Posted: 5/30/03
Layman's whodunit book takes on
the case of Jesus' empty tomb
By George Henson
Staff Writer
MIDLOTHIAN–It's a classic whodunit. Only the mystery isn't in the murder–scores of people witnessed that–but in who took the body.
The stage is set for a private eye with an attitude to strut in, follow the clues and finger the culprit.
That's the setting for “Jake Palestine P.I. and the Case of the Empty Tomb,” the latest effort by Robert Nix to expose people to the gospel in a creative way.
“My goal is to reach people with the gospel of Jesus Christ who might not have that great an interest and in a creative way that will make them pay attention,” Nix said. The novel portrays the hard-boiled detective being hired by Pilate and Jewish religious leaders to find the body of Jesus before rumors of a resurrection gain steam.
| “I think there will be some who read the book and decide if Jesus isn't in the tomb, he's someone they need to get to know more about.”
–Robert Nix |
“Jake Palestine” is the Texas Baptist layman's first book, but he has written a number of humorous plays and skits that are available through Parable Ministries, which he founded. “The book is targeted toward a younger audience, but truthfully I think more older people have actually read it,” Nix said. “No matter how old they are, the goal is to reach people who may not read another type of religious book.”
He wanted the story to be entertaining so people would read it, but the crucial part is that “the tomb was empty,” he said. “There is not a more important message in the world than that.”
A Sunday School teacher at Longbranch Community Baptist Church in Midlothian, Nix and his wife teach kindergarten through fourth grade. He also works full time in technology sales.
To prepare for writing the book, Nix studied not only Jewish history, but Roman history as well.
“As Christians, we spend time reading the Bible and studying the Bible, but we lose sight of the impact of the Romans,” he explained. “They would not have rested, could not have rested, until the body was found–if it could have been found.”
He readily acknowledges, however, that his book is a fictional work inspired by the truth of the Bible.
“Not every page is historical, but I've tried to place a context that is historical,” he explained. “Why was Pilate frightened of the Jewish leadership? I tried to place a very accurate historical background along with actual biblical references and then insert a fictional character into all of it.”
Along with the dramas, the book is just one more way Nix hopes Parable Ministries can help churches and youth groups “illustrate the gospel creatively.”
Currently, he is creating a study guide to go along with the book.
Dramas published by Parable Ministries center on the lives of Jesus, Noah and David.
In the dramas and the book alike, his goal is evangelistic.
“I think there will be some who read the book and decide if Jesus isn't in the tomb, he's someone they need to get to know more about.”
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