In 2014 one of my friends recommended that I should read “Killing Jesus” by Bill O’Reilly and Martin Dugard. This particular friend said: “I think they must have used your book ‘The Illegal Trial of Christ” as a reference, because much of what they write sound like what you explained in your book!”

I had already read O’Reilly and Dugard’s books “Killing Lincoln” and “Killing Kennedy” and even “Killing Patton”. I particularly enjoyed “Killing Lincoln” and so had intended to read “Killing Jesus.”

So at my friends recommendation, I did, I read “Killing Jesus.” I found that book to be well researched and well written. I even learned a thing or two. Because of my background as a student of the trial of Jesus Christ, as you might imagine, I was fussy and persnickety about the details! That lead me to hold some reservations about some of their explanations.

But then as I continued to read, I began to realize that these authors had to maintain an unbiased, objective, and even impartial view of their account, because of their background as historians and media personalities. So religion, or religious thinking, didn’t creep into their dialogue and discourse (as it may have in my book “The Illegal Trial of Christ”). Their presentation of facts about the people and places involved in their story, was totally engaged.

I didn’t have to be so impartial in my book. I unabashedly came out in full acceptance of the details shared by the four gospel writers of the New Testament. With my research of Roman and Hebrew law (I am a lawyer after all), the words used by Matthew, Mark, Luke and John became even more meaningful and persuasive in my view.

I recommend that you read “Killing Jesus” and then read “The Illegal Trial of Christ” and see if you don’t come away with new knowledge and new understandings—and perhaps even your own unbiased view!

This is a good season to read both books.