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Telling the Story, Redux

ach of these authors has his own reasoning for trying to tell a story yet again that most people already know yet. Nino Ricci seems to E tell it to struggle with his own religious past, while Anthony Burgess seems to use his novel to confirm what he believes. Jose Saramago appears captivated by the story, yet he is without any religious belief to speak of. Norman Mailer, with characteristic arrogance, seems to believe that he can identify with and can tell the story better than it has already been told. Nikos Kazantzakis tells the story, it seems, because he believes it and because he wants others to believe it. He may be unconventional in his beliefs, but his belief in Jesus is sincere. Authors continue to come back to the story of Jesus, perhaps the most compelling story ever, for manifold reasons. They can be counted on to skew their views of Jesus through their religious, historical, and the biblical backgrounds, creating new interpretations of God, new motivations for Judas, and new temptations for Jesus. Their attempts to tell the story serve to force readers to see the story in fresh ways, which is nearly always beneficial. There will always be those who are offended or angered by attempts to change the story, but these novels should not be seen as undertaking that. They are admittedly fiction, and, while fiction can often tell the truth straighter than nonfiction, none of these books attempts to present a portrayal of Jesus as anything more than imaginative. This approach does not limit the power of these stories. Kazantzakis’ portrayal of Jesus striding through the crowd to protect from being stoned still affects me more than any image in the . It does not matter to me that it did not necessarily happen in that way or even that it might have; given what I know about Jesus, I could easily see it happening. It rings true in a way that no other description does.

201 They Love to Tell the Story

It is this benefit from allowing those who have so immersed themselves in the gospels to see Jesus, his times, and his followers in new ways that should be the focus in examining these novels. Whether or not one agrees with the portrayals, one is forced to rethink his or her view of Jesus, which leads to new ideas, a result all novelists must be satisfied with. Thus, as readers, we should come back to these novels to have our preconceived views of Jesus shaken again and again, going back and forth between them and the gospels to see if we might find a truth we have missed along the way. For that reason alone, writers should continue to tell again and again The Greatest Story Ever Told.

202 References

Aggeler, Geoffrey. Anthony Burgess: The Artist as Novelist. Tuscaloosa, AL: University of Alabama Press, 1979. American Atheists. “The and Jesus Myth.” 11 May 2004. http://www.atheists. org/church/myth.html. Antonakes, . “Nikos Kazantzakis and as a Hero.” Journal of Modern Greek Studies 22:1 (May 2004): 95–105. Axton, Richard. “Interpretations of Judas in Middle English Literature.” Religion in the Poetry and Drama of the in England. Eds. Piero Boitani and Anna Torti. Cambridge: D.S. Brewer, 1900. 179–97. Ayad, Boulos Ayad. “From the Christian Apocrypha: The Miracles of Christ During His Childhood and the Childhood of .” Coptic Church Review 22:2 (Summer 2001): 55–63. Barclay, William. The Master’s Men. New York: Abingdon Press, 1959. Begieling, Robert. “Twelfth Round.” Conversations with Norman Mailer. Jackson, MS: University of Mississippi Press, 1988. Bellan-Boyer, Lisa. “Conspicuous in Their Absence: Women in Early Christianity.” Cross Currents 53:1 (Spring 2003): 48–63. . NIV Version. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1986. Blair, E.P. “Joseph Husband of Mary.” Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible. 1962 ed. ———. “Judas.” Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible. 1962 ed. ———. “Mary.” Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible. 1962 ed. Bloom, Harold. “‘The One With the Beard is God, the Other is the Devil.’” Portuguese Literary and Cultural Studies 6 (Spring 2001): 155–166. Brandon, S.G.F. The Trial of Jesus of Nazareth. New York: Stein and Day, 1979. Brown, Dan. The Da Vinci Code. New York: Doubleday, 2003. Burgess, Anthony. Man of Nazareth. 1979. Toronto: Bantam, 1982. ———. Little Wilson and Big God. New York: Weidenfeld and Nicolson, 1986. ———. You’ve Had Your Time: The Second Part of the Confessions. New York: G. Weidenfeld, 1991. Casey, Paul F. “Blurring Genre Boundaries: Judas and His Role in Early Modern German Drama.” Infinite Boundaries: Order, Disorder, and Reorder in Early Modern German Culture. Ed. Max Reinhart. Kirksville, MO: Thomas Jefferson University Press, 1998. 101–120. Chilton, Bruce. “John the Baptist: His Immersion and Death.” Dimensions of Baptism: Biblical and Theological Studies. Eds. Stanley E. Porter and Anthony R. Cross. London: Sheffield Academic Press, 2002. 25–44.

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Coale, Samuel. Anthony Burgess. New York: F. Ungar Publishing Co., 1981. Crace, Jim. Quarantine. New York: Picador, 1998. Cunneen, Sally. In Search of Mary: the Woman and the Symbol. New York: Ballantine Books, 1996. D’Angelo, Mary Rose. “Restructuring ‘Real’ Women From Gospel Literature.” Women and Christian Origins. Eds. Ross Shepard Kraemer and Mary Rose D’Angelo. New York: Oxford University Press, 1999. 105–128. Farmer, W.R. “John the Baptist.” Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible. 1962 ed. Filas, Francis. Joseph: The Man Closest to Jesus: The Complete Life, Theology, and Devotional History of St. Joseph. Boston: St. Paul Editions, 1962. Filson, F. V. “Peter.” Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible. 1962 ed. Fredriksson, Marianne. According to Mary Magdalene. Trans. by Joan Tate. Charlottesville, VA: Hampton Roads, 1999. Galeotti, Gary. “’s Identity Reconsidered.” Faith and Mission 15:2 (Spring 1998): 72–86. George, Margaret. Mary Called Magdalene. New York: Viking, 2002. Gessell, Paul. “‘Jesus, .’” Ottawa Citizen 2 May 2002: F1. Glenday, Michael. Norman Mailer. New York: St. Martin’s, 1995. “The Gospel According to Mailer.” All Things Considered. National Public Radio. 23 April 1997. Grant, Robert. Jesus After the Gospel: The Christ of the Second Century. Louisville, KY: Westminster/John Knox Press, 1990. Gray, Paul. “The Gospel According to the Son.” Time 28 April 1997: 75. Hand, Elizabeth. “The Word Made Flesh.” The Washington Post 1 June 2003: T6. Haskins, Susan. Mary Magdalene: Myth and Metaphor. New York: Harcourt, 1993. Jansen, Katherine. The Making of the Magdalen: Preaching and Popular Devotion in the Later Middle Ages. Princeton, NJ: Princeton UP, 2000. Josipovici, . “Son of God Tries to Outwit His Mad Father.” The Independent 11 September 1993: 31. Kaufman, Helena. “Evangelical Truths: Jose Saramago on the Life of Christ.” Revista Hispánica Moderna 47:2 (December 1994): 449–458. Kazantzakis, Helen. Nikos Kazantzakis: A Biography Based on His Letters. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1968. Kazantzakis, Nikos. The Last . Trans. P.A. Bien. New York: Simon and Schuster, 1960. King, Karen L. The Gospel of Mary of Magdala: Jesus and the First Woman Apostle. Santa Rosa, CA: Polebridge Press, 2003. Klassen, William. Judas: Betrayer or Friend of Jesus. Minneapolis: Fortress Press, 1996. Knox, John. The Humanity and Divinity of Christ, a Study of Pattern in Christology. Cambridge: University Press, 1967.

204 References

Knutson, Galen C. “The Feast of Mary Magdalene.” Worship 71:3 (May 1997): 205–20. Leavitt, Morton P. The Cretan Glance: The World and Art of Nikos Kazantzakis. Columbus, OH: Ohio State UP, 1980. Légasse, Simon. The Trial of Jesus. London: SCM Press, 1997. Lienhard, Joseph T. “John the Baptist in Augustine’s Exegesis.” Augustine: Biblical Exegete. New York: Peter Lang, 2001. 197–213. ———. St. Joseph in Early Christianity. Philadelphia: St. Joseph’s University Press, 1999. Mailer, Norman. The Gospel According to the Son. New York: Ballantine Books, 1997. Maisch, Ingrid. Mary Magdalene: The Image of a Woman Through the Centuries. Collegeville, MN: Liturgical Press, 1998. McGing, Brian C. “Pontius Pilate and the Sources.” Catholic Biblical Quarterly 53.3 (July 1991): 416–438. McKendrick, Jamie. “Father, Son and Much Free Spirit: The Gospel According to Jesus Christ.” The Independent 12 September 1993: 31. Middleton, Darren J.N. and Peter Bien. “Introduction: Spiritual Levendía: Kazantzakis’s Theology of Struggle.” God’s Struggle: Religion in the Writings of Nikos Kazantzakis. Eds. Darren J.N. Middleton and Peter Bien. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press, 1996. Moore, Christopher. Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal. New York: HarperCollins, 2002. Nash, Elizabeth. “Saramago the Atheist, an Outsider in His Own Land.” The Independent 9 October 1998: 17. Pagels, Elaine. The Gnostic Gospels. 1979. New York: Vintage Books, 1989. Pavey, Ruth. “Jealous God.” New Statesman and Society 6:267 (August 27, 1993): 40. Perkins, Pheme. Peter: Apostle for the Whole Church. Columbia, SC: University of South Carolina Press, 1994. Poirier, Richard. Norman Mailer. New York: Viking Press, 1972. Preto-Rodas, Richard A. “A review of O Evangelho segundo Jesus Cristo.” World Literature Today 66:4 (Autumn 1992): 697. Pyper, Hugh. “Modern Gospels of Judas: Canon and Betrayal.” Literature and Theology 15:2 (June 2001): 111–122. Ricci, Nino. Testament. Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 2003. Roberts, Michèle. The Wild Girl. London: Minerva, 1984. Sandmel, S. “.” Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible. 1962 ed. ———. “ He r o d .” Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible. 1962 ed. ———. “P i l a t e , Pont iu s .” Interpreter’s Dictionary of the Bible. 1962 ed. Saramago, Jose. The Gospel According to Jesus Christ. Trans. Giovanni Pontiero. San Diego, Harcourt, 1991.

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Schaberg, Jane. “Fast Forwarding to the Magdalene.” Semeia 74 (1996): 33–45. Southern Baptist Convention. The Baptist Faith and Message. 11 May 2004. http:// www.sbc.net/bfm/bfm2000.asp#i. Starnino, Carmine. “The Catholic Connection: In a Novel About Jesus, Nino Ricci is Still Preoccupied with Roots.” The Gazette 18 May 2002: G1. Stavans, Ilan. “A Fisher of Men.” The Nation 258:19 (May 16, 1994): 675–76. Stinson, John J. Anthony Burgess Revisited. Boston: Twayne, 1991. Stoffman, Judy. “The Next Temptation of Nino Ricci.” Toronto Star 11 May 2002: J15. Thimmes, Pamela. “Memory and Re-Vision: Mary Magdalene Research Since 1975.” Currents in Research: Biblical Studies 6 (1998): 193–226. Van Biema, David. “Mary Magdalene: Saint or Sinner?” Time 162:6 (11 August 2003): 52–. Expanded Academic ASAP. Tennessee Electronic Library. Squires Library, Cleveland, TN. 28 January 2005. Wald-Hopkins, Christine. “Retelling the Story of Jesus: Fictionalized Account Presents Complex Hero.” The Denver Post 6 July 2003: EE–01. Wernick, Robert. “Who the Devil is the Devil?” Smithsonian 30:7 (October 1999): 112–123. Online. EBSCOhost. Winkett, Lucy. “Go Tell! Thinking About Mary Magdalene.” Feminist Theology: The Journal of the Britain and Ireland School of Feminist Theology 29 (2002): 19–31. Wood, James. “The Gospel According to the Son.” The New Republic 12 May 1997: 30–36. Ziolkowski, Theodore. Fictional Transfigurations of Jesus. Princeton, NJ: Princeton University Press, 1972.

206 Index

According to Mary Magdalene (Fredriksson) limitations of women in, 131–133 multiple view of events, 24n temptation of Jesus in, 169n, 173n truth and, 2–4, 20n Andrew, 75, 197–198

Beggar appearance when Mary is pregnant, 42 Devil disguised as, 73, 78–79 God disguised as, 33 Bible. See also Gospels; specific books of the bible as product of man, 29 views on, 13 The Book of James, 30, 48, 51 Brown, Dan, 26, 90n, 142, 170 Burgess, Anthony Jesus of Nazareth screenplay and, 3 motivation for writing, 3 reason for writing, 201 religious background of, 2–3 retelling of the gospels (See Man of Nazareth (Burgess)) view on reliability of gospels, 14–15

Caiaphas, 145–151 Judas and, 113–114 Pilate and, 148–149, 157 Pontius Pilate and, 147–148, 151, 156 responsibility for Jesus’ death, 162 Catholicism, 1–2 Christians, early Devil and, 72 gospels as, 22 traditional, 1

207 They Love to Tell the Story

Church, early combine with “Christians, early” Devil and, 72 view of Peter, 89–90 Communion service, 187 combine with Eucharist being nailed to the cross and, 177 Jesus’ fear of, 175–177 Mary and, 40 Mary Magdalene and, 40, 139–140 redemptive sacrifice and, 196–197 responsibility for, 145 Caiaphas and, 145–151 and, 158–162 Jews, 145, 149, 153, 162 Pontius Pilate and, 151–158 Romans and, 145, 148–149, 162

The Da Vinci Code (Brown), 26, 90n, 142, 170 Death of Jesus. See Crucifixion Devil (Satan), 71–82 Burgess’ portrayal of, 73–74, 82 early church and, 72 exaggeration and, 23, 78 God and, 7–8 guises of, 73–79 Judas and, 74, 111 Kazantzakis’ portrayal of, 71–76, 79, 82 knowledge of, 80–81 Mailer’s portrayal of, 71–77, 82 Pastor as, 79–81 Ricci’s writings and, 72, 82 Saramago’s portrayal of, 71-72, 78–81 temptation of Jesus and, 63–73, 74, 76 Dialogue of the Savior, 141 Didascalia Apostolorum, 142 Divinity of Jesus, 182 acceptance of everyone’s equally and, 193–194 dichotomy with humanity, 163 growth of church and, 163–164

208 Index

Kazantzakis interpretation of, 197 Ricci interpretation of, 191 role of Jesus as Son of God and, 195 use of abilities for good of others and, 193–195 of Mary, 33–35 Docetism, 164

Elazar (Lazarus), resurrection of, 16, 137, 162, 180 Elizabeth, 60–61 Essenes, 50, 61, 172 Eucharist, 183–184 Evil. See also Devil (Satan) absence in Burgess’ work, 74 struggle with good, 7 Exaggeration, Devil and, 23, 78

Fictional Transfigurations of Jesus (Ziolkowski), xiv–xv, 59, 83, 99 First Apocalypse of James, 141 Fredriksson, Marianne. See According to Mary Magdalene (Fredriksson)

George, Margaret. See Mary Called Magdalene (George) Gnostic Gospels, 184 God Devil and, 7 Jesus and, 189 man’s struggle to understand, 6 Good and evil struggle, 7 The Gospel According to Jesus Christ (Saramago) Caiaphas in, 145–149 Devil in, 71–73, 78–81 Jesus in, 167–168, 195–197 healing powers of, 185–187 humanity of, 164–169 miracles of, 189–190 relationships with women and, 168–169 as Son of God, 181–182 John the Baptist in, 61–65, 69 Joseph in, 46, 53–57 Judas in, 56, 110, 115 Mary Magdalene in, 122, 128, 136–137, 140, 169

209 They Love to Tell the Story

as offensive to Portuguese Catholics, 10–11 Peter in, 84, 88, 96 Pontius Pilate in, 154–157 Virgin Mary in, 29, 37, 41 The Gospel According to the Son (Mailer) Caiaphas in, 148 Devil in, 10–11, 71–77, 82 greed and, 177 Herod in, 158, 161 Jesus in, 187–189 humanity of, 164–166, 171–173, 175, 177–179 miracles of, 185–189 relationship with women, 171 John the Baptist in, 59–61 Joseph in, 46, 49–50, 52, 56 Judas in, 110 Mary Magdalene in, 128, 140 Peter in, 85–87 Pontius Pilate in, 155, 156 reliability of gospels and, 21–23 Virgin Mary in, 29, 36, 40 Gospel of Mary, 90–91, 130, 140, 141, 170 Gospel of Thomas, 27 Gospels Christian retellings of (See under specific book titles) reliability of Burgess and, 14–16 Kazantzakis and, 19–21 Mailer and, 21–24 Ricci and, 16–19 Saramago and, 25–27 Synoptic, 14, 73, 151 Luke (See Luke, gospel of) Mark, 1n, 23, 151, 158 Matthew (See Matthew, gospel of) validity of, 14

Healing powers, of Jesus, 15–17, 179, 180, 185–192 Herod (Antipas; Antipater), 157–162 John’s death and, 64, 69, 162, 176

210 Index

in Joseph’s dream, 55 Judas and, 112 , 160–161 History of Joseph the Carpenter, 45, 48–50 Humanity of Jesus being nailed to the cross and, 176–177 Burgess’ portrayal of, 165, 166 childhood and, 165 dichotomy with divinity, 163 healing powers and, 192 Kazantzakis’ portrayal of, 163, 171–175 limitations as a healer and, 180–181 Mailer’s portrayal of, 165–167, 172–173, 176, 177–179 marriage to Sara and, 168–169 miracles and, 177–179 Ricci’s portrayal of, 179–180 Saramago ‘s portrayal of, 165–168 temptation and, 171–175

Ignatius of Antioch, 164 Imitatio Christi, xiv–xv Infancy of Gospel Thomas, 14, 165, 197 Insanity, of Jesus, 35–36

Jerubal, 194–195 Jesus acceptance of outcasts, 192–194 actions of, as fulfilling a prophecy, 20 baptism of, 197–198 birth of, 14, 32 brothers of, 48–49, 52 as carpenter or naggar, 166 childhood of, 165–167 crucifixion of, 40–41 death of (See Crucifixion) divinity of (See Divinity of Jesus) dual nature of, xiv existence, historicity of, 21–22 false stories about, 27–28 fear of his own death, 68–69

211 They Love to Tell the Story

healing powers of, 15–17, 179, 180, 185–192 humanity of (See Humanity of Jesus) insanity of, 36 insistence on truth, 22–23 Jewishness of, 150–151 John the Baptist and, 62–66, 69 Joseph and, 49, 52, 56–57 Judas and, 113–115 as King, 150 marriage to Sara, 168–169, 182 Mary Magdalene and, 169–170 as , 31, 34, 46, 62, 147, 165, 197 miracles of (See Miracles, Jesus’) multiple views of, 4–5 Peter and, 88, 91–93 portrayal in retelling of gospels (See under specific book titles) relationships with women, 169–172, 192 resurrection of, 180–181 sister of, 52 as Son of God, 53, 181–182, 195–199 supernatural love of, 17 temptations of, 71–77, 81–82 view of love, 192 Virgin Mary and, 40 Jesus of Nazareth screenplay (Burgess), 3 Jesus redivivus, xiv, xv Jesus Seminar, 17–18, 32, 47, 73, 181 Jews Essence community, 50 idea of and role of Jesus as Messiah, 147–150 Mary’s status in society and, 41–44 Pontius Pilate and, 153–154 traditions of, 6–7 Job, book of, 80–81 John, gospel of, 23, 39, 74, 151, 155 John the Baptist, 59–69 Burgess’ portrayal of, 59–65, 161 cult of, 59–60 death of, 64, 67, 69 as harbinger of Messiah, 62–63

212 Index

Herod and, 158–159 Jesus and, 62–66, 69 Kazantzakis’ portrayal of, 59, 62–64, 69 Mailer’s portrayal of, 59–61 as the Messiah, 62n, 66 Moore’s portrayal of, 62n, 67n repentance of sin and, 62, 63, 65 Ricci’s portrayal of, 59, 67–69 Saramago’s portrayal of, 61–65, 69 Joseph Burgess’ portrayal of, 30, 46–53, 56 death of, 54–56 decision to save Jesus, 55 Jesus and, 49, 52, 56–57 Kazantzakis’ portrayal of, 33, 51–52 Mailer’s portrayal of, 46, 48–50, 52, 57 reactions to Mary’s pregnancy of, 50–51 Ricci’s portrayal of, 31, 46–47, 52, 53 Saramago’s portrayal of, 46, 54–56 theological writings about, 45–46 vocation of, 46–47 , 154, 161 Joshua, 173. See Jesus Judas, 99–120 Burgess’ portrayal of, 74, 92–93, 100–101, 106–112, 147 George’s portrayal of, 111n, 112–113 Iscariot, derivation of, 99, 101 Jesus and, 113–115 as Jewish nationalist, 101–103 Kazantzakis’ portrayal of, 100, 101, 104, 110, 113–114, 175, 198 Mailers’ portrayal of, 100, 101, 119–120 Moore’’s portrayal of, 93n, 102 motivation for betrayal of Jesus, 99, 100, 102, 110n Ricci’s portrayal of, 19, 100, 101, 103–104, 116–118, 138 Saramago’s portrayal of, 57, 110, 115 Satanic possession of, 74, 111

Kazantzakis, Nikos higher truth and, 21, 24 motivation for writing, 201

213 They Love to Tell the Story

reliability of gospels, 19–21 religious background of, 5 retelling of the gospels (See The Last Temptation of Christ (Kazantzakis)) Kenosis (“emptying”), 164

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal (Moore) Jesus in, 4, 166n, 184, 193 John the Baptist in, 62n, 67n Judas in, 93n, 102 Mary Magdalene in, 135–137 resurrection in, 188n use of women in, 173 The Last Temptation of Christ (Kazantzakis) Caiaphas in, 145–148 Devil in, 71–76, 79, 82 Herod in, 162 Jesus in, 201 baptism of, 198 divinity of, 197 humanity of, 163, 171–175 miracles of, 184–185 relationship with women, 171 role in God’s plan, 198 as Son of God, 181–182 temptations of, 165, 174–175 John the Baptist in, 59, 62–63, 69 Joseph in, 32, 51–52 Judas in, 104 Mary Magdalene in, 38, 75, 126–127, 132 Peter in, 86–87, 92, 94, 97 Pontius Pilate in, 151 reliability of gospels and, 19 Virgin Mary in, 32–38 Lazarus (Elazar), resurrection of, 16–17, 137, 162, 180–181 Luke, gospel of Caiaphas and Pilate in, 146, 151 Herod in, 158–159 Mary Magdalene in, 140 reliability of, 23 Satanic possession of Judas, 73

214 Index

Zechariah in, 60

Mailer, Norman reason for writing, 201 reliability of gospels and, 21–22 religious background of, 6–7 responsibility for Jesus’ death and, 150 retelling of gospels (See The Gospel According to the Son (Mailer)) Mandeans, 66 Man of Nazareth (Burgess) Caiaphas in, 145–146, 152 Devil in, 73–74, 82 Eucharist in, 183–184 Herod in, 160, 161 Jesus in, 165, 166, 190 as fulfillment of prophecy, 190 humanity of, 164, 165 marriage to Sara and, 169, 182 miracles of, 14 relationships with women, 168 as Son of God, 182, 195 John the Baptist in, 59–65, 161 Joseph in, 30–31, 46–52, 56 Judas in, 74, 92–93, 100–101, 106–112, 147 Mary Magdalene in, 39, 125, 140 Peter in, 83–84, 88–90, 92–94, 96–97 Pontius Pilate and, 155–156 Virgin Mary in, 30–31, 34, 39, 44, 48–49 Mark, gospel of, 1n, 23, 146, 151, 159 Mary. See Virgin Mary Mary Called Magdalene (George) Herod in, 158–159 Jesus’ healing powers in, 186n Judas in, 71n, 111n limitations of women in patriarchal society and, 130–132 Mary and Jesus’ relationship in, 169n Peter in, 91 Pontius Pilate in, 153n portrayal of Mary in, 131–132, 136–137 reliability of gospels and, 27–28

215 They Love to Tell the Story

Mary Magdalene, 121–143 adulterous women and, 124, 127 as “apostle to the apostles,” 122–123, 129–130 associated with women deacons, 142 Burgess’ portrayal of, 39, 125, 140 feminist interpretation of, 121 Kazantzakis’ portrayal of, 38, 75, 126–127, 132 Mailer’s portrayal of, 128, 140 marriage of Jesus, 27, 170 Moore’s portrayal of, 135–137 multiple views of, 4–5 Pope Gregory’s position on, 122–123 as prostitute, 121–123, 131–132 as redeemed sinner, 124–125 relationship with Jesus, 126–128, 134, 169–170 as resurrection witness, 40, 139–140 Ricci’s portrayal of, 38, 122, 125, 134–140 Saramago’s portrayal of, 122, 128–129, 137–138, 140, 169 as temptation for Jesus, 132, 171–173 Matthew, gospel of Caiaphas and Pilate in, 146, 151 Herod in, 159 John the Baptist in, 62 Mary Magdalene in, 139 Peter in, 92 reliability of, 19–20, 23 Messiah, Jesus as, 31, 34, 46, 62, 147, 165, 197 Miracles, Jesus’, 184–190 exaggeration of, 14–16 of healing, 15–16, 179, 180, 183, 185–192 loaves and fishes, 187 resurrection, 181, 188–189 transubstantiation during Eucharist, 183–184 turning water into wine, 15, 182 walking on water, 188 Moore, Christopher. See Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ’s Childhood Pal (Moore)

Outcasts, Jesus’ acceptance of, 191–194, 193n

216 Index

Papal authority, Petrine foundation of, 88–91 Pastor, Devil as, 80–81 Peter, 83–97 acceptance of Mary, 91 betrayal by, 74n Burgess’ portrayal of, 83–84, 88–90, 92–94, 96–97 denial of Jesus, 94, 95 as , 76 dream of, 19 as first pope, 88–89, 91 George’s portrayal of, 91 Kazantzakis’ portrayal of, 86–87, 92, 94, 97 Mailer’s portrayal of, 85–87 as ordinary man, 83–84 post-resurrection events, 95 Ricci’s portrayal of, 95–97 role of women in church and, 91 Saramago’s portrayal of, 84, 88, 96 , 150 , 154–155 Pilate. See Pontius Pilate Pistis Sophia, 141 Pontius Pilate, 151–158 Caiaphas and, 147–148, 151, 156 Christian view of, 158 portrayal in Christian retellings (See under specific book titles) responsibility for Jesus’ death, 162 truth and, 23–24, 151 Pope Gregory, 122–124, 135–136 Power, temptation of, 74–76 Pride, 75 Prostitution, 131–133 “Pseudonyms” of Christ, xiv, xv

Quarantine, 199n

Rape, of Mary, 32 Redemption, 121–122 Religious backgrounds, of authors. See specific authors Repentance of sin, 62, 63, 65

217 They Love to Tell the Story

Resurrection, 197 Revenge, temptation for, 78 Ricci, Nino reason for writing, 201 reliability of gospels and, 16–19, 24 religious background of, 9–10 religious beliefs of, 191 retelling of the gospels (See Testament (Ricci)) Roberts, Michèle, 90–91, 170 Roman Catholic Church. See Church, early

Salome, 37, 39, 69, 160 , 146, 147 Sara, 35, 168–169, 182 Saramago, Jose reason for writing, 201 reliability of gospels and, 25–26 religious background of, 10 retelling of the gospels (See The Gospel According to Jesus Christ (Saramago)) Satan. See Devil , 162, 174, 198 Simon. See Peter Simon of Gergesa, 194 , 83, 85 St. Joseph, 45. See also Joseph Synoptic Gospels, 8, 14–16, 59, 73, 135, 158. See also Luke, gospel of; Mark, gospel of, Matthew, gospel of

Temptation of Jesus greed, 177 idea of marriage and stability, 173–174 Mary Magdalene and, 71–77, 81–82 not to admit he was chosen by God, 174–176 in wilderness, 71, 190 Testament (Ricci) absence of Devil in, 72, 82 Caiaphas in, 145–147 Herod in, 162 Jesus in acceptance of outcasts, 192–193

218 Index

exaggeration of his actions, 15–19 humanity of, 179–180 temptations of, 165 John the Baptist in, 59, 67–69 Joseph in, 31, 46–47, 52, 53 Mary Magdalene in, 38, 122, 125, 134–140 Peter in, 95–97 Pontius Pilate in, 151–154 religious conflict in, 9–12 responsibility for Jesus’ death in, 148–149, 162 resurrection of Elazar, 180 Virgin Mary in, 29, 31, 38–43 Testament of Judah, 102 The Testament of Twelve Patriarchs, 102 Theotokos (God-bearer), 30, 34 Thomas, 27 Truth higher vs. historical, 20–21, 23 Jesus and, 23–24, 155 Judas as seeker of, 100–102 Mary Magdalene and, 4, 20n Pontius Pilate and, 23–24, 151–152

Virgin birth, 29–30 Virgin Mary birth of, 33–34 Burgess’ portrayal of, 30–31, 34, 39, 44, 48–49 Catholicism and, 89n divinity of, 34, 35 Jesus and, 34–38, 41–43, 52–53 Joseph and, 41–43, 47, 48, 53 Kazantzakis’ portrayal of, 32–38 Mailers’ portrayal of, 29, 35–36 as mother of Jesus, 30, 35–36 orthodox concept of, 30 rape of, 32 reactions to pregnancy of, 49–50 Saramagos’ portrayal of, 29, 37, 41 suffering of, 34–35, 41 Theotokos (God-bearer), 30, 34

219 They Love to Tell the Story

virginal conception of Jesus, 48 virginity of, 29–33, 48

The Wild Girl (Roberts), 90, 133, 143, 170 Women, 170–173. See also specific women in Catholic church, 90–91 Jesus’ relationships with, 169–172, 192 under Jewish law, 131–133 rights of, in Jewish society and religion, 41–44 role in church, 90n

Yeshua of Nazareth. See Jesus

Zealots, 104, 110, 116, 156 Zealot- group, 102–103 Zechariah, 60–61 Ziolkowski, Theodore, xiv–xv, 29, 59, 83, 99

220