This new book from Bear Grylls retells the life of Jesus

Before even opening this book, two things caught my attention.

First was the brazenness of the advertising. The title, The Greatest Story Ever Told, hints at the storyline, while the book’s bold claims: “the incredible true story about a Middle Eastern refugee who changed the course of the world forever” and: “this real-life story will never leave you” - suggest a life-changing revelation. Second was the author himself: Bear Grylls.

Until now, I only knew Grylls as a presenter of survival programmes and, until late 2024, the Chief Scout. Some quick research, however, revealed another side to him. Not only has Grylls authored numerous adventure books for children and adults alike, he has also been open about the depth of his Christian faith, proclaiming that: “you can’t keep God out. He’s all around us, if we’re just still enough to listen.”

The story of Jesus Christ is not just a story about love, hope, and faith, it is also a story about adventure. It depicts a battle against the odds and serves as the ultimate survival manual for life. And given Grylls’ popularity among children and young adults, this book positions him as an ideal ambassador for the Christian faith, especially for those with limited exposure to Christianity beyond basic details about Jesus’ life and work. It therefore has the potential to bring the story of Jesus to a new generation.

The book isn’t released until April, but already it has caused some controversy. On Christmas Eve, Grylls posted the blurb along with a video of him reading a short extract. He referred to Jesus as a “refugee” and to Mary as “a Palestinian”.

Researcher on antisemitism David Collier said turning Mary and Jesus into Palestinians was erasing their Jewish identity, adding Palestinians “didn’t even exist back then”. After widespread backlash, Grylls released a statement defending his use of the term “refugee”, but clarifying he believes Mary was Jewish. 

Grylls’ style of writing is reminiscent of those old storytellers who were vital to ancient civilisations, passing down stories and folklore from a society’s past. He successfully achieves this by adopting five different New Testament personas, which tell the story of Jesus through eyewitness accounts. He also adds intrigue by using original Hebrew names for people and places, making their identities a puzzle, enhancing the book’s enjoyment and educational value.

Throughout, Grylls is faithful to the Christian story as depicted in various translations of the Bible. For example, words attributed to Jesus (Yeshua in the book) are scripturally authentic and his vivid imagination comes through explicitly in the depiction of the stories of Jesus’ life, ministry, miracles, trials, death and resurrection through the eyes of the five key individuals. This is achieved with refreshingly accessible clarity and a dramatic style that draws readers into the story and compels them to keep turning the pages.

A word of caution: Grylls does not shy away from the brutality of events. For example, the scenes leading to the crucifixion and the crucifixion itself are realistically portrayed, with graphic scenes that some may find gruesome and distressing. However, it could be argued that such emotions are precisely what we should be feeling, if we are to truly understand the magnitude of the events that occurred.

Grylls’ characters are persuasive, imaginative, and not without occasional humour. Each character has their own section with short chapters and sentences, enhancing the book’s appeal and readability for a young, contemporary audience.

Is this book worth reading? My answer is an emphatic ‘yes’. Read it to your children, buy it for your teenagers, read it yourself, and give it to your friends. It definitely lives up to its title!

The Greatest Story Ever Told: An Eyewitness Account by Bear Grylls (Hodder & Stoughton) is out now