The New York Times bestselling author of Buddha and Jesus weaves
together historical narrative, mystery, exciting adventure, and intrigue
in this masterfully told novel that reveals surprising discoveries about
the unknown last disciple of Christ, and a new understanding of who
Jesus was in his final days.
When a solid gold reliquary missing from a church in Belgium suddenly
resurfaces in America, a young newspaperman begins to investigate the
story. At first, it seems like just another case of a treasure stolen
during World War II that has resurfaced. But it soon becomes apparent
that much more is at stake.
Hidden within the medieval reliquary is a gold box that holds a sacred
relic--a single finger bone--from an anonymous saint. Why would the
remains of someone unknown to the Church be considered holy? The search
for answers leads to a shocking discovery--a dangerous secret known only
to a small band of people. If one touches the reliquary, a sacred vision
is received--a vision involving a young girl who had a chance encounter
with Jesus just before he was crucified.
The few people who have been blessed with these miraculous messages have
banded together into a mysterious school, a closed society that
preserves this venerated wisdom. But their knowledge of the young girl
and Jesus is at once so fascinating yet so highly controversial that it
cannot be shared with the world.
This young girl, curious about the charismatic man named Jesus, embarks
on a quest to find out who he really was. What she finds--the knowledge
the society protects--is at times far different from the accepted
gospels. Could this unknown girl be the 13th Disciple--the last and
truest apostle of Christ?
