The Gospel According to Jesus (1995)

What is the gospel according to Jesus? Simply this: that the love we all long for in our innermost heart is already present, beyond longing. -Stephen Mitchell, author of The Gospel According to Jesus. "Love your neighbor as yourself." -Imam Talib Abdur-Rashid The Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood, Harlem, NY "For if you forgive others their offenses, your heavenly Father will forgive you." -Maya Angelou Author/Poet, North Carolina No one in history has been as famous and widely interpreted as Jesus of Nazareth. For two thousand years, beginning with the Gospels, people have tried to capture the essence of his teachings in words, in art, in music - and in their daily experience. The Gospel According to Jesus continues the noble quest for Jesus' actual words. This translation and guide is based on poet/scholar Stephen Mitchell's popular book, which critics called "a masterpiece of immense power and permanence." You will see hundreds of people - from our most famous celebrities to the homeless poor - read and analyze this "living gospel." Participants include: Maya Angelou, Rev.Calvin Butts, Deepak Chopra, Ran Dass, Erica Jong, Norman Lear, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, Rabbi Zalman Schacter-Shalomi, Marianne Williamson and many others.

Skeptics & Sages

The Gospel According to Jesus is presented by Norris J. Chumley. He takes Stephen Mitchell's book around American for comment and consideration. The September 1995 edition appears frequently throughout. While this is an intriguing way to market a book, the DVD turns out to be profoundly beautiful, humorous or revealing.

Christ's powerful words are read by people across America in situations that seem to give a visual reference. At times this enhances the words and at other times gives one pause.

A woman speaking of grief, sweeps away a tear. A family quotes passages about sowing and reaping while images from a farm are presented. People read passages while vacuuming, while writing, painting, sewing, working, swinging on a swing and even while their children laugh and dance for the camera. I think Jesus likes those sections especially well, to hear his words being read while children were present.

There are quite a few unbelievers who are willing to go along with reading from the book and this may cause some concern to anyone who considers Christ's words to be sacred. For some reason, I felt this was not a hindrance to Christ's message, although the author's exclusion of the resurrection seems a more serious decision. Ideas like "the Christ Consciousness" are discussed briefly.

Famous faces that appear include Maya Angelou, Deepak Chopra, Ram Dass, Erica Jong, Norman Lear, Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins. Their voices intermingle with a young girl who claims to be an atheist, a homeless woman on the street and a truck driver sitting in his truck with "JESUS" on a license plate in the front window.

The first section contains mostly people reading the word's of Christ and then in the second section many of the participants give their ideas about what Christ's teachings and life means to them. This crosses all cultural, religious and social boundaries.

The truth is, this seems to make Christ's words more accessible for the modern reader and it made me want to read the book. In the brief time I have walked this earth, I've noticed references to Jesus turning up in the most unlikely places - certain movies, books.

Jesus' wisdom, love and beautiful spirit lives from generation to generation in the heart's of anyone who is willing to look for his message. I think that even with the author's intention to dissolve parts of Christ's life story in his book, the people who believe in his resurrection share this idea on the DVD.

The idea of eternal life through a belief in Christ is not swept away in the mists of time; instead it again gives believers hope and unbelievers something to think about. I found the almost two hours of contemplation to be healing and comforting.

You may also enjoy:

30 Days to Spiritual Well-Being with Norris J. Chumley
The Soul in Love by Deepak Chopra
God's Blogs by Lanny Donoho
The Experience of God by Jonathan Robinson
Your Daily Walk with the Great Minds of the Past and Present by Richard A. Singer, Jr.

~The Rebecca Review
February 20, 2007

Intresting but incomplete.

I just got done watching this movie. I found it interesting to hear some of Jesus Christ teachings from various people (young and old, Christians and buddist). But I found some of their comments of Christ teachings to be completely wrong. Also the fact that they leave out the greatest thing Jesus Christ did, which is the Resurrection. They had a little 10 minute spot where some believe and some didn't believe. The author reminds me of a friend I had who said she believed in Jesus, but didn't believe in the Bible.

If you are enjoy hearing other people thoughts on the Gospel, I say watch it. But don't look to it for any growth in your knowledge of Jesus Christ. July 25, 2004

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