The Prisoner in the Third Cell

Born to an aged, barren couple, he was a gift from God. While still in his mother's womb, he recognized Jesus - also still in his mother, Mary's womb. "And it came to pass, that, when Elisabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elisabeth was filled with the Holy Ghost" A Nazerite, he grew up a holy man. He lived in solitude in the desert, clothed in the skins of animals and eating locust and honey - all in preparation for the purpose of his life - to prepare the way for Messiah.None denied that John the Baptist was a holy man - a little odd, maybe even a little mad, but definately a holy man. Sadly, sometimes those chosen by God are compelled to say things that wrinkle the souls of the ungodly, and so it was with John. He called the religious leaders 'vipers'. He called the wife of the king an adulteress. Was he right? Of course he was, and that's why he was arrested and thrown into the pit of a terrible prison - to shut him up.A teenager who was desired by a drunken king, agreed to dance for him if he would just bring her the head of John the Baptist on a platter, and in a moment of blind lust, he agreed to her unholy request.Here was a man who lived his entire life for God. He did no wrong, he harmed no one, and yet was rewarded with a terrible death. After John's death, Jesus said of John, "Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist:"In this book, John is portrayed as very human. As he sat chained in a filthy prison, he must have wondered - I gave up a life, I gave up comfort, I gave up friends, even food and clothing - and for what? Yet he didn't denounce Christ. Until his death, he fulfilled his purpose - to show the way to Christ.So here we are - imperfect beings - who think we are somehow entitled to a strife free life. This is a book for those of us who feel unjustly punished or persecuted. Do we give up and go the way of the 'world', or do we continue on our path if we know we are heading in the right direction?This is a story that makes you think. It dosen't offer easy answers, but it offers hope.A warning for purists - This is a fictionalized version of a real life, but it is a story. John has been given flesh and bone and some may resent a departure from the scriptures, but this is not scripture. This is a Story of a real man with real struggles, who didn't give up even in the face of death.

This book answered a question about God that I didn't know I had even asked...and answered it. A book every Christian should read

The book was in great shape.

Eye opening!

Lord why? Why am I hurting? Why do people suffer?I am not sure this book really answers those questions. The book portrays Jesus as a person that did not heal all, that knowingly allowed people to remain crippled and sick. This is absolutely not biblical: Matthew 8:16 and 17 says: "When the even was come, they brought unto him many that were possessed with devils: and he cast out the spirits with [his] word, and healed all that were sick:That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Esaias the prophet, saying, Himself took our infirmities, and bare [our] sicknesses."So if the bible says all I tend to believe God means ALL and not "many but not all" as written by the author.The author writes about the situation where John is beginning to doubt while being in jail and sends his disciples to Jesus to ask if Jesus is really the Messiah. Jesus does not give them a straight answer but tells them that the sick are healed, the blind receive sight and the good news is preached to the people. John lived with the Essenes and knew his scriptures and for sure he understood from this answer that Jesus is pointing him to Isiah. So Jesus did not give John a quick emotional fix but pointed him to the "hard facts" of the scripture, the Word of God to let John know who He is.Sure we have suffering and pain in this world, I myself have been severely ill recently and still am in constant pain. But I would never dream of blaming God nor think of His "mysterious" ways. I also don't believe in the "give money and you are healed" stuff. But I do believe that what is written in my bible to be the truth.However, we live in a fallen world and this life will never be perfect. There is pain, sin, sickness, accidents and people that are cruel and proud and that do terrible things to other people. Can I explain this? Not really, but I can offer an analogy (it's not perfect though): I have kids and I really do love them. I tell my son not to touch the hotplate because it is hot. He does it anyway and gets hurt. He learns not to touch hotplates but he does not learn from this incident that mom has rules to protect him in general and will continue to get hurt or in trouble. I can't protect him when he is out with his friends nor interfere in what he does in summer camp if he chooses not to tell me or ask me for help. I at times choose not to interfere when he does things because certain things he has to experience himself and I know he would not take me by my word.The free will God gave us is a terrible thing, but it also enables us to choose to love and obey. When my son does what I say I know he does it because he loves and trusts me and not because I forced him. It makes a world of a difference in our relationship.So all in all I would not recomment this book while in doubt of God's love. How other reviewers find this book inspiring or even faith-building is a mystery to me. But hey, we are all different!I gave it only 1 star due to the fact that it is not biblical and I did not find the story well written or engaging.My first thought when I was done was: "Lord, why is he slandering You?" Hence, I will delete this book from my Kindle.

This book will helped me with a perspective of the relationship of Jesus and John. It also gave insight to the special ways God works in our lives. The one thing this book causes the reader to face is not to demand to understand when God things that are beyond our ability to comprehend. Blessed is he that is not offended when God does things we don’t understand.

I’ve used this book often to open up discussion about how we respond when God doesn’t allow us to know why something has happened.

Possibly one of the most underrated books in modern Christian writing. Phenomenal and elegant.

Another thought provoking book by Gene Edwards. This is a familiar story retold from a different angle affording insights not maybe otherwise seen. It will play in my head for a long time.

Having just had a fairly major operation and,wondering,as a Christian, why it was all necessary this book by one of my favourite authors was a real help

Great book with great insights and lessons to learn

Good condition

Excellent