The Gospel According to Jesus

1. Discovering the Authentic Teachings of Jesus

In the New Testament there is internal evidence that parts of it have proceeded from an extraordinary man; and that other parts are of the fabric of very inferior minds.

Separating truth. Like Thomas Jefferson, we can discern the genuine words of Jesus from later additions by the early church. These accretions often reflect theological agendas, polemics, or misunderstandings, obscuring the original, radiant teachings. By stripping away these layers, the authentic voice of Jesus emerges with surprising clarity and power.

Internal evidence. The authentic passages are marked by sublime ideas, pure morality, benevolence, humility, and a unique eloquence. They resonate with a deep spiritual truth that transcends religious boundaries and speaks directly to the human heart. This "internal evidence" is the primary tool for distinguishing the diamond from the dunghill.

Scholarly consensus. Modern scholarship supports this approach, acknowledging that the Gospels were compiled decades after Jesus's death by men who hadn't heard his teaching directly. Much of what is attributed to "Jesus" originated in the early church, not in Jesus's own Aramaic words. Recognizing this allows for a more accurate understanding of his essential message.

2. The Kingdom of God is Within You, Now

For the kingdom of God is within you.

Presence, not future. Jesus taught that ultimate reality, the luminous, compassionate intelligence of the universe, is not a distant heaven or a future event. It is always right here, right now, present within us and spread out over the earth, though often unseen. This is the core of the "good news" he proclaimed.

State of being. The kingdom of God is a state of being, a way of living at ease in the eternal Now, accepting the infinite abundance of the present with complete trust. It is not something to be earned or waited for, but something already ours, waiting to be reclaimed by letting go of past and future concerns.

Beyond dreams. Unlike messianic visions focused on a future Golden Age, Jesus's teaching calls us to awaken from all dreams, including nostalgia for the future. Entering the kingdom means feeling constantly cared for, like floating in the womb of the universe, realizing that this intimate presence of God is the only true reality.

3. Forgiveness: The Heart's Open Door

Forgiveness is essentially openness of heart.

Central teaching. Forgiveness is Jesus's most important teaching for those not yet living fully in the kingdom of God. It is a signpost pointing toward that state, requiring us to let go of the self that feels offended and open our hearts to others.

Reciprocity. Jesus taught that God's forgiveness mirrors our own: "Forgive us our wrongs, as we forgive those who have wronged us." This isn't a condition God imposes, but a spiritual fact – clinging to offense separates us from our own fulfillment and God's grace.

Beyond action. Forgiveness is not merely an action but an attitude arising from vision. It is the inexhaustible energy of life itself, allowing us to release both the person who wronged us and ourselves, creating a space where acceptance resides.

4. Compassion for All, Especially Outcasts

My teaching is not meant for those who are already righteous, but for the wicked.

Radical inclusivity. Jesus's ministry was marked by profound compassion, particularly for those marginalized by society and religious norms – tax-gatherers, prostitutes, the sick, and the insane. He associated with those considered "wicked," shocking the pious of his day.

Seeing beyond labels. He saw beyond societal labels and moral judgments, recognizing the essential humanity and the image of God even in the most degraded. His attitude was one of nonjudgmental love, seeing lost people not as inherently evil but as those who had simply lost their way.

Divine mirror. Just as God makes the sun rise on the wicked and the good, and sends rain to the righteous and the unrighteous, Jesus embodied this impartial compassion. His willingness to step into the "mud" with others was a powerful act of love, reflecting God's all-embracing grace.

5. Embrace the Simplicity of a Child

Truly I tell you, unless you return and become like children, you can’t enter the kingdom of God.

Pattern of being. Jesus held children up as patterns for entering the kingdom of God, recognizing their natural trust, presence, openness, and capacity for wonder. This insight points to a state of being free from the self-consciousness and anxieties that adults often develop.

Original home. Becoming like a child means returning to our original self, our "original home," where we are at one with the world. This state, described by mystics as spotless, pure, and filled with divine knowledge, is still present within us, waiting to be rediscovered.

Beyond reason. The simplicity of a child is not a lack of reason, but a state beyond the need for complex intellectual understanding. It is a state of effortless harmony, where actions flow naturally without attachment to results, and the spirit never grows old.

6. True Righteousness is Inner Transformation

For I tell you that unless your righteousness is deeper than the righteousness of the scribes, you will never enter the kingdom of God.

Beyond outer rules. Jesus did not seek to abolish the Law but to fulfill it by taking it to a deeper, inner level. True righteousness is not merely outward obedience to rules but an inner transformation where one's whole being is illuminated by God's light, leading naturally to just and compassionate actions.

Root of action. Harmful actions begin in selfish and harmful thoughts. Jesus's teachings on anger and lust point to the need to address the root of our imperfections in the mind and heart, rather than just controlling outward behavior.

Becoming the Law. When eternal life breaks through and lives us, the commandments keep themselves effortlessly. The goal is not to strive for righteousness in the abstract, but to embody the light within, making every action easy and natural.

7. Trust in God's Abundant Providence

Look at the birds of the sky: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, yet God feeds them.

Freedom from anxiety. Jesus taught profound trust in God's care, urging us not to be anxious about material needs like food and clothing. Just as God feeds the birds and clothes the lilies in splendor, God knows our needs and provides for those who seek the kingdom.

Infinite value. This trust stems from the realization of our infinite value in God's eyes. Every hair on our head is numbered; we are worth more than many sparrows. This awareness dissolves fear and allows us to rest in the certainty of being infinitely taken care of.

Receiving the gift. While God's provision is constant, asking for what we need allows the gift to go deeper. This trust in divine providence is a core aspect of living fully in the present moment, knowing that everything is as it should be.

8. You Receive Exactly What You Give

For the measure by which you give is the measure by which you will receive.

Spiritual law. Jesus taught a fundamental spiritual law: we attract the same kind of energy we send out. If we judge, we are judged; if we condemn, we are condemned; if we forgive, we are forgiven; if we give, we receive abundantly. This is not external reward or punishment, but an impartial law of nature.

Non-judgment. "Don't judge" means not accusing or condemning, but keeping our hearts open to everyone. The Master, seeing beyond good and bad, welcomes both saints and sinners, embodying the Tao which gives birth to both.

Golden Rule. The Golden Rule, "whatever you want others to do to you, do to them," is the essence of the Law and the prophets, rooted in empathy. It reminds us that our behavior towards others is a reflection of our inner state and directly impacts what we receive.

9. The Path is Narrow, But Leads to Life

But the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to true life, and those who find it are few.

Difficulty acknowledged. Jesus was realistic about the spiritual path, stating that it is difficult and found by few. This is not about exclusivity, but about the challenging nature of the inner work required to enter the kingdom of God.

Letting go. The difficulty lies in letting go of attachments, illusions, and the self that clings to them. This process can be painful, like cleaning the heart with steel wool or diving back into flames, but it is necessary to burn away self-absorption.

True freedom. The narrow gate leads to true life, a state of freedom and transparency. Like Spinoza's ethics, the path is hard because it is found so seldom, but all things excellent are as difficult as they are rare.

10. Hearing Requires Doing

Everyone who hears what I say and does it is like a man who built his house upon rock.

Embodied truth. Jesus emphasized that his teaching must be lived, not just heard or believed intellectually. True understanding comes from embodying the truth in action, building one's life on a solid foundation that can withstand any storm.

Faith and works. This echoes the sentiment that faith without action is dead. Simply knowing or believing is insufficient; the teaching must become flesh, transforming our behavior and our very being.

Inner foundation. Doing the teaching means integrating it into the core of our being. A life built on this inner rock is stable and secure, unlike a life built on the shifting sands of mere intellectual assent or outward piety.

11. Jesus's Profound Humanity and Vulnerability

Why do you call me good? No one is good except God alone.

Fully human. The authentic Jesus was profoundly human, acknowledging his own imperfection and capacity for mistakes. He saw himself as a prophet, a man approved by God, but not as superhuman or sinless in the traditional sense.

Facing rejection. He experienced the pain of rejection, particularly in his hometown of Nazareth and from his own family, who thought he was "out of his mind." This vulnerability makes his teachings on forgiveness and compassion even more poignant.

Surrender. In moments like Gethsemane, he faced suffering with a deeply human prayer, asking to be spared the bitter cup, yet ultimately surrendering his will to God's. This willingness to embrace God's will, even in pain, is a powerful example of his spiritual maturity.

12. The Power of Trust in Healing

Daughter, your trust has healed you.

Trust, not magic. Jesus's healings were often attributed to the trust (or "faith") of the person being healed, not solely to his own power. He recognized that the capacity for healing resided not just in the healer, but in the openness and receptivity of the one seeking help.

Beyond belief. This trust is an attitude toward the world, a deep inner knowing, distinct from mere intellectual belief. It is a state of openness that allows the divine energy to flow through, facilitating transformation and healing.

Inner potential. The stories of healing, like the man born blind or the woman with the flow of blood, illustrate that when trust is present, even in the face of doubt ("I believe; help my unbelief"), the seemingly impossible becomes possible, revealing the inherent potential for wholeness within each person.

Last updated: July 12, 2025