Jesus Before Christianity - Albert Nolan

The mind of Jesus is revealed by the decisions he makes. This book identifies a number of clear decisions that he makes.

1. To be baptised by John the Baptist.

2. To focus his ministry on the poor, the marginalized, sinners. These are the dishonored. Dishonor comes from having to totally depend on someone else, while noone, no person, depends on you. Honor comes from being able to help others. Sinners may have been poor, but also could just be those in positions where they deviated from the law (tax collectors, gamblers, prostitutes...).
It generally was impossible for a sinner to escape that label. The terms were too great.
Also lepers, not exclusively those with leprosy, but those with any skin diseases.
He became an outcast by choice.

Healing comes not from God, or miracles, or magic, but from Faith. Your faith has made you well.
Faith cannot be taught; faith must be caught.

The counterpoint to Faith is fatalism. 'Its just the way it is.'

In the Bible, miracles are not acts that defy the laws of nature, they are miracles or wonders because they astonish or surprise those who are around them. They make us marvel and wonder.

Miracles are stories, told using midrash to underline the significance of God's hand in the story.

Jesus was reluctant to perform miracles.

There was only one cure for sins- immediate forgiveness. Illness that was caused by the guilt of sin was cured when Jesus just accepted the sinner for what he/she was, no conditions (prodigal son).

"there can be no doubt that Jesus was a remarkably cheerful person."

Ch 6.
The Kingdom of God is within you is a mistranslation. It should read The Kingdom of God is among you or in your midst.

Ch 7. Jesus educates about detachment and carefreeness about money and possessions.

Fishes and Loaves- not a miracle of multiplication, but of sharing.