Bear Grylls on Writing About Jesus
Bear Grylls, famous for his show “Man vs. Wild,” recently shared with Fox News that writing about Jesus was “the hardest thing” he has ever tackled—harder even than climbing Mount Everest or sailing through icy seas.
In an interview on “My View with Lara Trump,” he remarked, “This was the hardest thing I’ve ever done, but it was also the best thing.” Grylls expressed that his faith has been a steady and empowering influence throughout his adventures.
The survival expert’s book, The Greatest Story Ever Told: Eyewitness Testimony, released in June, tells the story of Jesus in a way that he describes as a compelling, faith-based thriller.
He highlighted the surprising nature of Jesus’s story. “It’s a tale of true courage, true friendship, and true love. I thought no one had ever written this as a thriller. I just really wanted to tell this story,” he said.
Grylls mentioned that his motivation stemmed from curiosity and the desire to present a more authentic narrative. He reflected, “I grew up not knowing the real story of Jesus, as I had always encountered a rather sanitized version.”
Since 2006, Grylls has hosted numerous survival shows, primarily on the Discovery Channel. He noted that his fame increased significantly after climbing Mount Everest.
“Everest holds a special place in my heart because I witnessed climbers losing their lives there,” he said. “That experience truly shaped my future, leading to Discovery Channel reaching out to me after watching ‘Man vs. Wild,’ which eventually resulted in ‘Running Wild’ and other programs.”
Interestingly, Grylls conveyed that the feedback from his book has eclipsed any responses he received from his television work. “I think I got more feedback from this book than any show I’ve ever done,” he said.
In addition to discussing his career and faith, Grylls emphasized the significance of spending time outdoors. “The outdoors has always been a beautiful, therapeutic, and grounding place for me,” he shared. “That’s where I reconnect.”
He expressed concern that modern lifestyles are distancing people from nature. “These days, everyone seems a bit scared of the sun,” he noted. Grylls encouraged people to manage their screen time and focus on being a little more disciplined.
Grylls views adventure not merely as seeking thrills, but rather as living with purpose. “It doesn’t have to be about climbing the highest mountain in the world. It’s really about how you approach risk, relationships, family, business, and everything else,” he explained.
In a moment of reflection, he acknowledged, “I’ve burned so many bridges in my life. I have no choice but to do what I have to do, and I love it.”
