If you were to ask an Evangelical Christian about the basic tenets of Christianity, you would most likely get the following:

  • Christianity is about God breaking into history by offering his son as an atonement for the sins of humanity.
  • Jesus, born of a virgin, taught love and compassion and was condemned, crucified, and rose on the third day, making a pathway to heaven for all penitent sinners.
  • By this action, they are “saved” from their past sins (evidently not from future ones) and must claim that they love Jesus more than anything in this world. (Yes, also applies to chocolate!)

Many Christian preachers, particularly those like Franklin Graham, spout that all Christian preachers must preach the gospel. According to Graham, the “gospel” is something like the definition above. Jesus was born of a virgin, taught God’s love, was crucified, buried, and rose on the third day, atoning for the sins of humanity. According to Graham, if you are not preaching Christ crucified for the sins of humanity, you are not preaching the “true” gospel.

Interestingly, I have scoured the teachings of Jesus in both canonical and non-canonical writings, and I have yet to find in Jesus’ teaching a mention of the Christ crucified for humanity motif. Let me be clear: even though I am saying Jesus didn’t teach the concept of Christ crucified for our sins, the Gospel writers, with the possible exception of Luke, including the Apostle Paul, apparently believed in the atonement concept. Luke does not place any emphasis on the cross but highlights the resurrection. In Acts, Luke, while presenting the speeches of the apostles, particularly Peter’s, mentions the forgiveness of sins, but not by the sacrifice of atonement process. One must remember that the gospels were written 40 years plus after Jesus’ resurrection, certainly enough time to reformulate the gospel message to match their evolving belief. Being Jews and knowing that forgiveness only comes after a sacrifice has been given follows the religious tradition of Judaism. It seems like the apostles held on to that. I am claiming that Christ crucified for humanity’s sins was not a part of Jesus’ original teaching.

What did Jesus actually teach?

If we examine Mark and presume, as most scholars do, that Mark is the earliest of the Gospels written, sometime between 65 and 70 CE. If there is an actual statement about what Jesus taught, then Mark, as the earliest Gospel, would lend some credibility to the notion of Jesus’ original teachings.

Mark 1:14: But after John was delivered up, Jesus came to Galilee, preaching the gospel of God. (15) And saying, the time has come to an end, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel. (Lamsa Aramaic Translation)

After Jesus got word of John the Baptist’s death, he went to Galilee preaching what Mark calls the Gospel of God. Gospel in the Greek texts is “evangelion” and is usually translated to “good news.” In the Greek translation, Mark is telling us that Jesus came preaching the good news of God. In Aramaic, the gospel is “swartha,” which is translated as hope, trust, or bringing good news. It can also be translated as a joyful message of hope or expectation.

What would be the “good news of God” Jesus was teaching about? Jesus continues to say that the time has come for an end; God’s kingdom is at hand. God’s kingdom (the kingdom of God) in Aramaic translates to “God’s Sovereign presence,” and it is now in front of you.

We must remember that Jesus’ audience most often was the poor, harlots, tax collectors, and sinners. These were a marginalized group of people trying to keep their heads above misery. Jesus is saying to them, this is now a new age. In this new age, God is ever-present among us, loves us, and always wants the best for us because we are in God’s sovereign presence. Wherever we are, God is.

Jesus perceived that God is working among the people, moving in and through their daily living routine despite their poverty, fears, and sufferings. God is not just confined to the temple.

You can talk to God directly; you no longer need the muster of the priests to pray on your behalf. God wants to hear from you because you are a divine child of his creation. So repent, change the way you are living, change your thoughts and how you perceive your life, and enter now into God’s sovereign presence.

Can you imagine what these words must have sounded like to the Jewish community? Talk about good news! Unbelievable good news! No wonder he started having the large crowds. People were curious but also swept up in this God’s sovereign presence idea.

As a matter of verification, a similar scripture is found in Matthew, as it is believed that Matthew borrowed from Mark.

Matthew 4:17: From that time, Jesus began to preach and to say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is coming near. (LAT)

As near as I can figure, that was the primary focus of Jesus’ teachings. I found nothing about a sacrificial lamb, substitutional atonement, or being saved.

Looking further into the teachings of Jesus, I would like to look at the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7. The Sermon on the Mount is a collection of teachings by Jesus considered one of the most important discourses in Christian theology. It is a primary foundation of Christian ethics.

The sermon begins with the Beatitudes, a series of blessings about being for those who embody certain virtues. Jesus promises comfort, mercy, and rewards for those who are poor in spirit, mourn, are meek, hunger and thirst for righteousness, are merciful, pure in heart, peacemakers, and persecuted for righteousness (right thinking and right acting) sake. These blessings highlight the values of humility, compassion, and spiritual devotion.

Jesus encourages His followers to be the “salt of the earth” and the “light of the world,” urging them to live exemplary lives that reflect God’s teachings and bring hope to others.

Jesus emphasizes that He has not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets but to fulfill them. He calls for a deeper righteousness that surpasses that of the scribes and Pharisees, focusing on internal virtues rather than mere external observance.

The sermon covers a wide range of ethical and moral issues, including:

  • Anger: Jesus warns against harboring anger and calls for reconciliation.
  • Adultery: He teaches that even lustful thoughts are akin to adultery.
  • Divorce: Jesus speaks against divorce, except in cases of marital unfaithfulness.
  • Oaths: He advises against swearing oaths, advocating for honesty in all communication.
  • Retaliation: Jesus promotes non-violence and turning the other cheek.
  • Love for Enemies: He calls on His followers to love their enemies and pray for those who persecute them.
  • Prayer: Jesus provides a model for prayer, known as the Lord’s Prayer, emphasizing simplicity, humility, and trust in God.
  • Worry: He advises against excessive worry about material needs, urging trust in God’s provision and seeking His kingdom first.

Summarizing His teachings, Jesus presents the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” This principle encapsulates the essence of His ethical guidance.

The Sermon on the Mount concludes with the parable of the wise and foolish builders, illustrating the importance of putting His words into practice. Those who adhere to His teachings are likened to a wise builder who constructs a house on a solid foundation, able to withstand life’s challenges.

Overall, the Sermon on the Mount is a profound and comprehensive guide for leading a life aligned with Divine intentions, centered on love, compassion, and righteousness (right thinking and right acting) in God’s sovereign presence.

Again, I don’t find any mention or allegiance to the notion of a sacrificial lamb or substitutional atonement or being saved in Jesus’ teachings. In essence, Jesus’ teachings are about how to be and how to live, as opposed to what the church has taught, what to believe, and how to act on that belief.

So, I wonder, who got it wrong?