The Robe is a book by Lloyd Douglas, written in 1942. The Robe became a movie in 1943. The book was a New York Times best seller and was one of the most popular books in the United States in the 1940s. It stayed on the best seller list for two years. The Robe is 556 pages long and is a great story for everyone. It is about the robe that a Roman Centurian won following the crucifixion of Jesus. The Centurian, Marcellus, went mad, and the Robe of Jesus was said to have magical powers. Would you find this book interesting?
The Robe Summary
The Robe is about the aftermath of the crucifixion of Jesus through the experiences of the Roman tribune Marcellus Gallio, who was one of the Roman Centurions who crucified Jesus. Marcellus Gallio’s Greek slave, Demetrius, is also important to the story. As is Roman Prince Gaius who, in an effort to rid Rome of Marcellus Gallio, banishes him to the command of the Roman garrison at Minoa, a port city in southern Palestine.
That banishment proved fateful. In Jerusalem during Passover, Marcellus Gallio crucifies Jesus. He is troubled since he believes Jesus is innocent of any crime. Marcellus and some other soldiers, who also participated in the crucifixion of Jesus, throw dice to see who will take Jesus’ seamless robe. Marcellus wins and asks Demetrius, his slave, to look after the robe.
After the crucifixion, Marcellus takes part in a banquet attended by Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor of Palestine who questioned Jesus. During the banquet, a centurion asks Marcellus to wear Jesus’ robe. Marcellus puts it on and suffers a nervous breakdown and returns to Rome.
Marcelius was sent to Athens to recuperate. He gives in to his slave Demetrius’ urging, and he touches it, and his mind is subsequently restored. Marcellus now believes the robe has magical power, returns to Judea, and follows the path Jesus took. Marcelius meets many people who knew and loved Jesus. Both Demetrius and Marcellus become followers of Jesus because of these experiences.
The book concludes when Marcellus returns to Rome, where he must report his experiences to the emperor Tiberius. Because of his uncompromising stance regarding his Christian faith, both Marcellus and his new wife, Diana, are executed by the new emperor, Caligula. Marcellus arranged that the robe be given to Simon Peter.
The Crucifixion of Jesus
The crucifixion of Jesus was the death of Jesus by being nailed to a cross. That was a common Roman method of execution around the turn of the millennium. Jesus was convicted of the Capitol crime of being the King of the Jews and of blasphemy. The crucifixion occurred in 1st-century Judaea, most likely in AD 30 or AD 33. It is depicted in the Gospels, in Passion plays, and in the movie The Passion of the Christ.
Jesus was stripped of his clothing and offered vinegar mixed with myrrh to drink. At Golgotha, he was then hung between two convicted thieves and, according to the Gospel of Mark, was crucified at 9 a.m. and died at around 3:00 p.m. When Jesus died, the soldiers affixed a sign to the top of the cross stating “Jesus of Nazareth, King of the Jews,” which, according to the Gospel of John, was written in three languages (Hebrew, Latin, and Greek).
They then, important for The Robe, divided his garments among themselves and cast lots for his seamless robe, according to the Gospel of John. The Gospel of John also states that, after Jesus’s death, one soldier named Longinus pierced Jesus’s side with a spear to be certain that he had died, and then blood and water gushed from the wound. This blood and water are important to the Catholic Mass.
Conclusion
The Robe is a highly entertaining and great book. There is a reason why it was a New York Times bestseller and was on that best seller list for two years. Just like there is a reason The Robe was made into a movie just a year later. That reason is a good story is depicted. This book should appeal to everyone and is a great read. It will especially appeal to Catholics who are interested in the crucifixion of Jesus.
