The apostle Paul once said, “If Christ be not risen, then is our preaching vain, and your faith is also vain” (1 Corinthians 15:14 KJV).
The Resurrection is one of the most important events for Christians.
It defines a Christian’s faith because it means that what Jesus preached on Earth is true.
How else could Christians believe this if he didn’t raise from the dead and prove everlasting life was possible?
Because this component of the Christian faith is so important, many authors have tried to convey it through their books.
They write allegorical accounts that are akin to the parables Jesus told his disciples.
Three Christian fantasy authors that do this are Jaye L. Knight, C.S. Lewis, and Ted Dekker.
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1. Samara’s Peril
Jaye L. Knight may be the lesser known author from this list, but her Christian Fantasy series is well liked.
Powerful and well-written, the series mainly follows the stories of Jace and Kyrin.
In the book where the allegorical account of Christ is retold, Samara’s Peril, Knight focuses on Jace’s personal journey.
Jace, throughout the series, struggles with whether or not he has a soul and can be saved.
Since he doesn’t believe he is worth anything, he decides to sacrifice himself for another person and Knight’s Christ character steps in.
Even though this part of the story is small, it is so emotionally powerful that I had to include it in this list.
Bring a box of tissues, this book hits the heart!
Buy the Book: https://amzn.to/3TdywZ4
2. The Complete Circle Series
Samara’s Peril isn’t the only story that made me cry when I read the story of the resurrection.
Ted Dekker’s Circle Christian fantasy series is an intense emotional journey.
The story focuses on Thomas Hunter, a man trapped between two worlds, unsure which is real and which is fake.
In his “fake” world, he witnesses the Fall and the Law, as well as how it affects his “real” world.
With the Law in the fantasy world, Thomas Hunter and other followers of God are forced to take multiple ceremonial washes.
Their washes are tedious, and some opt out of them to follow false gods.
This is such a great image of the Law of Moses. Eventually, he breaks it through a Jesus character.
The symbolism and the sacrifice of this scene still is in my mind, even though I haven’t reread the Circle series in years.
Buy the Book: https://amzn.to/4cKuLRP
3. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe
I discovered Ted Dekker after I finished C.S. Lewis’ Chronicles of Narnia.
I had wanted something as epic as C.S. Lewis’ deceptively simple series.
Even though no one can match Master Lewis, I was glad to find other Christian Fantasy authors to read.
Lewis’ artistry is especially apparent in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, because of the allegorical account of the Resurrection.
Aslan, Lewis’ Christ character, is so majestic and powerful that he almost becomes the main character in the story.
Yet, Lucy and Susan’s reaction to Aslan’s sacrifice, as well as Edmund’s, are what add the extra “omph” to emotional retelling of Christ’s death and resurrection.
The book does a magnificent job of describing this sacrifice and triumph.
Buy the Book: https://amzn.to/3My3BCY
At the end of the same passage where Paul reminds Christians that the Resurrection is key to the faith, he concludes:“O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory?”
These words, shared in many songs, are exactly what I think of whenever I finish reading a retelling of the Resurrection.
Because of Jesus Christ’s sacrifice on the cross and his resurrection from the grave, human beings who follow him no longer need to fear death.
This message is what these fiction writers are ultimately conveying in their stories–the resurrection is real, and if you believe, you can be free of death.
And that message, I think, is well worth the read.
For Further Reading:
8 Christian Fantasy Books to Read
I’ve heard a lot about these first two books, and REALLY want to read them 😉 Great review post!
keturahskorner.blogspot.com
Thanks Keturah! I love them as well!