The Real Jesus

The Real Jesus' proposes the greatest correction to Christianity since Martin Luther posted his '95 Theses' to a church door in 1517. Christians believe that Jesus, an innocent man, was crucified by the Romans at the urging of Jewish leaders because Jesus was 'King of the Jews.' In Chapter 1, 'The Real Jesus' notes that the Romans had a much better reason for charging Jesus with a crime. Whatever charges were brought against Jesus, the Romans found him guilty and ordered crucifixion. Christians believe that the death of Jesus on the cross pays for the sins of mankind if they each accept Jesus as their savior. However, Chapter 2 examines the execution of Jesus and finds it to be much more complicated than previously believed. Did Jesus actually die on the cross? Chapter 3 deals with the resurrection of Jesus, but if Jesus did not die on the cross, as Christians believe, then how can there be a resurrection? These two issues must be considered together. Chapter 4 explains how Abraham, an early ancestor of Jesus, was ordered by God to abandon the practice of human sacrifice. That would be the God to whom Jesus prayed. All other Jewish people would be praying to the same God. Therefore, treating Jesus as a human sacrifice would be in violation of Jewish history where human sacrifice ended with Abraham. Another belief of Christians is that Jesus was born of a virgin, thus fulfilling a Jewish prophesy and proving that Jesus is the son of God. However, in Chapter 5, 'The Real Jesus' provides a detailed examination of the claim of the virgin birth of Jesus, including the quote from the angel, Gabriel, and comes to a surprising conclusion. Chapter 5 also lists numerous occasions in which Jesus describes himself as 'the Son of Man.' Chapter 6 deals with the story of Jesus changing water to wine at a wedding. The story seems to be an illustration of the divine powers of Jesus. Again, careful examination shows there is much more to the story. In Chapter 7, Jesus goes on record as opposing capital punishment for a woman accused of adultery. It is easy to conclude that Jesus is always opposed to capital punishment and other forms of human sacrifice. Chapter 8 attempts to translate Christian theory into behavior of which Jesus would approve. It concludes in citing a Samaritan. Chapter 9 discusses tragedies in which well-meaning Christians have violated the principles by which Jesus lived. Chapter 10 describes how Jesus would modify current Christianity.