Prologue: The lament of a believer in exile -- PART 1. SEPARATING THE HUMAN JESUS FROM THE MYTH. Introduction: Opening the door on a new quest -- There was no star over Bethlehem -- The parents of Jesus: fictionalized composites -- The historicity of the twelve disciples -- Miracle stories in the Gospels: are they necessary? -- Nature miracles: interpretive signs, not historical events -- Healing miracles: a vision of the Kingdom of God -- Did Jesus literally raise the dead? -- The Crucifixion narrative: liturgy masquerading as history -- The cross: told "in accordance with the scriptures" -- The eternal truth inside the myths of resurrection and ascension -- PART 2. THE ORIGINAL IMAGES OF JESUS. Introduction: Exploring the original images of Jesus -- The oral tradition: where was Jesus remembered? -- Jesus understood as the New Passover -- Jesus understood under the symbols of Yom Kippur -- Jesus as the Son of Man -- Minority images: the Servant, the Shepherd -- Jesus: a man for all Jewish seasons -- PART 3. JESUS FOR THE NON-RELIGIOUS. Introduction: Jesus really lived -- Who is the God met in Jesus? -- Recognizing the sources of religious anger -- Jesus: the breaker of tribal boundaries -- Jesus: the breaker of prejudices and stereotypes -- Jesus: the breaker of religious boundaries -- The Cross: a human portrait of the love of God -- Epilogue: Christpower