Understanding Crown Of Joseph Story: Perceptions Of Jesus

These self-deprecating remarks are invariably followed by another ‘Jesus book.’ Clearly, I am now equally guilty of this awkward inconsistency. Although I have been involved with this project for over thirty years, the reason for undertaking my Jesus quest was simply to find the truth. I am a believer—albeit, a ‘skeptical’ believer. Throughout history, our perceptions of Jesus of Nazareth have been shaped by four gospels of unknown origin and authorship--written decades after his death. Three of these gospels--Matthew, Mark, and Luke--are known among scholars as to the 'synoptic Gospels; meaning simply that they are very similar in their content. It was by stitching together assorted bits and pieces of these gospels that Christianity was able to cobble together a 'standard model'--the Synoptic Jesus so familiar to us today. From a miraculous virgin birth in Bethlehem--to his final glorious ascension to a heavenly throne; early Christianity was able to present the world with a magical, mythical 'super-sized demigod--truly worthy of the title "Christ!" The Fourth Gospel, however--the Gospel of John--stands apart from any of these traditions.