The Life of Jesus

Johnson establishes Jesus as history's most influential figure with over 100,000 English biographies. He describes the harsh Roman world of 50-60 million people built on 15 million slaves, ruled by the monster Herod the Great. Jesus was born around 4 BC in Nazareth to Joseph, a successful carpenter-entrepreneur, and Mary. The only childhood record shows 12-year-old Jesus teaching elders in the temple, demonstrating his lifelong focus on 'being about God's business.'

• •Jesus is the most written-about person in history with the religion spreading to multiple countries within decades of his death
• •He was born into a brutal Roman Empire of 60 million people where one-third were slaves living under 'work, punishment, and food'
• •Raised by Joseph (a prosperous tradesman/entrepreneur) and Mary in Nazareth, a town of craftsmen and workshops
• •First recorded words at age 12: 'Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?' - establishing his mission focus
• •18 years of Jesus's life (ages 12-30) are completely undocumented, though evidence suggests he was self-taught with broad practical knowledge

Jesus begins his public ministry around age 30 after being baptized by John the Baptist, emphasizing the universal need for spiritual renewal. After narrowly escaping death from an angry mob in Nazareth, he recruits 12 apostles - starting with sturdy fishermen for protection. Jesus demanded total commitment from his team, warning them the mission would cause family dissension and involve painful choices and danger.

• •Judaism was ripe for reformation; Jesus offered a spiritual revolution based on love and neighborliness accessible to all classes
• •John the Baptist baptized Jesus to demonstrate the universality of spiritual renewal - every human needs to 'wash off the stains of the past'
• •After teaching in Nazareth, violent mob tried to throw Jesus off a cliff - demonstrating the danger of challenging orthodoxy
• •First recruits were 'sturdy fishermen, strong and resourceful' to protect him when his words angered authorities
• •Jesus insisted on full-time commitment: 'This mission is only for the fully committed' - demanded followers put mission first despite family conflicts

Jesus preferred people accept truth through reason rather than waiting for miraculous signs. He consistently tried to keep healings private, avoiding publicity as a 'holy magician.' He taught continuously for three years except when resting or praying in solitude, calculating approximately 400 teaching occasions with crowds plus scores of informal opportunities, including mealtimes where he was described as convivial (cheerful and friendly).

• •Jesus wanted to convince through reason, not spectacle: 'It is preferable that men show faith by listening to the truth and accepting it'
• •Repeatedly demanded privacy after healings: 'See that no man knows this' - detested being seen as a miracle worker
• •Taught constantly for three years - estimated 400 formal occasions plus informal teaching at meals and gatherings
• •Was 'convivial' - cheerful, friendly, jovial - loved teaching when people were relaxed and enjoying food and companionship
• •Insisted on solitary prayer time as balance to constant public teaching

Jesus taught life should be devoted to self-transformation through the Beatitudes - eight precepts emphasizing humility, justice, compassion, inner purity, peacemaking, and standing for what's right. His teaching was entirely new and difficult, contrasting sharply with conventional success. Core maxims included loving enemies, turning the other cheek, and judging not. He stressed that inner sentiments matter - anger without cause is sin, not just the act of killing.

• •The Beatitudes were 'entirely new' with 'no equivalent in the Old Testament or ancient Near East wisdom literature'
• •Revolutionary commands: 'Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, bless them that curse you'
• •Turn the other cheek principle - if someone takes your coat, give them your shirt also
• •Judge not and you will not be judged; condemn not and you will not be condemned; forgive and you will be forgiven
• •Inner sentiments matter: being angry with your brother without cause is also sin, not just the act of killing

Jesus's message can be summarized as 'Be kind.' When asked about the greatest commandment, he combined two: love God with everything you have, and love every other person. When asked 'Who is my neighbor?' his answer was 'everyone.' He turned compassion from an occasional feeling into an overarching gospel of love for all mankind - a concept that didn't exist in his day. He was 'philanthropy incarnate' (from Greek philanthropia - love of mankind).

• •The great commandment: Love God with everything + love every other person - 'there is none other commandment greater than these'
• •Who is my neighbor? Answer: Everyone - no exceptions based on tribe, race, or nationality
• •Transformed occasional compassion into 'a huge overarching gospel of love' for mankind as a whole
• •Was a universalist: 'I will draw all men to me' - had no home, country, race, or tribal characteristics
• •The Greek word 'philanthropia' (love of mankind) perfectly describes Jesus - he was 'philanthropy incarnate'

Jesus was a charismatic, poetic, persuasive communicator who thought and spoke in images, metaphors, and flashes of insight from nature. His teaching was 'mesmeric' with vivid comparisons - not a half dozen lines without an unforgettable image. He favored parables (simple stories illustrating moral lessons), with the Good Samaritan and Prodigal Son being most memorable. The combination of maxims and storytelling ensured lessons were remembered and applied.

• •Thought and spoke 'as a poet does, in images, flashes of insight, and metaphors from the world of nature'
• •Created 'little pictures in the minds' of listeners - not a half dozen lines without an unforgettable image
• •Used parables (simple stories with moral lessons) as primary teaching tool - Good Samaritan became historical ideal of neighborliness
• •Good Samaritan illustrated core principle: 'We are all neighbors, one to another, and our human fellowship depends on kindness and charity, not tribe or race'
• •Understood that lessons won't be applied if not remembered - combined maxims with storytelling for maximum retention

Jesus never assumed poverty made people virtuous but was aware wealth offered endless corruption opportunities. He encouraged the wealthy to distribute generously to the poor, noting that successful people can do more service for others. He spoke directly to each individual in crowds - his love of people as individuals was his most striking characteristic. He was fascinated by children, constantly bringing them into his teaching, believing 'the study of children had much to tell.'

• •On wealth: 'It all depends on what you do with it' - encouraged generous distribution to the poor
• •More successful people can help more: the Good Samaritan's wealth enabled him to actually help the injured traveler
• •Spoke directly to each individual in crowds - 'his love of people as individuals was his most striking characteristic'
• •Was 'hugely intuitive' - disliked legalism, preferred 'flashes of instant perception and poetry' over ponderous logic
• •Fascinated by children - observed how mothers forget childbirth pain in delight, how parents listen to children's requests, 'the impulses of children at play interested him'

Jesus taught inner revolution against selfishness, greed, cruelty, prejudice, anger, and lust - transforming from self-love to love for all. He provided a new 10 Commandments through his life example: develop true personality, embrace universality, respect equality, use love in all relationships, show mercy without expectation, maintain balance, cultivate open mind, pursue truth, use power judiciously, and show courage. Those who imitate Jesus change themselves and thereby change the world.

• •The revolution was 'entirely inward' - against selfishness, greed, cruelty, prejudice, transforming self-love into love for all
• •10 New Commandments: (1) Develop unique character (2) See humanity as whole (3) Give equal consideration to all (4) Use love in all situations (5) Show mercy
• •On mercy: 'Show mercy without forethought or afterthought, without reason or logic, not expecting thanks or repentance, simply for its own sake'
• •(6) Keep balance when others lose theirs (7) Cultivate open mind - struggled against closed minds and bigotry (8) Pursue truth (9) Use power with restraint, mercy, and love
• •(10) Show courage - 'high courage with endurance of pain and persecution, sustained heroism in face of inequity, dogged persistence in proclaiming truth at all costs'

Jesus was executed on orders of Pontius Pilate in collaboration with the high priest, viewed as a threat to religious and political order. The trials demonstrated 'bitterly ironic condemnation of human justice' - lying, perjury, prejudice, eagerness to take innocent life while avoiding responsibility, cowardice on all sides. Crucifixion was an intentionally cruel, slow, agonizing public execution designed to intimidate and deter others from challenging authority.

• •More agreement on Jesus's death details than Julius Caesar's assassination - executed by Pontius Pilate with religious leaders' collaboration
• •Trials showed worst of human justice: 'lying and perjury, prejudice and false witness, eagerness to take innocent life but determination to avoid responsibility'
• •Crucifixion was deliberately cruel - nails through wrists/hands and feet, victim gradually suffocates unable to support own weight
• •Death was 'slow and agonizing' - carried out in highly visible places to intimidate and discourage challenging authority
• •Jesus was weak from shock, blood loss, no sleep, and cruelties - stumbled three times carrying the cross through Jerusalem streets

Whether believer or not, Jesus's life offers valuable lessons. He lived in a corrupt, cruel world run by inadequate men and monsters - much like today. He was a gregarious, friendly figure radiating love, benevolence, and forgiveness, yet challenged official authority and was constantly watched by spies and informers. His alternative wasn't outward revolution but inner transformation through humility, love, generosity, mercy, and hope - still relevant in our cruel world.

• •First-century Palestine was 'corrupt, mendacious, grossly inefficient, and cruel' - run by inadequate men and monsters, like today
• •Jesus was 'gregarious, friendly, always teaching, listening, talking with people of all kinds' - usually soft-spoken and genial, radiating love
• •Despite meekness, challenged official authority - constantly watched by 'agents, spies, informers, and provokers'
• •Offered alternative not of outward revolution but 'inner life of humility and love, of generosity and mercy, of forgiveness and hope'
• •If Jesus appeared today, he would find countless followers but 'equally would be persecuted and killed' - his biography remains critically important: 'we must study it and learn'