Janette Oke is one of the early Christian fiction writers of the modern era, often credited with helping launch the wealth of Christian fiction we have today with novels such as Love Comes Softly back in 1979. The book and its sequels were made into popular movies, while Oke went on to win just about every Christian fiction award there is.
Now this much-loved author, who turned 90 in February, has a new novel that released in March. The Pharisee’s Wife is set in Jesus’s day and offers a unique look at the effect that Jesus, known as the Prophet, had on a young woman and her Pharisee husband.
Enos, an up-and-coming Pharisee, sees beautiful Mary at the market and insists on her becoming his wife. The bride price will bring her small-village family out of debt, but it will put her far from home as she learns how to be the proper wife of a Pharisee. The wedding eventually happens, but Mary, who Enos renamed Simona, is alone, lonely, and coming to realize that Enos doesn’t see her as more than a beautiful face to parade in front of his powerful friends.
The Prophet draws Enos’ hatred and fear, which forces Enos into a series of rash decisions that threaten to bankrupt him. He is chosen to follow Jesus and trap him into committing a sin great enough to have him executed, but Enos and his brethren are unable to do so. Instead, Enos commits a crime big enough to get him kicked out of the Pharisee sect he loves so much.
Simona puts her trust in the Prophet, a trust she’ll rely on as Enos divorces her, is forced to flee Jerusalem and sets her on a journey back to her home and her life as simple Mary. Jesus himself never makes an appearance in the novel, but his love and miracles change the lives of Mary/Simona and Enos.
Oke’s novel is engrossing and thought-provoking as readers see into the heart of a Pharisee and the heart of a woman who puts her faith in the Prophet. It’s well-written and entertaining, sure to draw readers into the tale of love and loss. The Pharisee’s Wife is a fitting finale to Oke’s long and illustrious career. (Tyndale Fiction)
About the Author
Ann Byle is author of Chicken Scratch: Lessons on Living Creatively from a Flock of Hens. She is a freelance writer and author of several other books, magazine articles, and reviews. She lives in Grand Rapids, Mich.