The Last Temptation of Christ

The Last Temptation of Christ Nikos Kazantzakis 506pp.

Nikos Kazantzakis’ marvelous novel, The Last Temptation of Christ is a lengthy exploration of the life of Jesus of Nazareth. Rather than portraying the life of Jesus with slavish accuracy to the gospels, Kazantzakis decides to explore Jesus’ life through a more realist, personal perspective, focusing to such an extreme extent on Jesus’ humanity that he makes the gospels seem solely focused on the divine nature of the man.

The Last Temptation of Christ was a treat to read. This book makes other novels look like races to the finish line by comparison. Every scene in this novel is drawn out and just feels like it is taking its time in a way that no other book I’ve read recently has done. Even books like 1Q84, which certainly took their time in resolving the story feel rushed in comparison to this. Despite this creakingly slow pace, The Last Temptation of Christ manages to keep the reader engaged in the story, truly pulling you into the suffering of Jesus.

Kazantzakis’ focus on Jesus’ suffering is, beyond a doubt, the strongest aspect of The Last Temptation of Christ. At no point do we see Jesus portrayed as a single-minded, fired-up preacher bent on following his course to save the world. Rather, Kazantzakis shows Jesus as a human, constantly plagued by doubts and false starts. Every time he begins to know which path he is to take, rather that of the zealot reformer, advocating military revolution against the Romans, or that of the peaceful preacher, showing the way to the kingdom of heaven through teaching, Jesus is uncertain which way to go, questioning himself through a book-length exploration of mortal agony.

Interestingly, the disciples are portrayed completely differently than in the gospels. Judas is the closest disciple, traveling with Jesus from the beginning of his ministry. On the other hand, Matthew and the other disciples are portrayed as, at best, being at cross purposes with Jesus during his ministry. Kazantzakis gives an origin story to the gospels, as an angel whispers into Matthew’s ear every night, compelling him to write down the gospels according to a story which does not quite match the facts of Jesus’ life. In one of my favorite scenes from the novel, Jesus confronts Matthew about the contents of the books, and Matthew can only blubber excuses about the angel’s instructions.

I enjoyed The Last Temptation of Christ quite a lot, it is a wonderful chance to see an author taking a daring risk retelling a story so dear to so many people in a manner so different than any done before it. Furthermore, by focusing on the internal moral struggle of Jesus, rather than treating him as a settled question from the beginning, Kazantzakis is able to portray the life of Christ as having a very direct relevance to the life of any reader of the novel.

Would I recommend The Last Temptation of Christ? Yes

Score: 4.5/5

Would I keep this on my bookshelf? Yes.

-Mr. Cheddar