Nearly 2000 years after his execution by the Romans, the enigmatic figure of Jesus Christ remains the subject of intense historical investigation. Theories about the significance of his life and vision continue to abound, as scholars of all religious persuasions try to make sense of the latest archaeological findings and the light they throw on the period in which he lived. Designed as an introduction, this book should help readers gain an insight into what Jesus really stood for, why he was killed, and how it was that his early followers came to regard him as nothing less than the human face of God. The book focuses on key stages in the life of Jesus, and key elements of his teaching - revealing a reconstruction of what Jesus himself was aiming to achieve, and how the movement he began can best be understood in relation to the turbulent politics and intense Messianic expectations of his day. Part Two looks at the way people interpret the Gospels, showing how readers coming fresh to these texts to do so in an intelligent and discriminating way. Tom Wright is the author of "The New Testament and the People of God" and "Who Is Jesus?".