Category Archives: The Soldier Who Killed a King

A New, Yet So Familiar Story

04 Thursday Feb 2021

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With Lent fast approaching—it begins Wednesday, February 17th—why not plan a journey to the cross and the empty tomb?

There’s nothing quite like a good book to transport you to a different time and plaSoldier800kbce. For thousands of readers The Soldier Who Killed a King has been doing just that. It’s been bringing them directly to Jesus, the cross, and the empty tomb.

Here’s a five star Amazon review from Canada dated February 3rd, 2021:

A New, Yet So Familiar Story
It’s a story every Christian has heard many many times, but never quite like this! David Kitz does an impressive job capturing the historical events expressed in the biblical account of Jesus’ death, and re-presenting them from a new, relatable, and incredibly human perspective. Journeying with this Roman Centurion will lead readers to an intimate encounter with the passion of Jesus Christ.

And from JR in the USA,  January 15, 2021…

“The Soldier Who Killed a King” As Satisfying as Reading Ben Hur

I forgot who suggested this book. If I knew I would thank them. This historical novel is every bit as great as the book Ben Hur.

A free seven week study guide is also available for small groups or personal use.

For book purchases of The Soldier Who Killed a King try Amazon or christianbook.com.

A Great Gift Idea

05 Saturday Dec 2020

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The story of the cross is appropriate at any time of the year, especially at Christmas, since it’s for this reason Jesus was born into this world.

Here then is a review of this book by Fast Eddie.

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I’ve read this book and enjoyed it. It is biblically accurate and any dramatization never went beyond the realm of reality and plausibility. The thorough research behind the writing is quite obvious.

Kitz keeps a tight pace through the narrative and keeps it true to the spirit of Jesus Christ’s life, death, and resurrection without ever getting preachy.

I wished there were more books like this. It’s a historical fiction, for sure, but there was nothing within the fiction that would contradict what the Gospels in the Bible describe.

Best of all, the book is intended for general readership and not restricted to Christians. For anyone who would like to enjoy an immensely readable, dramatic, emotional, and accurate account of Easter and the time leading up to it, I highly recommend “The Soldier Who Killed a King.” For Christians, it’s a great read for Lent and Easter. But it’s ideal for giving at Christmas.

An Antidote for the COVID-19 Blues

17 Tuesday Mar 2020

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So… you’re stuck at home. COVID-19 has you in isolation or something approaching isolation. You have spent countless hours surfing around social media sites. You’re tired of depressing newscasts and dire warnings. You need a break from it all.

Here’s a suggestion. Maybe it’s time to take a trip—not just any trip. This is a journey to the Holy Land—not the Holy Land of today, but the Holy Land during the time of Jesus. In fact, let’s visit during the most pivotal week in human history—the week of Palm Sunday through Easter Monday.

Let’s see the events of that pivotal week through the eyes of the Roman centurion who knelt at the foot of the cross and made this confession, “Surely he was the Son of God!” (See Matthew 27:54.)

That’s the premise behind my passion of Christ novel, “The Soldier Who Killed a King.”

So what do others think of this book? Well, the reviews are in and the scores are high. With 62 reviews on Amazon.com “The Soldier Who Killed a King” scores 4.8 out of 5 stars on the Amazon rating system. In Canada with 51 reviews posted the score is even higher at 4.9 out of 5 stars. Numbers like that are rare in the literary world.

Here is a sample of a 5 star review:

‘The Soldier Who Killed A King’ is one of the very best books we’ve ever had the privilege to read! Insightful, captivating, inspiring, historically accurate, so very satisfying and engaging… A heartfelt ‘thank you’ to David Kitz for having written this most incredible account of the crucifixion of Christ… A great read for this time of the year as we approach Easter!  — Don & Jan MacGregor 😊😊

Despite an international travel ban, now might be the very best time to take that trip to the Holy Land.

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To learn more and purchase in the USA click here.

To learn more and purchase in Canada click here. To purchase directly from the author use this link.

The Centurion’s Report

06 Friday Mar 2020

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I’m looking forward to the first performance this Lent/Easter season of “The Centurion’s Report” on Sunday, at Café Church in downtown Kingston, Ontario.

“The Centurion’s Report” is my own one-man, four-act drama. It’s the story of our Lord’sPicture Cent-helmet passion, but it’s told from a different point of view, the viewpoint of the centurion who witnessed Christ’s death upon the cross. It was this man who is quoted in Matthew’s gospel as saying, “Truly, this was the Son of God” (Mt. 27:54).

Over the years, countless lives all across the continent have been changed by the Spirit as they have witnessed this portrayal of the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord. Have you been to the cross lately? Every man, woman and child needs to visit there.

“The Centurion’s Report” also led me to write the award-winning biblical novel, “The Soldier Who Killed a King“.  Trust me on this point. There is no higher drama than the drama of the cross and the resurrection. Don’t miss out on participating in it this year.
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This Week’s Discovery

03 Tuesday Mar 2020

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The following Amazon book review took me by surprise:

Best ‘Historical Fiction’ Book Ever!
‘The Soldier Who Killed A King‘ is one of the very best books we’ve ever had the privilege to read! Insightful, captivating, inspiring, historically accurate, so very satisfying and engaging… A heartfelt ‘thank you’ to David Kitz for having written this most incredible account of the crucifixion of Christ… A great read for this time of the year as we approach Easter!  — Don & Jan

High praise indeed.

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As Lent Approaches…

25 Tuesday Feb 2020

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Imagine my surprise and gratitude when I saw the following Facebook post from my friend Andrew:

“As Lent approaches I made the decision to read this excellent book by my friend David Kitz for I think it will be the 3rd or 4th time. I am curious if anyone would like to join me for a Lent book study of this amazing book? If so message me.”

I have encountered a number of people who tell me they reread “The Soldier Who Killed a King” every year as Easter approaches. But it’s great to see that fact posted on social media.

A journey to the cross and the empty tomb is valid at any time of the year. This year why not take that journey as seen through the eyes of Roman centurion, Marcus Longinus?

A free seven week discussion guide is also available for personal or group use. Click for the link.

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From a Soldier’s Point of View

12 Tuesday Nov 2019

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I wrote my novel about Christ’s passion from the perspective of the centurion who wasbiblical-fiction-award-2017_orig in charge of the Good Friday crucifixion. Despite this masculine viewpoint, I have been pleased by the positive response from female readers. The following 5-star review was written by Sally Meadows and was posted to Goodreads:

It seems more than fitting that The Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed to God and was betrayed on the eve of His crucifixion, is the setting of the climax of “The Soldier Who Killed a King.” Here, the protagonist finally meets the living God in a gut-wrenching, unforgettably powerful way that will change his life forever. David Kitz’s narration draws us, throughout this book, into the complexity and brutality of New Testament times with such incredible detail that we can see, taste, feel, everything the soldier does. An enormously successful retelling of Jesus’s final days from the perspective of the man who was instrumental in Jesus’s death. And how through Jesus’s death, the soldier found true life. 

To download a free study guide for this high-impact, bible-based novel visit: https://www.davidkitz.ca/centurion.php/free study guide PDF

For book purchases try the author’s website, or Amazon, or https://www.christianbook.com
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Reading 37 for Lent from “The Soldier Who Killed a King”

15 Monday Apr 2019

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A journey to the cross is a journey to repentance. It’s a journey to deep personal change. Will you take this journey with me?

To download a free study guide for this high-impact, bible-based novel visit: https://www.davidkitz.ca/centurion.php/free study guide PDF

For book purchases of The Soldier Who Killed a King try Amazon or christianbook.com.

 

Reading 36 for Lent from “The Soldier Who Killed a King”

12 Friday Apr 2019

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A journey to the cross is a journey to repentance. It’s a journey to deep personal change. Will you take this journey with me?

Date: 10:00 in the morning, Saturday, April 8, 30 A.D.
Marcus Longinus, the Roman centurion, seals Jesus’ tomb in compliance with the orders from Caiaphas, the high priest.

“Look,” I argued. “This is Jesus of Nazareth, if that’s your concern. I saw him taken off the cross”—I motioned in the vague direction of Golgotha—“wrapped in that shroud.”
I pointed to it. “He was carried into this tomb. This is his body.” I put stress on each word.
“Will you swear to that?”
I raised my right hand. “By the emperor’s throne, by the sacred temple, by all that is holy, I will swear.” I spoke with mounting anger.biblical-fiction-award-2017_orig
This assertion appeared to satisfy them.
We walked out of the tomb, and I chose two fresh men to roll the stone back.
Then once more I addressed the high priest’s men. “I didn’t bring any plaster, or water, or a pot to mix it in. I will need to send someone to get these.”
This news was greeted with a disdainful sigh, but they insisted they would wait by the tomb until the job was done. I sent two men off to retrieve the required tools and material, and in due course they returned.
We mixed the fine-powdered plaster with water in an ample-sized iron pot. Using a stonemason’s trowel I scooped the wet, gray plaster over the narrow crevice that separated the rock door from the rock face of the hill. Soon an airtight plaster seal was in place around the giant circular rock door. At two points, one on either side, I affixed the governor’s own stamp into the yet pliable wet plaster.
Any tampering would break this seal and obliterate the imperial stamp.
At last they were satisfied. Caiaphas himself would have approved of this seal.
But then, why was I working for him?

To download a free study guide for this high-impact, bible-based novel visit: https://www.davidkitz.ca/centurion.php/free study guide PDF

For book purchases of The Soldier Who Killed a King try Amazon or christianbook.com.