The Holy Land and Jesus in The Battle for Jesus
The Holy Land is pivotal to the novel The Battle for Jesus, a surreal story set in 2006.
Jesus, a journalist, moves from New York to run his column ‘Jesus’ Say’ in the Washington Truth. Mary Magdalene, already with the Washington Truth, has a column called ‘Mary’s Say’ and the two play off each other.
Finally, after two thousand years, they are together again.
There is no trepidation. They fearlessly address the effects of global warming and other controversial topics that many journalists in 2006 considered taboo.
Mr Muchmore, a media baron and recent convert to Christianity, syndicates Mary and Jesus’ columns across the US and the world at large.
Jesus and Mary are getting the word out.
Jesus feels impelled to visit the Holy Land. He feels that the sooner he goes, the sooner he will be able to debate various issues as an informed journalist.
Mary is deeply concerned and reluctant to go. But she travels with him unsure of his reaction to modern Israel strewn with ‘concrete and traffic lights’.
Having arrived in Jerusalem, Mary wants to rest up at the King David hotel, but Jesus insists on driving immediately to Bethlehem where they visit the Church of Nativity.
‘You were born just there, as far we know…” whispers Mary in the Grotto of the Church of Nativity where, with other pilgrims, they kneel to pray at his birthplace marked by a star inscribed in Latin with the words: Hic de Virgine Maria Jesus Christus Natus Est.
Picture of ‘The birthplace of Jesus in the Grotto of the Nativity’. (In the Church of Nativity, Bethlehem). Courtesy: Mark 87 at English Wikipedia – transferred from en-wikipedia to Commons. Public Domain. Via Wikimedia Commons.
Mary takes the opportunity to tell Jesus that 70% of all those in poverty are women. This is actually the modern day figure. Jesus takes her hand and places it on the star vowing to make ‘womanhood’ his first consideration. This is Jesus’ way of telling Mary that women’s rights must become an important part of the 21st Century. (E.g. issues such as equality and equal pay, etc.).
This is an important turning point in the story.
Mary and Jesus drive back to Jerusalem, and the wall, tall and menacing, stresses Jesus out causing him to stigmata. Mary saves his life and they agree to leave Israel for London where he recuperates and they go sightseeing.
Sitting on the steps of the Victoria Memorial opposite Buckingham Palace, Mary suggests that Jesus should meet a friend of hers… And, the plot thickens! For the rest, you must read the novel!