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John Dominic Crossan
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Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography Paperback – Bargain Price, February 18, 1995

by John Dominic Crossan (Author)
4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 374 ratings
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John Dominic Crossan's bestselling and critically acclaimed biography of the historical Jesus. "This is an outstanding book--both popular and intelligent. Accessible language and direct, dramatic narration . . . a compelling portrait of Jesus."
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  1. Print length
    209 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    HarperOne
  4. Publication date
    February 18, 1995
  5. Dimensions
    5.25 x 0.56 x 9.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    0060616628
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0060616625
  8. See all details
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"Jesus is a magisterial distillation of Crossan's lifelong work on the gospels and Jesus. It deserves careful and extended consideration by everyone seriously interested in the enigmatic sage from Galilee. With his work on Jesus, Crossan joins the ranks of the truly great biblical scholars of the twentieth century. His 'revolutionary biography' is the biography of a revolutionary: the book and its subject are rebels in the cause of truth." -- Robert W. Funk, editor of The Five Gospels: The Search for the Authentic Words of Jesus.

"Crossan paints his Jesus with great warmth and power. He achieves a portrait that both takes in the contemporary background yet accounts for Jesus' distinctiveness.... This Jesus is a Jewish peasant, with a direct sense of God's immediacy, who shatters all social restraints." -- New York Times Book Review

"In the sometimes plodding company of contemporary New Testament critics, Crossan has always been the literary high stepper. Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography [is] a brief, clear, arresting life story." -- Jack Miles, author of God: A Biography

"Jesus is a magisterial distillation of Crossan's lifelong work on the gospels and Jesus. It deserves careful and extended consideration by everyone seriously interested in the enigmatic sage from Galilee. With his work on Jesus, Crossan joins the ranks of the truly great biblical scholars of the twentieth century. His 'revolutionary biography' is the biography of a revolutionary: the book and its subject are rebels in the cause of truth." -- Robert W. Funk, editor of The Five Gospels: The Search for the Authentic Words of Jesus and cofounder of the Jesus Seminar

"The book is marvelous. Crossan's respect for both memory and imagination lets him paint a portrait of Jesus even while dismantling the mythic materials of the gospels. The style is dazzling, the portrait haunting. Everyone will want to read it." -- Burton Mack, author of The Lost Gospel

"This is an extremely interesting, erudite, informative, must-read for anyone interested in the New Testament.... Read it." -- National Catholic Reporter

From the Inside Flap

John Dominic Crossan, widely regarded as the leading authority on the words and life of Jesus, cuts through the minutiae and arcane research of much biblical scholarship to present the best possible historical depiction of Jesus--the man and his message. In elegant prose marked by startling revelations, Crossan presents Jesus as a social revolutionary who preached and practiced a message of radical egalitarianism. The Jesus portrayed by Crossan is a savvy and courageous Jewish Mediterranean peasant who challenged the sacrosanct social rules regarding class, gender, and status. What emerges from this stunning biography is a vision of Jesus as a Jewish Socratic philosopher and political agitator who gave voice to those who had never been heard and love to the most cast-out members of society. He proclaimed--in thought and action--that all may participate in the rule of God.

Product details

  • ASIN ‏ : ‎ B002KE4762
  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ HarperOne; 6th Printing edition (February 18, 1995)
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Paperback ‏ : ‎ 209 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 0060616628
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0060616625
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 7.2 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.25 x 0.56 x 9.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.2 4.2 out of 5 stars 374 ratings

About the author

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John Dominic Crossan

John Dominic Crossan

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John D. Crossan is generally acknowledged to be the premier historical Jesus scholar in the world. His books include The Historical Jesus, Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography, and Who Killed Jesus? He recently appeared in the PBS special "From Jesus to Christ."

Customer reviews

4.2 out of 5 stars
374 global ratings

Customers say

Customers find the book profound, thought-provoking, and relevant. They describe it as a fascinating and enjoyable read. Opinions differ on readability, with some finding it user-friendly and easy to understand, while others say the author writes in a tiresome and confusing way.

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InsightValue for timeExpositionReadability
31 customers mention "Insight"26 positive5 negative

Customers find the book profound, important, and thought-provoking. They also describe it as interesting and approachable. Readers appreciate the factual and logical interpretations rather than religious theology.

"...his research and his argument, or not, but it is certainly thought provoking...." Read more

"...title of my review suggests, I believe that this is a great read for progressive Christians...." Read more

"...Nevertheless, this work is an important contribution to the study of the historical Jesus and deserves to be included with all the others from..." Read more

"...Very dry. Verbose. Seemingly well researched but the resultant exegesis from the scriptural text is often a stretch...." Read more

17 customers mention "Value for time"17 positive0 negative

Customers find the book fascinating, enjoyable, and profound. They say it's long but very interesting.

"...I found it fascinating, if not disturbing. If you love history, as I do, you will enjoy this book...." Read more

"...Anyways, it was a good book - albeit sometimes a little challenging." Read more

"...Reading this book is well worth the time invested...." Read more

"...knowledgeable and often very insightful, and this book is well worth the time it took to read." Read more

4 customers mention "Exposition"4 positive0 negative

Customers find the exposition of the book more direct, realistic, and illuminating. They say it makes Jesus accessible to the heart and mind. Readers also mention the book places Jesus in his historical time period.

"...This book is easier and more direct presenting a biography of Jesus...." Read more

"...reading all these works, for they are illuminating and make Jesus accessible to heart & mind, in context and in spirit. That is significant...." Read more

"...It gives a realistic picture of the historic Jesus. His newer books on this subject shows how open he is to new information." Read more

"A heavy read, but worth it. does place Jesus in His historical time period which I thought relevant." Read more

19 customers mention "Readability"12 positive7 negative

Customers have mixed opinions about the readability of the book. Some mention it's user-friendly, easy to understand, and informative. Others say it's difficult to read, confusing, and the resultant exegesis from the biblical text is often a stretch.

"...It's a much more readable version than the VERY scholarly work previously written by this author." Read more

"...well researched but the resultant exegesis from the scriptural text is often a stretch...." Read more

"...This book is easier and more direct presenting a biography of Jesus...." Read more

"...It is, however, an interesting and approachable read into a controversial topic." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

D
5.0 out of 5 stars Crossan Historical Research Will Challenge Your Beliefs... I believe in a good way.
Reviewed in the United States on February 8, 2020
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Growing up in the Catholic faith and studying the worlds different religions and philosophies has over time raised an interest in learning more about the early Christian church and the historical Jesus. To try to better understand how one man... Jesus ... an itinerant, peasant Jewish preacher ...was able to mobilize people to believe in a new way to see their relationship with God and their fellow man that grew and spread across and beyond the Roman world.

Crossan’s historical and linguistic research digs deep into the historical Jesus and gives incredible context to the environment of the time from a religious, political and economic standpoint . If you grew up raised in the Christian faith, he will challenge your beliefs in the stories about the life and death of Jesus that grew around him in the centuries immediately after his death. You can choose to believe his research and his argument, or not, but it is certainly thought provoking. We are often very quick to turn a critical lens on the beliefs, dogma and faith of other religions, but not as fast to be open to exploring the historical facts around our own. Looking to find the closest point to the truth does not eliminate the need for faith, but it does inform it. I think in many ways the Jesus that Crossan finds may be more miraculous than the one of the stories. And considering that the Jesus that Crossan finds is one of “radical inclusiveness”, it will also make you think, “how did we get from there... to here today”.
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Jan
5.0 out of 5 stars Controversial, but Interesting Historical (vs Religious) Assessment of Jesus
Reviewed in the United States on September 4, 2024
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The author is a former priest and scholar with extensive access to and experience in Israel and surrounding area. He also has access to some of the BEST historical artifacts/writings/authors depicting the life and times of Jesus. I found it fascinating, if not disturbing. If you love history, as I do, you will enjoy this book. It's a much more readable version than the VERY scholarly work previously written by this author.
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Jacob Prahlow
4.0 out of 5 stars A Revolutionary Biography in Its Own Light
Reviewed in the United States on April 16, 2012
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In Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography, John Dominic Crossan writes what he calls a "startling account of what we can know about the life of Jesus."[1] Crossan currently holds a Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies position at DePaul University in Chicago, was co-chair of the Jesus Seminar from 1985 until 1996, and has written over twenty-five books on the historical Jesus and early Christianity.[2] Written for a popular audience, Jesus portrays Crossan's personal "reconstruction of the historical Jesus derived from twenty-five years of scholarly research."[3] In Jesus, Crossan seeks to outline the life of the historical Jesus that he believes lay beneath the canonical Gospel accounts in a manner as accurate and intellectually honest as possible.[4] Upon reading this book, the reader will see that Crossan has assembled a variety of interpretations that, when combined with his theological and philosophical presuppositions and understanding of the canonical Gospel narratives, makes for a potentially persuasive and fairly historical narrative of the life of the historical Jesus.
As a part of the Jesus Seminar, Crossan's name understandably carries with it a certain stigma in certain circles of theology and education. It must be noted that this review attempts to digest and comment upon this particular work from an academic and literary perspective. This review will not provide exegesis of Crossan's theological or philosophical assumptions and considerations, but will only comment upon the coherency of his arguments as presented in a book intended for popular consumption.[5] Of primary concern for this review will be considering its purposefulness and adherence to such general guidelines of any introductory study of the Gospels, such as those presented by Mark Allan Powell in his work, The Fortress Introduction to the Gospels.[6]
The central problem of historical studies of Jesus that Crossan outlines in his Prologue constitutes both the fourfold record of the gospels and the underlying historical inaccuracies that he believes that such a record necessitates,[7] as well as his claim that most interpretations of the historical Jesus have actually been creedal rather than academic. For Crossan, a proper search for the historical Jesus will provide answers that are "not a disguise for doing theology and calling it history, doing autobiography and calling it biography, doing Christian apologetics and calling it academic scholarship."[8] Such methodology, calling for academic veracity instead of personalized research, demonstrates great continuity with the claims of scholarship and academic study of the Gospels as outlined in Powell and elsewhere.[9] Crossan purposes to arrange the datum and reconstruction from his sources in manner that presents a historical and not personalized image of Jesus. The search for the historical Jesus from Crossan's perspective thus sets out using narrative reconstructions (from canonical and well as non-canonical accounts) and contextual considerations of the historical Jesus' context.
Crossan begins by considering Jesus' birth narratives in parallel to other well-known figures of his context. He examines Jesus, the claimed Son of God, in light of another son of god, Caesar Augustus of Rome, in comparison to John the Baptist in the Gospel of Luke, and in light of Moses in the infancy stories of Matthew, before touching on the historical context of Jesus as a carpenter's son (and therefore peasant) from Nazareth.[10] For Crossan's reconstruction, the accounts of Jesus' virgin birth in Bethlehem before shepherds and wise men before a flight to Egypt are pure fiction, which distract from an all-important question in the search for the real Jesus: What did this man do that caused his followers to make such claims? Drawing on Josephus and what he understands to be the real message of John the Baptist, Crossan concludes that while Jesus of Nazareth was not an apocalyptic preacher like John, he was indeed an eschatological figure who taught a culture bending form of living.[11]
This radical message of Jesus for Crossan represents the key to understanding the historical man. His disciple's intensity and spreading of Jesus' message all follow from their commitment to Jesus' radical ideas of open commensality and a radical form of egalitarianism that sprang from the ancient peasant ideal of justice that Jesus would have been raised under.[12] In his chapter on the body, Crossan fortifies his view of Jesus' radical view of people and society by examining Jesus' healing activity and miracle material.[13] Later, Crossan examines early Jesus movement mission movements in light of his interpretation of Jesus' egalitarianism and use of magic in healing activities, concluding that perhaps Jesus was the personification of a Jewish form of philosophical Cynicism.[14] Concerning Jesus' death, Crossan concludes that his radical message upset the social order of the Jewish people enough to ask the Romans to have him killed, leading to a public death from which there was likely no private burial, let alone a resurrection.[15] Crossan concludes Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography was commentary on the spread of the Jesus movement following his death and the subsequent modifications, both in content and legendary narrative, that gave rise to the New Testament writings and the form of Christian faith and belief that began to spread throughout the Roman Empire, modifications that changed the historical man Jesus into the deified Christ.[16]
Overall, Crossan presents a narrative of the historical Jesus as egalitarian revolutionary that could be plausible given his presuppositions. However, there are several concerns within his writing worthy of critique. First, one most note that much of Crossan's evidence appears to be assumed rather than argued, though a certain amount of this results simply from the form and purpose of the book. Second, concerning his portrayal of peasant ideology, what information Crossan does use appears to not apply to first century Palestine, as he quotes material from an 1893 peasant uprising,[17] and may have made a stronger argument by citing a cause such as feelings of Jewish resentment of Rome. The third issue appears to be most widespread and entails Crossan's treatment of the sources that utilizes in determining the criteria of his historical Jesus. This reconstruction of the historical Jesus uses non-canonical sources in manner that does not fit the criterion used to judge and disseminate accurate information from the canonical accounts. Whereas Crossan appears to be highly skeptical in applying criteria such as multiple attestation or uniqueness to the four canonical Gospels, his use of sources such as Josephus,[18] the Epistle of Barnabas, and especially the Gospel of Thomas indicate poor use of source material at best, and a motive and message beyond the purely academic at worst. To treat the Biblical canon with extreme skepticism while seemingly accepting other ancient sources as historical verifiable by modern standards of historiography simply does not meet proper scholarly criteria, and may betray some of Crossan's own biases in his construction of the historical Jesus.
Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography then, while presenting a reconstruction of the historical Jesus of Nazareth that for the most part appears to be consistent within Crossan's stated assumptions and purposes, does indeed bring into question its own scholarly merit by the use of source material. Using criteria such as the importance of academic soundness and fairness in treatment of sources presented in a book like Powell, Crossan's presentation comes across as fair overall, though with room for improvement, and presenting by no means a watertight case for his interpretation of the historical Jesus, as Crossan's narrative would hold far more weight were all sources treated with the same academic skepticism. It does not seem that Crossan's error of sources prevents his view of the historical Jesus from being held by those who have similar theological and philosophical presuppositions; however, his treatment of sources seems to provide an easy critique for those who already disagree with his foundational positions. It seems safe to say that in reading Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography, the reader will be struck by Crossan's assembly of a variety of concepts and ideas that appear to work well within his assumptions for the construction of one potential view of the historical Jesus, though not flawlessly.

For more reviews, and free book giveaways, check out "Thoughts on Life" at [...]
Works Cited
Crossan, John Dominic. Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography. Harper Collins: San Francisco.
Powell, Mark Allan. The Fortress Introduction to the Gospels. Fortress Press: Minneapolis.

[1] John Dominic Crossan. Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography. Harper Collins: San Francisco, 1994. Front Cover.
[2] Biographical Summary: John Dominic Crossan. [...]
[3] Crossan, IX.
[4] Ibid., XIV
[5] Granting full disclosure, it should be noted that this writer does not subscribe to many of the methods, assumptions, or findings of the Jesus Seminar in any meaningful context
[6] Mark Allan Powell. The Fortress Introduction to the Gospels. Fortress Press: Minneapolis, 1998.
[7] Crossan, X
[8] Ibid., XI
[9] Powell, 1-9; One must note that this area of consideration includes what has been the greatest charge against Crossan (and the Jesus Seminar), that instead of employing fair and verifiable criterion in searching for the historical Jesus, he has instead arranged criterion that excluded the greatest amount of Christian canon and tradition in a manner to enable an `academic' picture of the historical Jesus to match their own presuppositions.
[10] Crossan, 1-28
[11] Ibid., 29-58
[12] Ibid., 66-74
[13] Ibid., 75-101
[14] Ibid., 122
[15] Ibid., 123-159
[16] Ibid., 159-201
[17] Ibid., 74
[18] Crosaan is admittedly harsher with Josephus, especially when considering material related to John.
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R. R. King
5.0 out of 5 stars Anxious to begin this Crossan book
Reviewed in the United States on July 12, 2024
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My adult Sunday School class has not studied Crossan for awhile but find his in depth content really generates good discussion. Jesus: A Revolutionary Biography should be no exception.
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Rydo Johnny Mcarthur
5.0 out of 5 stars Interesting book
Reviewed in the United Kingdom on September 30, 2022
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I really enjoyed this book. For me it was entertaining. What I would say is that for people who are either Evangelical Fundamentalist Christians or militant atheists you will probably feel like the book is siding more with the other side. An atheist will feel it is being to soft on facts and someone who takes the Bible literally will feel its degrading alot of their beliefs to " myth ".
I am a Christian myself but don't take everything from the bible as literally and I really enjoyed it. If your a Christian who accepts that Dinosaurs existed or an atheist/ agnostic with an open mind or if your just a history buff you will enjoy this book
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theresa
5.0 out of 5 stars Good and serious read
Reviewed in India on May 31, 2021
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Gives a good and different perspective about Jesus and His ministry
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douglas james
5.0 out of 5 stars Five Stars
Reviewed in Canada on September 4, 2017
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It was up to my expectation
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Peter Pazul
5.0 out of 5 stars Si vous n'en lisez qu'un, lisez ce livre de J.D. Crossan, vous ne le regretterez pas
Reviewed in France on February 2, 2018
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Pourquoi « Jesus, a revolutionary biography », bestseller (aux USA), première édition 1994 (Harpercollins editions, version « de poche » en 1995) n’a jamais été traduit en français (du moins, à ma connaissance) est un authentique mystère, parce que je n’ai jamais rien lu à la fois d’aussi novateur, argumenté et didactique mais qui, en même temps, se lit avec un intérêt qui ne faiblit pas tout au long des 232 pages.
Je ne présenterai pas J.D. Crossan ; vous trouverez sur le net les informations éventuelles que vous chercheriez, sachez tout de même qu’il est professeur émérite de l’Université DePaul à Chicago (Etudes bibliques), qu’il est l’auteur d’un nombre considérable de publications sur le Jésus historique, outre plusieurs monographies et est un des cofondateurs du « Jesus Seminar », c’est une figure incontournable si vous voulez vous renseigner sur le Jésus historique.
Evidemment, c’est une biographie révolutionnaire, par rapport à tout ce que l’Eglise a toujours enseigné. Et on imagine que cette publication n’aurait pas (eu) droit [à une autre époque peut-être non révolue] à un « nihil obstat ». Vous comprendrez que dans ce cadre restreint, je ne vais pas argumenter, je ne peux que renvoyer à l’ouvrage lui-même. Mais, il faut lire l’anglais.
Pour J.D. Crossan, Jésus n’est pas le fils d’une vierge, même « sainte » ; il n’est pas de la descendance de David, il n’est pas né à Bethléem, n’a pas été déposé dans une étable, n’a pas reçu la visite ni des bergers, ni des mages, ne s’est pas enfui en Egypte avec ses « parents » pour échapper à Hérode (et au massacre des innocents), n’a pas été retrouvé dans une synagogue discutant avec les « docteurs de la loi », alors que ses « parents » rentraient d’un pèlerinage à Jérusalem, n’a pas changé l’eau en vin, n’a pas marché sur les eaux, calmé la tempête, multiplié cinq pains et deux poissons, etc. etc.
De même, pour J.D.Crossan, les récits de la Passion (quel que soit l’évangile) sont des compositions théologiques (peut-être même des « récits paraboliques», c.-à-d. des récits (métaphoriques) qui disent autre chose que ce qu'on croit lire), tout comme d’ailleurs les récits de la résurrection [qui témoignent eux plutôt de la rivalité pour le leadership dans les différents groupes (communautés chrétiennes) quarante ou cinquante années après la mort en croix de Jésus]. Certes, je concède aisément que cela surprend, à la première lecture, mais allez lire l'argumentation.
Mais qui était donc ce Jésus et qu’a-t-il donc fait pour que 2000 ans plus tard, il soit toujours si « actuel » ?
Pour J.D. Crossan, le cœur de la vision originale et du programme de Jésus se « décline » sur la base de deux paradigmes aussi importants l’un que l’autre.
D’une part, la guérison (« healing ») offerte gracieusement aux malades et autres « possédés » et d’autre part, le partage de la table « ouverte à tous et pour tous » sans distinction aucune et sans la moindre notion de hiérarchie parmi les commensaux.
On peut, pour tenter de comprendre le Jésus de l’histoire, commencer par parler de lui comme d'une personne qui pourrait ressembler à un philosophe cynique juif, à la fois proche et distant des prototypes que les littératures grecque (on pense alors à Diogène) ou romaine (Epictète) nous ont proposé.
Pour Epictète (cf. ses « Discours » posthumes), si la pauvreté intérieure doit engendrer la pauvreté extérieure, cette dernière ne peut jamais remplacer la pauvreté intérieure, qui est ‘choisie’ ou ‘volontaire’. Seul, celui qui ne possède rien est libre : c’est la pauvreté en esprit qui libère et rend insensible à l’adversité (voir Matthieu 5 : 39-44). Il ne s’agit nullement pour Crossan d’identifier les positions d’Epictète à celles de Jésus, même si les ressemblances sont frappantes : tous deux proclament et vivent des attitudes radicales actualisées au quotidien contre l’oppression sociale (tant juive que romaine pour Jésus en Basse Galilée, dans les années vingt de notre ère), contre le matérialisme culturel, le clientélisme ambiant et la domination écrasante du pouvoir romain. Tous deux s’adressent à des gens tout ce qu’il y a d’ordinaire, les plus pauvres et rejetés par tous ceux qui occupent une place dans la société, ce sont des prédicateurs qui vivent authentiquement ce qu’ils disent et dont l’habit symbolise le message.
Les différences existent cependant : Jésus vit et proclame son message (« la bonne nouvelle ») dans la ruralité, tandis qu’Epictète, comme les philosophes cyniques en général, reste en ville ; Jésus est à l’origine d’un mouvement qu’il a initié puis partagé au quotidien avec d’autres (ses disciples), alors que les philosophes cyniques sont des individualistes reconnus extérieurement au sac qu’ils ont en bandoulière et au bâton.
Jésus (voir « La Source » à travers Luc, 10 :4) ne recommande ni sac, ni bâton, ni mêmes sandales ! Placez d’ailleurs côte à côte Luc, 10 :4, Marc 6 :8-9 et la Didaché (11 : 6a) et vous verrez l’évolution (historique) dans les mentalités et ces différences sont éloquentes, même si dans chaque cas, il s’agit réellement d’un code de comportement , le plus ancien pouvant même remonter au Jésus de l’histoire.
Les disciples que Jésus envoie, font comme lui : ce sont des ‘itinérants’ qui vont de village en village, annonçant que le Royaume de Dieu est proche : ils veulent reconstruire une société égalitaire, en repartant du plus bas niveau. Guérir et partager les repas qu’on leur offre est la concrétisation la plus immédiate de leur message. Ils ne vivent pas « en autarcie », ce sont des itinérants interdépendants : ils annoncent la Bonne Nouvelle d’un nouvel ordre social, guérissent, sont accueillis pour le repas et la nuit et repartent vers un autre village (de Basse Galilée).
Ce qui pour Crossan est bel et bien arrivé (historiquement parlant), c’est que ceux qui croyaient en lui avant son exécution, ont continué à croire en lui après sa mort. Et ils ont essayé d'exprimer cette foi par des récits de résurrection.
Le « modèle » extraordinaire de cette foi nous est donné (pour Crossan) en Marc 14 : 3-9. C’est celui de cette femme qui, alors que Jésus est accueilli dans la maison de Simon Le Lépreux, comprend que Jésus va mourir et qui réalise que si son corps n’est pas oint « maintenant », il ne le sera jamais. Elle est, comme qui dirait la première chrétienne : elle a cru en Jésus avant le « tombeau vide », avant une « vision de résurrection » ; Pâques, pour elle, c’est la parole de Jésus ; elle a cru ce que Jésus disait, à savoir qu’il serait exécuté par le pouvoir romain et ressuscité par Dieu à Jérusalem.
Quant au récit des disciples d’Emmaüs (Lc 24,13-35), c’est une histoire métaphorique, une « parabole pour la route ». Une route qui a commencé avec Jésus et qui continue à travers les siècles, pour ceux qui croient en lui.
On la rappellera en se basant sur les commentaires de J.D. Crossan.
Deux disciples (notez que l’on connaît le nom de l’un : Cléophas, pas celui de l’autre : la femme de Cléophas peut-être?) rentrent de Jérusalem où les événements se sont déroulés. Notez comme c’est étrange : alors que clairement, ce sont des disciples de Jésus, ils ne reconnaissent pas le voyageur (l’étranger) qui lui, apparemment, ne sait rien de ces événements.
Comme c’est étrange.
Et voilà que ce personnage explique – en détail svp – comment tous les textes bibliques (« en partant de Moïse et de tous les prophètes ») annonçaient Jésus comme étant le Messie.
Mais surprise renouvelée : ni Cléophas, ni l’autre personnage ne reconnaissent Jésus !
Alors (Lc 24, 28-32) – notons les verbes ! – l’étranger prend le pain, le bénit, le rompt, le partage et … leurs yeux s’ouvrent !
Doit-on rappeler que la liturgie chrétienne (depuis les origines) implique (i) la lecture de l’Ecriture et le commentaire, prologue à (ii) l’eucharistie, le partage du pain.
C’est exactement comme dans le récit en question.
Et les cœurs sont brûlants : « Notre coeur n’était-il pas brûlant en nous, tandis qu’il nous parlait sur la route, et qu’il nous faisait comprendre les Écritures ? ».
Pourquoi nous dit Crossan, leurs cœurs sont-ils brûlants ?
Parce qu’ils ont accueilli l’étranger, l’ont invité dans leur maison et ont partagé leur repas. C’est à ces gestes qu’ils ont reconnu Jésus, les mêmes gestes que ceux de la dernière scène » (Marc 14 :22). Les mêmes gestes que ceux de Jésus, à l'origine, sur les routes de Basse-Galilée, puis ceux des « itinérants » dont il est question ci-dessus.
Ainsi Crossan peut dire : « Cette histoire ne s’est jamais passée, elle se déroule (devrait se dérouler) tout le temps ».
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Tavor Maier
5.0 out of 5 stars I woke up this morning ...
Reviewed in Germany on April 22, 2016
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Jesus has been so shamelessly faked by the Gospels that I lost my faith.

The question arises who was the person behind all these phantastic exagerations, distortions of facts, if not frauds? To understand who Jesus really was, what he might have taught and probably done, what really happened to him when he was condemned, tortured to death, and exalted on heavens throne, is not a matter of theology but of diligent and thorough historical research.

Crossan does a convincing job in combining scientific knowledge of ancient agricultural societies in general, the history of first century Palestine in particular, and, of course, the Bible, in order to draw a realistic picture of the man who still keeps mystifying our minds. (Thanks to Crossan, I couldn't sleep this morning, after I had dreamed to be the angel Gabriel, standing before a virgin, who was, when I woke up, the Anatolian charlady.)

This is first of all a book for people who are interested in historical facts, but also for people who sometimes wish exploitation and iniquity would stop on G-d's planet, with a little help from Jesus.
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