Of Such Is The Kingdom

During the time of Jesus and of the historical Roman Empire, what would a cynical, non-conformist dry-goods salesman, a disgruntled blacksmith, and a musing mendicant all have in common?   Down deep, they all seek something better; and eventually, they all find the childlike faith and humility required to enter God's kingdom and find true fulfillment.  The nonconformist, Manaheem, Herod’s foster brother, helps Herod foment an insurrection against Pontius Pilate, using the blacksmith, Barabbas, as insurrection leader, to the dismay of Barabbas' Godly but fearful wife. The mendicant, a young man named Timotheus, joins with an older mendicant completely unsympathetic to his musings. Meanwhile, Pontius Pilate’s wife pushes him to take over Herod’s kingdom. When the insurrection fails,no-conformist, Manaheem, tries to blackmail Herod, and Barabbas turns to robbery, enlisting the aid of our two mendicants. Manaheem almost loses his one true love, his former wife Claressa, also a non-conformist, with whom Manaheem is trying to re-unite. The robbery goes bad, and Barabbas and the mendicants are caught, tried for murder and sentenced to death by crucifixion. Barabbas is also charged with the insurrection against Pontius Pilate.   Thus, all 3 of these divergent characters are surprisingly effected in one way or another by the life and death this man from Nazareth.  Part III starts with the resurrection and runs theough Acts 12, showing the start of the early church and how Manaheem and Barabbas function within it.