Jesus is the most influential, written about, and discussed human being in history. The earliest surviving documents about him date to the 50s AD. Within half a century of his death, four Greek biographies were published, all of which have survived. Today, there are over 100,000 printed biographies of Jesus in English alone.

The religion commemorating his teachings, death, and resurrection was established in several countries by 50 AD. The first Christian place of worship also dates from this time. Now, nearly a million chapels, churches, basilicas, and cathedrals exist, including some of the largest and most beautiful buildings ever constructed. The life of Jesus and the faith it created are central events in human history, particularly in cultural and moral respects.

While the speaker believes Jesus was and is God, they note it is futile to inquire about his divine nature or pre-existence, as these are unknowable. Instead, the focus can be on Jesus the Man. The main challenge in writing about his life is not a lack of sources but their abundance and the difficulty in understanding the full meaning behind the texts. The speaker aims for clarity and brevity in their own writing, hoping to convey the joy and nourishment they receive from following his footsteps and pondering his words.

The book, "Jesus A Biography from a Believer" by Paul Johnson, describes the world into which Jesus was born as harsh, cruel, violent, and unstable. It was also a materialistic and increasingly wealthy society. At the time, Rome was transitioning from a republic into an empire, governing 50 to 60 million people across Italy, Spain, Greece, Egypt, and modern-day Turkey. Fifty years before Jesus's birth, Julius Caesar had added Gaul, which is now modern France, to the Roman Empire.

This expanding empire was built on muscle rather than technology. It relied on approximately 15 million slaves who made up one-third of its population. The life of a slave was bleak, as summed up by Aristotle.

...whose life was summed up by Aristotle in work, punishment, and food.

A striking contrast is drawn between the world Jesus was born into and the lessons he would later teach. The ruler at the time was Herod the Great. For over 30 years, he was the richest person in the empire, a master builder of shipping ports, temples, and aqueducts. Yet, he was also a monstrous figure, known for his suspicion and cruelty, having slaughtered over 40 of his own wives, children, and relatives. The last year of Herod's life was the year of Jesus's birth.

Jesus was born around 4 BC in Nazareth, a small town with many craftsmen. His father, Joseph, was a prosperous carpenter, and his mother was Mary. Their home was deeply pious, meticulously observing Jewish feasts and practices. A notable story from his childhood occurs when Jesus is 12. His family traveled to Jerusalem for Passover, and on the way home, they realized he was missing. After a distressing three-day search, they found him in the temple, conversing with the elders, who were astonished at his understanding.

This event includes Jesus's first recorded words. When his mother, Mary, rebuked him for the distress he caused, he replied with a question:

Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?

It's significant that his first words are a question, as his teachings are filled with them; there are over 300 questions from him in the four Gospels alone. After this event, the Gospels go silent on Jesus's life for 18 years. We know nothing about what he did or where he went for more than half of his life. His story resumes around age 30, when he is baptized by John the Baptist. It's clear he emerged as a man of wide knowledge, particularly about trade and agriculture, as shown in his parables. This suggests he was largely self-taught, an autodidact with practical experience, which led critics to dismiss him as uneducated. While it's speculated that Joseph's death may have prompted Jesus to leave home and gain experience, there is no actual record of this period.

During the time of Jesus, Judaism was ripe for reformation. The alternative Jesus taught was a spiritual revolution based on love and neighborliness, which could be embraced by all classes and people. John the Baptist was also teaching the need for reformation and played a large role in Jesus's mission. Jesus requested that John baptize him to stress the universality of the sacrament—the need for every person to wash away the past and become new. This event marked the symbolic beginning of Jesus's mission and the culmination of John's. History shows that speaking out against the powerful is often life-threatening, and John was ultimately arrested and beheaded.

There is no reliable evidence of what Jesus looked like, but certain traits are consistently repeated. He was observant, detail-oriented, confident, decisive, and charismatic, with several people commenting on his intense eye contact. The authority he exercised was innate, not acquired. One of his first significant acts was choosing the 12 apostles. This underscores a crucial principle: the most important first step when starting anything is recruiting the people who will help you on your mission. For Jesus, the apostles would not only help spread his teachings but also keep him physically safe.

This need for protection became clear early on. When Jesus began teaching in his hometown of Nazareth, his message was in direct conflict with what the people believed. They reacted with violent anger, and a mob tried to throw him off a cliff to his death. After escaping, Jesus chose his first followers, described as "sturdy fishermen, strong and resourceful, to stand around him and protect him." This experience highlights a timeless piece of wisdom he shared.

No prophet is acceptable in his hometown.

Jesus insisted on full commitment from his apostles, viewing his mission as only for the "wholeheartedly dedicated." He was clear that this vocation would require painful choices and could even cause conflict within their families. This approach to building a team—recruiting special people to help with a mission—is a common theme among influential figures.

A core part of his strategy was starting with an act of faith. Jesus preferred to persuade people through reason rather than by performing miracles. He wanted people to show faith by listening to and accepting the truth, not by waiting for signs. He taught that his message was rational and that following his teachings made sense.

Jesus makes it clear that it is preferable that men show faith by listening to the truth and by accepting it and following it, rather than by waiting for signs and miracles to convince them.

To avoid being seen as a "holy magician," Jesus frequently instructed those he healed to keep it private. He would often take people away from public view to cure them and charge them not to tell anyone. This publicity was a distraction from his main goal: conveying his message through reason.

For three years, Jesus taught continuously. He was not just preaching; he was teaching, often in response to what he saw or heard from the crowd. He taught constantly, except when resting or praying in solitude. Described as convivial—cheerful and friendly—he even loved to teach during mealtimes when people were relaxed.

The central theme of his teaching was self-transformation. He provided a series of precepts known as the Beatitudes as a guide. These teachings emphasized humility, gentleness, justice, compassion, inner purity, and peace. They presented a view on blessedness that often contrasted sharply with conventional worldly ideas of success and happiness.

Jesus's teachings were tough, hard to follow, and entirely new for their time, with no equivalent in the Old Testament or other ancient wisdom literature. They often provoked astonishment, anger, and doubt. He presented difficult maxims that have since become familiar but were startlingly new then. Examples include loving your enemies, turning the other cheek, and giving your shirt to someone who takes your coat.

Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you... If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them, the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them.

A central theme was the importance of inner sentiments. Jesus taught that unrestrained evil feelings could lead to major sins. It was not enough to avoid killing; being angry with someone without cause was also a sin. He also cautioned against criticizing others. The core of his message can be summarized in two words: Be kind. When asked for the greatest commandment, he combined two ideas: love God with everything you have, and love every other person. He believed doing these two things was the center of a good life.

Jesus expanded the concept of compassion into a universal gospel of love for all mankind. When asked, "Who is my neighbor?" his answer was "everyone." This idea of loving humanity as a whole was not a common concept in his time. The Greek word for this is "philanthropia," which translates to philanthropy. Jesus was described as "philanthropy incarnate," united to all people by love. His message was entirely inclusive, with no ties to a specific country, race, or tribe.

His teaching style was charismatic, poetic, and persuasive. He spoke in images, insights, and metaphors drawn from the natural world, creating vivid pictures in the minds of his listeners. His lessons are rich in simile and metaphor, with inanimate objects coming to life and nature teeming with moral activity.

Jesus was a storyteller who favored the parable, a short, simple story used to illustrate a moral lesson. His teaching methods combined maxims and storytelling, a combination that was effective in his day and remains so today. As great storytellers know, lessons cannot be applied if they are not remembered. David Ogilvy's famous line captures this well: "You can't save souls in an empty church."

Two of his most memorable parables are the Good Samaritan and the Prodigal Son. The story of the Good Samaritan was told in response to the question, "Who is my neighbor?" The parable was so effective that the Good Samaritan has become a historical and literary ideal of a good neighbor to someone in distress. The principle Jesus was illustrating is that we are all neighbors, and human fellowship depends on kindness and charity, not on divisions like tribe, race, or nationality.

A recurring theme in the parables is sympathy for the poor and disenfranchised. Jesus didn't believe poverty made people virtuous, but he was aware that wealth offered endless opportunities for corruption. His general point was that what matters is what you do with your wealth. He encouraged the wealthy to distribute a generous portion of it to the poor. The parable of the Good Samaritan shows a case where money promotes virtue. The merchant in the story was industrious and successful, and he used his earnings to help others. A less successful man might have felt the same compassion for the traveler but would have been able to do little about it. This connects to the idea that the more net worth you have, the more service you can provide to others.

Jesus placed a strong emphasis on the individual. Even when addressing large crowds, he spoke directly to each person within them. His love for people as individuals was one of his most notable traits. He championed gentleness, patience, and forbearance.

Highly intuitive, Jesus disliked legalism and complex logic. He preferred to use flashes of instant perception and poetry in his speech, relying more on emotion than reason to convey his points. To explain difficult concepts, he used relatable images from everyday life and work, aiming to make people interested and happy.

He also created a system to spread his gospel by training his apostles to follow in his footsteps and imitate his teaching style. The apostles, a hand-selected group of twelve, were distinct from the broader group of disciples who also followed him. These apostles were sent on independent missions, and this model of imitating Jesus's teaching methods continues to be seen in churches today.

Jesus was fascinated by every aspect of a child's development. He frequently incorporated them into his teachings, noting how a mother's delight in her baby could obliterate the pains of childbirth and how parents would grant their children's requests, but only when they were not harmful. He found the impulses of children at play and their sorrows interesting, believing they were not to be ignored. Jesus's profound belief was that the study of children had much to tell.

The speaker shares this sentiment, calling children their favorite version of humans. This resonates personally as they observe their own three-year-old, who is endlessly fascinating. The speaker highlights the idea that the impulses of children at play interested Jesus, reflecting that somewhere along the line, adults lose that impulse and the appreciation for its inherent value. They conclude by agreeing that the study of children has much to teach.

Jesus taught self-improvement through leading by example and encouraging imitation. According to author Paul Johnson, this was an "inward revolution" against selfishness, greed, cruelty, prejudice, anger, and lust. It was a shift from self-love to a universal love and fellowship. By imitating Jesus's example of behavior, thought, and speech, people could make the world better and lead more fulfilled lives. His life effectively provided a new set of ten commandments.

These commandments are:

1. Develop a true, unique personality and character.
2. Abide by universality and see the human race as a whole.
3. Respect that all people are equal and give them equal consideration.
4. Use love in all human relationships, at all times.
5. Show mercy. This principle is particularly emphasized.

Mercy is grace. It is undeserved. Jesus says that if you get the glorious chance to show mercy, do so without forethought or afterthought, without reason or logic, not expecting thanks or even repentance, not to accomplish something in the way of social or personal reform simply for its own sake.

6. Maintain balance and keep your head.
7. Cultivate an open mind, fighting against bigotry.
8. Pursue truth.
9. Use power judiciously, with restraint, moderation, mercy, pity, and love.
10. Show courage, endurance, and persistence in proclaiming the truth at all costs.

There is reportedly more agreement among historical sources about the death of Jesus than there is about the assassination of Julius Caesar. Jesus was executed on the orders of Pontius Pilate, the Roman prefect at the time. While some sources suggest Pilate tried to dissuade the crowd, others indicate he viewed Jesus as a threat to Roman authority. Ultimately, there was a collaboration between Pilate and the high priest of the temple. They both regarded Jesus as a threat to their stability, both in religious teachings and the political order.

The trials leading to his execution are described as a condemnation of human justice.

What the narratives amount to, in effect and perhaps in intention, is a bitterly ironic condemnation of human justice. Lying and perjury, prejudice and false witness. An eagerness to take innocent life, but a determination to avoid any responsibility by passing the decision to others. Cowardice on all sides, and not without a vile touch of frivolity. These were the salient characteristics of the trials of Jesus.

After the trials, Jesus was forced to carry his own cross to the place of execution. Weak from shock, blood loss, and lack of sleep, he stumbled three times. Crucifixion was an exceptionally cruel and public form of execution. A person was affixed to a wooden cross, often with nails driven through their wrists and feet, and left to die. Death was slow and agonizing, typically resulting from suffocation as the victim could no longer support their own weight. This brutal method served not only as physical torment but also as a public deterrent, carried out in visible places to intimidate others from challenging authority.

The story of Jesus divides at the moment of his death. For Christians, his death was followed by the resurrection, a cornerstone of the faith. However, author Paul Johnson argues that even for non-believers, there is immense value in studying the life of Jesus.

He lived in first-century Palestine, a land described as multiracial and multireligious, but also corrupt, inefficient, and cruel, run by inadequate men. In this environment, Jesus was a gregarious and friendly figure, always teaching and listening. Though usually soft-spoken, he could be stern and show righteous anger. He was a fascinating man who radiated love and forgiveness, yet also spoke with authority.

Jesus was a fascinating, irresistible figure, radiating love, benevolent, forgiving, talking always of mercy and smiling often. He was a serious man nonetheless, one who spoke with authority, a man to respect. He was clearly a man who, despite his meekness, challenged official authority.

Because he challenged the status quo, he was constantly watched by spies and informers. His life and death served as a protest against the cruel world he inhabited. The alternative he offered was not one of political revolution but of personal transformation.

He offered an alternative. Not an outward life of revolution and reform, but an inner life of humility and love, of generosity and mercy, of forgiveness and hope. We live in a cruel world too, so Jesus alternative is still relevant.

The lessons from his life remain important today. If Jesus were to appear again, he would undoubtedly find many followers, but he would also be persecuted and killed. This is why studying his biography is so crucial in our own challenging times.