The Gospel According to Jesus: A New Translation and Guide to His Essential Teachings for Believers and Unbelievers

A wonderful, enlightening book. Stephen Mitchell has succeeded in distilling what is valid and relevant from what is invalid and irrelevant in the New Testament. Growing up Catholic, I never understood the significance my religion placed on the crucifixtion. It just didn't made any sense to me that I should be joyful that an innocent man was tortured and died for my sins. Why would God be pleased with that or require that for me to be forgiven? But, like Mr. Mitchell, upon reflection I don't believe that was ever the reason Jesus died or that his death was the essence of his gift. His teachings were his gift. And when we focus on those teachings, we learn who this man truly was. And then we have cause to be joyful, as I am every time I read this book.

Many thanks to Mitchell for restoring my interest and faith in the gospels. His comprehensive introduction and commentary following his rendition of the good news was very helpful to making up my own mind as to what message God was sending us in the person of Jesus. I recognize the love God was communicating in Mitchell's book. A must read for all truth seekers!

Stephen Mitchell exposes the essence of the life of Jesus in a way that makes him irresistable. What if he were just a man? What if he were no more akin to God than you or I? His teachings suddenly have a magnitude of insight, brilliance, and commitment that are absolutely astounding. Since 1995, I have read this book cover to cover more times than I can count. Each reading is rewarded with a clearer, deeper understanding of Jesus the man.

Do you think Jesus acts schitzophrenic in the Biblical gospels? Humble and loving one moment, Hell and Damnation the next? Buddhist Mitchell culls away two millenia of popular myth to reveal a Jesus that is a universal and benevolent Jewish sage, and a real, accessible human being.This book affected me deeply, helping me to clean the dirt off the mirror, and realize things Lao Tzu would say I already knew.