How did this new story, The Pharisee’s Wife, come about? 

Janette Oke: With all of those projects completed, I again felt that I was done and did not allow my  mind to go searching for exciting new projects. There were a few ideas I played with for a while, but I did not feel the need, or the urge, to develop them. 

It was a surprise to me when recently I had the sense that God was calling me to  write a new book. I felt that the message he was asking me to share was, “God kept his  first promise of sending his Son as a baby in the manger—even though the world had needed to wait for many years—and he will keep his promise of Christ’s second  appearance—his return—even though the world has waited again for thousands of  years. God will fulfill his plan. Jesus will return! Be ready!” I felt strongly that to refuse to write the book would be disobedient on my part. But books do not just happen. I needed  characters, plot—all of the components that make a story. God had given the message  he wished to relay, but putting it all together was my job. I had just read Revelation and  followed it by reading the Gospels, but this time I had noted some things in a new way. I  saw the parallels between Christ’s first coming as a babe in the manger and the yet  unfulfilled promises of his second coming—his future return. 

The time Christ shared with mankind was a most complex time. His coming  made it even more so. Never were there so many layers in society. Never had the  difference between what was right and wrong in the religious community been so  complex. How did one sort through all the different viewpoints? From the faithful and  dedicated intense Jew, to the many factions that offered their own interpretation of the  ancient Scriptures—it was all so confusing. And the words from the lips of this new  “rabbi” made it even more so. The huge and complex leap from the deeply entrenched  Jewish faith, with all of its fixed rules and regulations, to a simpler faith and a trust in the  words of one magnetic and powerful—though, to many, questionable—man who  claimed to be one with God was mind-blowing. It meant that everything was to change. 

And there were so many layers in society itself. Faithful Jewish priests, intent on keeping the Law. Pharisees. Sadducees. Foreigners from many countries mixing in  parts of their own worship of their false gods. The extremely wealthy and the  desperately poor; the masters and the slaves. And the ever-present Romans, foreign  and controlling, always watching, always demanding. For the small, occupied country of Israel, things no longer seemed simple or secure, even for the very elect. How did one hold on to the past yet move on to the unknown future? 

What inspired you to create the two main characters? 

I wished to expose the underlying conflict of that time, so I chose an extremely strict  and arrogant young Pharisee, dominated by thoughts of power and prominence, and a  beautiful but poor girl from a simple Jewish home where the long-standing Law had  been taught and obeyed. She had no say in the matter. The Pharisee’s position of  power would override any protest. They were not a good match if one was hoping for a  heartwarming love story. 

How did you decide which individual characters would be receptive to the  deity of Jesus and which ones would reject his message or be slower to come to  faith? Do you think readers will see similarities between the way people  responded to the gospel in those days and the way they respond now?

Again, I wished to show the complexity of life at the time. There needed to be a mix of the different layers. A need for surprise or question. Who would receive and who would reject the young Galilean with his strange message but great healing power? Sometimes individuals came one at a time, at other times little groups came together. And then there were the crowds, who were a mix of many layers. Curiosity may have brought them, but they often left with a changed heart. Jesus’ greatest and most productive ministry seemed to be with the crowds. But it always took an individual decision.
We never actually meet Jesus in the novel, but we hear much about him from the masses that follow him from town to town. It is from individuals within these crowds that we hear about him. Some of the stories were confusing. Seemingly unbelievable. What would he need to do to convince the crowds that he was who he claimed to be? Certainly, the miracles got lots of attention. But there had been miracle workers in past generations. They had all passed away. Ordinary men. This man, if one listened to him closely, claimed to be eternal. How could one accept that? It was no wonder the bulk of the masses found him hard to believe. Yet there was something about him that made one wonder. Could it really be so? Could this be the one God had promised to send?

Our world holds somewhat the same mix today. Those who believe, who are still waiting for the return of Christ, cling to that truth. We see our world and the events of the day in a different way than those who do not believe. Even though many may openly scorn us, we feel support and understanding from other believers. We tend to seek them out—to gather with those of like faith. To take strength and hope from one another.

Yet there are many who share our daily lives who cannot accept the Truth. Even when they have been raised among believers, many times in the same household, raised by the same parents, having been schooled in the same truths, they still do not embrace the Faith. They cannot see, do not understand or accept the message of Truth. Some openly oppose those who claim Christ as the coming Savior. And surprisingly, at the same time, there are those who have had little exposure to Truth, who do reach out to receive it gladly, claiming it as their own. Faith today is a personal choice, just as it was in Jesus’ day.

Was there a message or lesson you wanted to convey to readers by writing “good” or “nice” characters who do not accept Jesus, while other, less likeable characters do?

Yes, that was intentional. God has given freedom of choice. One individual will be so close and so “good,” yet still resist taking that final step of faith, and another we might feel is so evil and harsh and undeserving will gratefully accept forgiveness. Sometimes it doesn’t seem right or even fair. “She has done so many worthy things. Isn’t that enough?” Or “Did you see what he did?” How can such a terrible sin be forgiven?” We know how we would judge.

God forgives when one confesses and repents. Yet we do not know what goes on in another’s heart and mind. Only God has the knowledge, the right, to be the judge. He judges with perfect justice.We have heard the words, “As one dies, so he will remain.” We believe that  Scripture teaches that after death, there is no second chance. Still, we often cling to the  possibility that before death, an unshared, unknown, private decision has been made— so we hope, thinking, “What if light has come, repentance has occurred, forgiveness  was sought, and God’s grace given?” We do not know. One thing we do know: God is  loving. If there is any reason for mercy, it will be given. But he is also righteous—and  just. 

In the book, after the Pharisees have arranged Jesus’ crucifixion, there is a  powerful scene between a scribe and a scholar who is poring over the prophesies  about the Messiah when a feeling of dread comes over him. What do you hope this scene will communicate to readers? 

I did not want to leave the impression that the line between those who believe and  those who do not is definite and controlled by God, with no option or possibility for  anyone whose name is not on a special list. No, the people of that day—as in our own— had individual choice. Not all the scribes or Pharisees or any other group rejected Christ  because that was their destiny. Scripture tells us that there were those who went  against the crowd and dared to accept Christ, taking a bold stand against their  peers. Nor did all who had been schooled in the Old Testament Scriptures, and had  been waiting through the years for this very event, accept him. All have been given  freedom to accept or reject Jesus for who he claims to be. 

How did you conduct research for this story? 

I relied on the Gospel accounts. Since each Gospel writer presents the story in a little  different way, it was sometimes tricky to sort out the definite order of events. I had a  number of pages of crisscross notes where I felt it was important to keep things  accurate and in the proper order. There were times in the story where I needed fill-in  material that was not important to our faith position, where I fleshed things out for the  sake of interest or understanding. 

What do you hope readers will take away from this story? 

I have tried to remind readers that God has given, both in the Old and New  Testaments, the clear message that he has a plan. Our world is not controlled by  random happenstance. God has a plan, and it will be fulfilled according to his timing.  We need to be ready. 

Are there any final thoughts you’d like to share? 

We all have a part to play, not just in our work but in our daily lives, in sharing with  our world the Good News of the Gospel. Whether earth’s time is short, as many believe,  or stretched out generously before us, time is short for some of those around us. We  never know the minute someone in our life may be taken from us. May we be open to God’s directive in every area of our daily life. May we share his love as we have  opportunity. 

Books are one very effective way to share our faith. From the letters, emails, and  phone calls I have received over the years, I have been deeply impressed with the  power of the printed page. I have dubbed my books “paper missionaries” because they  go to places I will never go and speak to people I will never meet, and the response to  the message has been surprising and uplifting. Some countries, closed to faith content  in the past, are now opening to allow books from Christian countries to enter. As writers and publishers, we have a wonderful opportunity to present Faith to our world, and  stories can sometimes be accepted when and where the Bible is not. 

Even so, we know that lives are not changed by reading a book. Lives are changed when the Spirit of God is allowed to minister to a needy and open heart. Sending forth books must be accompanied by prayer that whatever the situation  of the reader, God’s Spirit will be allowed to speak. That is why we write. That is why we  print, and sell, and send, and promote. God can, and often does, speak through a  simple story. May we use this opportunity to the best of our ability. 

“The Pharisee’s Wife” is currently available wherever books are sold.

A Special Thanks to Tyndale House Publishers and Janette Oke for the Q&A and images.