An Extraordinary and Forgotten Classic

There are many classic books that almost anyone will recognize. If you mention The Secret Garden, Little Women, or anything by Jane Austen in conversation is it more likely than not that the other person will know what you’re talking about, even if they haven’t read the book for themselves. These are the books that come to mind when we say ‘classics’.

But then there are the other kinds of classics. They aren’t called that merely because they have been around so long that you know their names, but because their great quality of story has enabled them to endure the test of time. The Robe, by Lloyd C. Douglas is one of these books.

A Story Set During the Time of Jesus

"It was a loneliness that plainly said, 'You could all do something about this unhappy world, if you would; but you won't.'"
-p. 80

There is a lot of weight on anything set during the life of Jesus. There is so much room for an author to portray Him in a questionable or outright incorrect light. But the view this book gives us of Jesus is one of goodness and grace and greatness. And instead of writing Him as an ordinary character in the story, the author keeps Him just out of view of the reader. Everything we hear about Him comes either from the stories another character tells about Him, or a few rare glimpses from afar. This approach brings a significantly deeper layer both to the book itself and the character of Jesus.

The above quote comes from the first scene in which Jesus appears in passing. The character notices right away that there is something different about this man. He labels this difference as loneliness, which was a new way for me to think about Jesus. Although it wasn’t an idea that I was used to, I certainly felt drawn to the concept and went on to think about it more. Because, in a way, wouldn’t Jesus have been aching with loneliness? He was in a world that He did not belong to, surrounded by people who did not understand. And that is a lonely feeling.

A Quest for Truth

"It was childish to say, 'Yes- I believe Jesus could have done this extraordinary thing, but I don't believe he could have done that.'" -p. 317

The quest for truth is a brilliant theme of this book. The plot follows a Roman soldier named Marcellus who wins the robe of a man he crucified. That man is Jesus, and the robe that Marcellus ends up followed by an overwhelming guilt unlike anything he had ever experienced. For days it hung over him, controlling his life. When at last he begins to seek the truth behind the man this robe belongs to, he starts on the quest of a lifetime.

Through his quest, we are able to see Jesus better. Through his doubts and questions, and the stories he hears and believes, we have the chance to grow in our knowledge of our Lord, just as he does. It is a truly remarkable book that will radically change the way you think of Jesus and His power.

Similar Reading If You Enjoyed The Robe

Here is a quick list of books that are similar in style and setting to The Robe. They each other something personal and new to the story of Jesus and His mission that we can all grow from.

• Ben-hur, by Lew Wallace (This is the most familiar book that is similar to The Robe. It is probably better known as well.)
• Twice Freed, by Patricia St. John (It’s been several years since I first read this book, but I distinctly remember the appreciation I had for the quality of the story.)
• The Big Fisherman, by Lloyd C. Douglas (I have not yet read any of Douglas’ other books, but they are something that I look forward to in the future.)

Final Thoughts

I wrote this post a few weeks ago but never got around to finishing it up, so this month’s post is certainly late as far as a schedule goes. I will admit that it was rather freeing to be able to write this post in my own time instead of rushing to finish it before midnight on the set Thursday, though. In order to ensure quality posts for you I plan on being more concerned with the content of my post than the date I publish it in the future. 🙂

A happy Thanksgiving to you and your family this week! I hope that you’re able to enjoy a rest and make time for things that bring you pleasure.