The Relevance of Jesus’ Own Gospel

Preface 

Before you decide to read from this book, you should be given an idea of what it concerns. For me, the relevance of Jesus’ “gospel” – his “good news” – depends on two things: the proposition that God had a uniquely close relationship with Jesus, thereby making Jesus’ ministry relevant to his times, and the proposition that Jesus’ ministry carries a message relevant to our times. Corresponding to those two propositions, my goal in the book is to present as strong a case as I can in support of two beliefs that I hold: (1) that God, pictured much as Jesus described God in his teachings, was directly responsible for some post-crucifixion appearances of Jesus; and (2) that in so acting, God validated that part of the message Jesus taught, through both words and deeds, which is most relevant to later generations, including those of today’s world. In Chapters 1 through 4, I explain how I, a physics professor by trade, see strong evidence for the first of those beliefs provided by the nature of science and some pretty unassailable claims of historical fact. Religion is much more a matter of the heart than of the mind, and the primary basis of my Christian faith is what I believe to be true about matters that have no direct support from objective facts. The depth of my convictions, however, can often use some indirect support of a more objective nature, and that is what I hope to explain clearly in the first four chapters of this book. The remainder of the book deals with the relevance of Jesus’ message for our times, as I understand that message to be. This part is just the opinion of one person, and a non-theologian at that. It is a well-known fact that in studying the Bible, people tend to interpret whatever passages they encounter from whatever viewpoint they already have. I certainly cannot claim to be exempt from that tendency. My perspective on Jesus’ basic message is mostly woven together from the writings of several New Testament scholars and theologians, to whom I will often refer. 
As I’ll explain at the beginning of Chapter 2, this book does not discuss most of the key doctrines of traditional Christianity. It does not, for example, discuss Jesus’ birth, or the doctrine of the Trinity; most of my fellow Christians would say that I never get to the most important parts of the faith. My focus is on the ministry of Jesus in this world in the first century of the Christian Era (CE), as scholars can best reconstruct it. I try to keep to the purpose I indicated: to defend belief in a God Who loves everybody with unbounded love, and Who showed that love by causing, in some way and in some form, post-crucifixion appearances of Jesus, “God’s Anointed.” This belief carries an important message beyond Christianity as it is traditionally conceived, and I would hope that my defense of it will be of some interest to non-Christians of all sorts. 
For centuries, and especially since the publication of Freud’s The Future of an Illusion, some scientists have attempted to explain away not just Christianity but all religions as solely products of the human mind. This book responds, in part, to that view, which I view as an illusion. Many other persons in scientific or science-related careers have written books detailing solid reasons in support of their religious beliefs. Nevertheless some people, who may or may not work in science themselves but admire the great advances that science has made in modern times, wonder how scientists could believe in a God Who cares about humanity. My own reasons for belief are not revolutionary or even new, but some particular facts that speak strongly to me may not have received the attention that I feel they deserve, and so I am adding my thoughts as well. First I will focus on science in relation to religion. Then I will turn to first-century history, as the majority of historians seem to understand it. And finally I will rely on several authorities in the interpretation of Jesus’ ministry to discuss my own understanding of the chief message of that ministry, and how it relates to our own times.