Splendour and Life

By Justin Roberts

Splendour and Life is a fantastical account of Jesus, written in the style of the New Testament. Abstracted from any specific time or place, it weaves fictional and historical elements together to tell his story in a new way.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Justin Roberts
• Release date: Feb 10, 2022
• ISBN: 9798201748395

Book preview

Author’s Note

Ithink the timing of this book is no coincidence. It began in a particular season of waning spiritual confidence in the world. We were discovering the hidden scandals of what seemed to be one spiritual leader after another, while leaders who passed away in good standing were not replaced in equal measure. And on the whole, a kind of hush had fallen on the spirit of many, who had grown in recognizing what is false, but less so what is good.

I had walked something of my own refining road, and saw much of what I once felt was important come to light as misguided. But if a thousand opinions fell by the wayside, some things re-emerged as of vital importance—indeed as pillars to life—and appeared with a vivid, spiritual potency unlike anything I had ever experienced. One of those pillars was a kind of intuitive, fiery vision of Jesus as incomparably beautiful and just and holy, singular in his person and relentless in his moral power.

Something like this vision came to Oscar Wilde when he was in prison towards the end of his life. He writes, There is something so unique about Christ . . .  Out of the Carpenter’s shop at Nazareth had come a personality infinitely greater than any made by myth and legend, one who had all the colour elements of life: mystery, strangeness, pathos, suggestion, ecstasy, love (De Profundis).

It was a conviction deep in Dostoevsky as well: in such moments I have formulated my creed, wherein all is clear and holy to me. This creed is extremely simple; here it is: I believe that there is nothing lovelier, deeper, more sympathetic, more rational, more manly, and more perfect than the Saviour; I say to myself with jealous love that not only is there no one else like Him, but that there could be no one. He then goes on to imagine an absurdity, I would even say more: If anyone could prove to me that Christ is outside the truth, and if the truth really did exclude Christ, I should prefer to stay with Christ and not with truth (Letters of Fyodor Michailovitch Dostoyevsky to his family and friends, XXII To Mme. N. D. Fonvisin, 1854).

This book is my desire to bring something of this conviction, this vision, to light, to bear witness to what in part I’ve seen, and offer in a time of disillusionment a drink of living water.

Justin Roberts, 2021

Chapter 1

One morning, when the sun had barely broken the dark of the night, Jesus walked to the village. Since he was a boy, he had helped make shoes for Joseph in his shop. But for years now, he had worked there full-time and, at thirty years old, had become a skilled shoemaker. He was in the habit of opening the shop early to work on orders. Before long, Joseph would join him and take care of repairs, look after customers, and manage the business.

Earlier that week, Joseph told Jesus that they were getting a special visitor. A distinguished philosopher was travelling on a speaking tour, and he had planned to come by the shop to have a pair of shoes made for him. It was now the day of his visit. After finishing the work they had set aside for the morning, they prepared the front room with refreshments for their guest.

There they waited for some time until they heard a crowd approaching. As the noise grew, they began to hear the clip-clop of horses. Joseph gave Jesus a puzzled look, then got up and went to the front door.

Looking out at the road, they saw the most regal carriage being pulled by two noble horses.