Photo by: Kristy
The news of Harry Potter author, JK Rowlings, showing up as the surprise author of a murder mystery— under the pseudonym of Robert Galbraith, has stirred up interest among book lovers. Am thinking, it might also give us an excuse to think together about what it could mean to read the Bible as a good murder mystery—and far more.
What makes a good murder mystery? Opinions tend to agree about the importance of plot, pace, and the development of realistic characters who are believable and yet sufficiently unknowable.
One source suggests that the detective and culprit should be introduced early on without too much backstory, and that the crime should be introduced within three chapters of the novel.
Other elements of writing include surprising twists and turns, with subtle red herrings (distractions) that keep the reader guessing but not unfairly fooled.
Suspense, tension and “the creep factor” tend to be essential with execution in the end leaving the reader feeling that the solution is logical though surprising.
One mystery lover concludes “The first part of the story is all about adding, increasing tension, and then as connections are made the layers get stripped away until the reader finishes the book as naked as when they started it – but now they know something.”
If the Bible is read like this, we might also find ourselves surprisingly changed for the better in the process. Yet to our wonder we discover that the Bible is slowly revealing not the identity of the killer, but rather the “seed of the woman” who will be the hero (Gen 3:15). Will it be Seth, Samson, Solomon, or David?
In the end, execution is everything. Yet (as we recently considered in another post) look at the way the plot twists and turns. The Son of Man (and seed of the woman) turns out to be the Son of God. And the solution comes not just through a snake striking the heel of the hero… who then uses his nail pierced heel to crush the head of the snake… by first being treated like a snake that is thought deserving of death (John 3:14) (John 13:18)…and who seems himself to be crushed under foot…before rising from the dead…leaving the reader and all others feeling not only “nakedly humbled before God”—but beginning to know something—about what it means to be inexpressibly loved, valued, and rescued.
Even though many of us now come to the Book of books thinking that we already know how it turns out— the real surprise comes in the details of a story that keeps showing us over and over (from cover to cover) who we really are—and how much we remain in the loving presence and care of our God.
My thoughts this a.m. Any takers… or cautions :-)…
(+23 rating, 24 votes)
Loading...