What if the Inanimate Objects Speak?
Humans are capable of speech. Animals express themselves through action and sounds. But, what about inanimate objects? Do they speak? A book author tells us how some objects testify as witnesses to the crucifixion of Christ.
Witnesses to the Crucifixion:
Stories of Redemption and the Healing Power of Jesus
By Ricky Carstensen with James E. Doucette
Book Review
When we speak of Witnesses to the Crucifixion, we refer to the Jews and the Romans of the 1st century. We think of the people present during the last few hours of Jesus’ life. And, our opinions are based on historical records and on what the Bible says.
But, the author of Witnesses to the Crucifixion tells us the story in another way. He uses unusual characters. Ricky Carstensen toys with the idea of giving life to some objects associated with Jesus’ crucifixion. He refers to the thorns, robe, nail, shroud, spear, and the stone. He says:
“If you could give each of these objects a heart and a voice, just what might their testimony say?”
And, that’s exactly what he does in his book! Carstensen puts a heart and a voice to six items.
Witnesses to the Crucifixion and its Author
Each of the inanimate characters shares its role and experiences with the Lord. The dried thorns see itself twisted and formed into a ring. While the ragged robe is baffled as to why it is picked to clothe a king. And, the story of the dogwood tree is explained.
Now, I stop the description here. I don’t want to go into detail about how the other characters react to their situation to avoid spoilers.
Nevertheless, the inanimate Witnesses to the Crucifixion present their thoughts effectively, the reader might think of them as humans. Each one brings forth a profound message anyone can learn from. And this proves Carstensen is a good story-teller. He organizes the plot very well.
Moreover, the author’s writing style is simple and easy to understand. The book is even a good read for children.
Witnesses to the Crucifixion: Technical Side
What I like the most about Witnesses to the Crucifixion is its presentation. Telling the story from a different perspective is somehow refreshing. For this, I wanted to give the book a perfect rating. But, I’m just bothered about its formatting. Although it doesn’t ruin the readability of the story, the Scriptures were put too far apart by a blank page. I’m unable to make out the pictures, either. Because of this, I give Witnesses to the Crucifixion a rating of 4 out of 5 stars instead. And, I recommend this book to readers of all age groups.
