Jesus and The Lamb A Fifth Gospel by Earl Arnett

Earl Arnett has constructed a “fifth gospel” that presents a plausible version of Jesus’ life that includes a twin brother. There are no miracles or transcendental events in this gospel--just Jesus, his friends and family interacting in a highly volatile Palestine ruled by Romans and royal oligarchs. He tells the Jesus story from the perspectives of a wide variety of historical and fictional characters: Salome, sister of Herod the Great; John the Baptizer, his mother Miriam, brother James, Mary Magdalen, disciples John, Peter and Judas Iscariot, Pontius Pilate and Herod Antipas. The narrative also includes encounters with a cynic and a priest of Pan. Established church figures in both the Catholic and Protestant worlds will probably not like this gospel, since there are no virgin births or resurrections. Instead, Jesus struggles to prepare for a divine Kingdom in the passionate belief that the Jewish God will intervene in history and establish justice for humankind. Arnett believes that “Jesus and The Lamb” stays true to a Christian message but modifies it for relevance in a secular age. Readers may even find a source of comfort and inspiration.