JESUS THE RABBI PROPHET: A New Light on The Gospel Message

Jesus was born in a time of political unrest, in a country occupied by the Romans who put a puppet king, Herod the Great, on the throne. In the gospel narratives Herod tries to kill the baby he believes will grow up to threaten his power, but the historical Herod died four years before the traditional birthdate of Jesus. In this study of the historical figure of Jesus, the author examines the geographical and political contexts of his childhood in an area heavily influenced by Greek culture. In addition to Aramaic, Jesus may have spoken Hebrew and even some Greek. The author concludes that Jesus was a fully human being who had brothers and sisters, learned a trade, and was brutally executed by the Roman authorities, a punishment reserved only for rebels. What was the true nature of his convictions and spiritual beliefs? Rabbi Jesus was both a Jew imbued with the monotheistic teaching of the Torah and a visionary who preached of the kingdom within. Christ's betrayal by Judas, the Stations of the Passion, and his death on Calvary take on a new light. The original message of Jesus was concealed beneath literary creations which reflected the agenda of the early Church. The Jewish teacher merely wished to restore dignity to the ostracised members of his society. The author shows how over the centuries, beginning with the dramatic conversion of Paul on the Damascus road, his followers established the world religion we know today. 260pp, paperback.