According to Parini, Jesus is seen as an exemplary life representing the face of God or a mythic being that lived at a real transcending time. The author sends light on the hinges of the current theology and analogy of Jesus is demythologized through the mythical radiance of Jesus’ story. However, the author used the concept of poetry and novel to bring out the meaning of the narrative though it is a mythical story for mythic reasons. In a nutshell, revolves around the question why the story of Jesus is viewed as a paradigm of living by millions of people over decades. Parini always keeps a note that this is a mythical story of Jesus but not a history where he is exploring the peoples’ experience of God through Jesus Christ.
Many thought of Jesus as a myth which is an untrue story, but according to Parini the story of Jesus is a true myth. Additionally, Jesus is viewed as a religious genius who pulled the ideas of body and soul from philosophers and karma from Buddhism. He can synthesize all this and mold a religion that the righteous should follow to have an eternal life with God (John 3:16). From the New Testament (Mathew’s 5, 6 and 7) in the Sermon on the Mountain Jesus brings out the idea of karma of blessed. For instance, Blessed are the merciful, for God will show them mercy. In this sense, Jesus as a human face is preparing a beautiful and perfect system of religious ethics. Jesus continues with this found and says that blessed are the peacemakers and Blessed are meek for they shall be shown mercy. And then some of these teachings contradict those of his predecessors. For instance, Mosaic laws which were if somebody hurts you, hurt them back. Jesus restates these laws by contradicting them and said if somebody slaps you give them the other cheek. He extends the deeds to loving your enemies and doing well to those who hates you. Moreover, if someone asks for your shirt let them have the whole jacket. Parini suggests that is the Christianity Jesus fostered as a way of being in the world. In other words, the Christian believes are diverse, and they are not sets that one can say they believe in a certain aspect.
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Notably, Jesus lived in the world he believed in and that why he was teaching peacefulness for he was peaceful. Also, he said that who live by the sword die by the sword. However, in the first place, it should be understood that Jesus was not founding a religion but rather was happy when people stumbled and realized the kingdom of God. In the kingdom of God is where the believers will have eternal life as stated in John 3:16. In the book, Parini stresses that the Kingdom of God is within you as Jesus answered those who asked the existence of the kingdom of God. In this case, Gospel commonly uses the term metanoia at least 22 times. Jesus used this term to explain to the believers that they must go beyond their physical mind and join the larger spirit of God. And therefore in the spirit of God, they will experience salvation. In other words, salvation is the enlightenment, reconciliation, and peace. From the story of Jesus, Parini observes that believers gradually realize the kingdom of God where eternity is guaranteed. However, the eternity is for the believers, and it is through believing in Jesus Christ that they enter this spiritual kingdom of God.
Also, Parini notes that the belief is a supernatural being (God) but through human face (Jesus Christ). The author also attempts to bring light to the resurrection concept of Jesus Christ a transformation that is beyond human understanding. The author stated the impotence nature of Jesus when he came back from the dead that nobody recognized him. For instance, Mary Magdalene she did not recognize Jesus and she thought was a gardener. In other words, unrecognizable nature of Jesus Christ put a note that Jesus did not come back as a normal human being. Thus, the resurrection or in general life and death are complicated matters beyond the understanding of human being.
According to Parini, the eternity concept in the Gospel of John (3:16) has been widely misinterpreted. The question has been whether the eternity is for the general conduct of believers and unbelievers or basically for believers. The verse was eluded from the Mosaic times when God sent fiery serpents for Murmuring against him. For longevity of Israelites, God instructed Moses to fashion a serpent brass model and set it high that those who looked upon would be healed. Thus, the healing and cure were out of believing and having faith in the Lord. The serpent lifted on a standard was symbolic of Jesus Christ who was to die and be lifted up (John 8:28). Thus, whosoever believeth may in him have eternal life (Ephesians 1:4).
