felt like she used more liberties than she should have. I liked the daily life kind of pictures it painted but as for the rest it was a little off. I'll stick to the love story.

[Beth Sponzilli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed the first book in this series of Mary and Joseph, and the birth of Jesus. This book continues the story, of Jesus’s childhood and early adulthood. There is little known of his years before age 30, so of course many liberties were taken by the author. She uses all the facts that are known and weaves in how it could have been also. A very interesting book and a unique way to learn the Bible stories.

[Whitney · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is one of my very very favorite books. It is a fictional novel based on the old testament account of the birth of Christ. It mostly focuses on the story of Mary and Joseph, which makes it a great love story that is a definate must read for December. It is sure to get you into the Christmas mood!

[Debbie Lockledge · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a well written book about how Jesus' adolescent through young adult years may have been, building on the information we have in Scripture & the customs of the time and location of those years of His life. While there were some areas I thought were alittle bit of a stretch, I thoroughly enjoyed it
and can't wait to read the last book in this trilogy.

[Val · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this author’s perspective on Jesus. I like how she showed his human struggle and the battle of discovering who he was. I know it’s fiction and she says that but I thoroughly enjoyed it!!! It made me think. We don’t know what Jesus would have been like as a child so I felt it was ok that she surmised.

[Bonnie · Rating 2 out of 5]

I actually stopped reading this book, and I didn't finish it. Not to say that I won't finish it, but it's not on my list right now. It's very slow, and the print is small and the pages are small and yellowed in the copy I have. It's just not pulling me in right now.

[Katie · Rating 1 out of 5]

I only read the first few pages of this book because in the first few pages I found that I really didn't like it. It makes Marys mother Hannah delusional and her family disfunctional and I just didn't like it.

[Connie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was also a very fun read giving you a glimpse (albeit fictional) into what life may have been like for a young Jesus. Showing that he had a grandpa and a life before he began his ministry. I love this book.

[Diane · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another wonderful novel about how Jesus' life might have been. She begins when the little family returns from exile and goes until He starts his ministry.

Read this book again in January 2017. Truly enjoyed it.

[Diane · Rating 1 out of 5]

About Jesus and his parents. I almost fell asleep several times.

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

this story takes place after Jesus is born and is told from the teenage Jesus's perspective. Marjorie Holmes gives an interesting twist to how He grew up. great read!

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was interesting but not as good as the first book.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this after the story of Mary and Joseph by the same author

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I liked this book, but there were some things about Jesus growing up that I don't imagine as having happened that way.

[Mary Etta · Rating 3 out of 5]

December book group read. I liked this fictional series account of what might have been in the unknown parts of Jesus Christ's life.

[Leasa · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great trilogy! I love these books!!!

[Kathy · Rating 4 out of 5]

Just as solid as the first book, Two From Galilee.