Spying on Jesus: A Novella

Spying on Jesus: A Novella

The government of Herod Antipas has hired Caleb the scribe to spy on a rabble-rousing prophet, Jesus of Nazareth. Suspicious and critical of Jesus, Caleb infiltrates his band of followers and sends letters back to the government reporting on Jesus’ shocking behavior and dangerous message. As the threat of arrest rises and Jesus heads toward a confrontation with religious and political power in Jerusalem, Caleb finds his questions deepening and his loyalties shifting. How will he resolve the most urgent crisis of his life? "By choosing an imaginary character--Caleb the scribe--as first-person narrator, Ryan Ahlgrim achieves what countless other authors have not. He remains true to both to the person, and to the highly conflicted religious and political context, of Jesus of Nazareth that we see in the Gospels. Watching Caleb's faith in Jesus grow from a deeply skeptical 'watcher' of Jesus to a full-on disciple is an inspirational example from which we have something to learn. This is not only good biblical interpretation. It is a well-crafted narrative that's hard to put down." --Phil Kniss, Retired Pastor, Harrisonburg, Virginia Ryan Ahlgrim is pastor of First Mennonite Church of Richmond (Virginia). With over thirty years of pastoral experience, he has served as a youth pastor, assistant pastor, church planter, and lead pastor of a multi-staff church. A graduate of Anabaptist Mennonite Biblical Seminary (MDiv) and McCormick Theological Seminary (DMin), he has written dozens of articles, authored a book on preaching, Not as the Scribes: Jesus as a Model for Prophetic Preaching , and taught college and seminary courses and webinars. A history buff, movie critic, and hiker, he enjoys museums, theaters, and waterfalls. He and his wife, Laurie, have two grown children.