I received a free copy of this book in exchange for a fair and honest review. All opinions are my own.

Author J. Traveler Pelton works to explore the final moments of Jesus Christ’s life before he was taken by the soldiers and betrayed by Judas in the book, “Just Before Dying, He Prayed For You”. 

The Synopsis

The last hours of Christ on this earth were intense; this book looks at just a few minutes of that time. John the beloved records that while Jesus was in Gethsemane, He had struggled with God, won the battle of self; and as the soldiers and Judas were heading His way, He took time out of the little He had left to turn to God and pray for us, all down through the eons of time, from then until now, and asked God to stay with us, to protect us, to lead us. He commended us to God the Father. When He completed His prayer, the guards came, and the torture of His passion took His attention for the next 24 hours as He was judged, tried and killed. His last thoughts were on you. Walk with Him in the Garden, think on His last words for us, understand His love. Whether used for the 40 days of lent or another time of spiritual emphasis, these 41 chapters will change your life.

The Review

This was such a unique and interesting read. While I must confess I myself am not religious and did not approach the book from that perspective, I think Christian readers are going to absolutely love the book. The heartfelt story focuses on the last recorded prayer of Jesus to his father and highlights his deep connection to humanity. 

For me, history was a huge draw for this narrative. The climate and social dynamics of the people not only within Jesus’s group of followers, but the government and citizens around them all were fascinating to see unfold, and the comparisons the author made to present-day issues were insightful to read. 

The Verdict

A memorable, thought-provoking, and engaging read for Christian readers especially, author J. Traveler Pelton’s “Just Before Dying, He Prayed For You” is a rich and thoughtful read. While I couldn’t identify with the more religious aspects of the book, the history was rich and fascinating to see unfold, and the exploration of modern history in comparison is a brilliant read. If you haven’t yet, be sure to grab your copy today.

Rating: 8/10

About the Author

J. Traveler Pelton was born in West Virginia in the last century. She is active in her home church and was the Nation’s Mother for her tribe for several years. She is still wife to Dan after 47 years (He is so long-suffering!), mother of six adults, a grandmother of nine, a Clinically Licensed Independent Social worker in private practice, a retired adjunct professor of social work at her local university, and an avid reader. She lives on a mini-farm with her husband, seven alpaca, a flock of spoiled chickens, five Siamese cats, four Pomeranians, a talkative Amazon parrot named Gizmo, and her aviary of canaries. Traveler enjoys the intersection of fantasy, possibility, creativity, and speculation. Join her on the other side of the imagination tree. She’ll be sitting there waiting for your visit.