Freedom’s Song

Much has been written about Jesus and his life. Numerous biographies abound. Freedom’s Song is a one-of-a-kind story in several ways. It involves an expanded translation by the author of Jesus’ words. Additionally, you will discover an ongoing commentary of what Jesus said and did between 5.B.C. and A.D. 30. And first-century primary source documents, namely, the four gospels--Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John--are used to build this narrative. You will find them integrated and harmonized into a highly probable chronological account of the Liberator. Also to add depth and flavor to his story, and bring about a greater understanding of Jesus’ discourses, illustrations, homilies, and deeds, you will further find cultural and political beliefs and practices of the first-century added to the narrative. Finally, there is the author’s view of man as an I-world continuum which influences his translation and his interpretation.

The story opens with the Prologue telling about an Order of Magi priests converging on the flat roof top of their temple in the city of Samosata. They had been summoned to discover the message in a bright “light” that suddenly appeared in the evening sky. Three months the Inauguration of Freedom (Part One) commences. An old Jewish priest in a hill-town in Judea is told a remarkable tale by an angel. His barren wife will give birth to a son. But not just any son. He will be the “front man” for the long awaited Liberator. Six months later, the story takes another turn. A young girl is asked to be a human host for God’s son. The story continues with Jesus’ unique birth in a stone animal shed in the town of Bethlehem. The infant baby is visited by shepherds and the Magi, who had concluded that the message in the light told about Jesus’ birth. After a hurried-up flight to Egypt and a return three and a half years later, Jesus’ parents take up residence in Nazareth with their son. The Inauguration also includes Jesus’ first Passover in Jerusalem as a youth where he makes clear to his mother Mary that he knows both who he is and his mission.

The Battle for Freedom (Part Two) involves Jesus as a mature man. This time of Jesus’ life begins with his baptism. It is followed by days of personal testing as God’s Liberator. Winning the test, Jesus begins to recruit disciples for the Battle.. He immediately reveals to them his power and then moves from Nazareth to Capernaum with his mother and brothers. The stage is set for the Battle for Freedom. It cover’s the next two years of Jesus’ life. He opens the Battle with a display of honor for God. This is followed by a tour of Galilee preaching the gospel, providing power-deeds, openly identifying himself as the “Son of God,” teaching about God’s Kingdom, dispatching twelve disciples to spread the good news, using parables to explain the Kingdom, visiting Jerusalem again, and then closing this period with a denunciation of the religious leaders of his.

All this increases the tension and the hatred of Jesus which leads to Freedom’s Victory (Part Three). But it is a strange Victory. One unexpected by the disciples. Jesus is back in Jerusalem for the Passover and a final gathering with the apostles in an upper room of a house in the city. Jesus leads the Passover meal. Near the end he introduces a sacrament to be remembered. He then tells them of an allegory of the Vine, and, shockingly, of the presence of a traitor among them. After the traitor is exposed and dismissed, the final days of Jesus’ life are set in motion. He is arrested, tortured, put through a bogus trial, and then crucified as a common criminal. The essence of Freedom’s Victory is Jesus coming back to life after his death. What the disciples thought was the end, is really the beginning. Over the next forty days Jesus appears to numerous men and women now following him. He reveals by different ways and means that he is the living Liberator for all eternity. The story of Jesus ends with him returning home to his Father, leaving Freedom’s Song in the hearts of his people.