Table of Contents

How fitting that the last words of John’s gospel should be the first words of this book. The Untold Story of Jesus highlights his life and teachings in a biography excerpted from The Urantia Book. Many of these historical stories are familiar to readers of the New Testament but dozens are new, including the missing years not found in the Bible. Here you discover Jesus presented as never before, both as divine Son and human hero whose matchless life inspires, comforts, and transforms you.

This new book provides relevant and empowering spiritual insights, helping you navigate the challenging yet promising conditions of the 21st century. We live in an exciting era of unprecedented improvements in our material lives brought about by scientific, industrial, and social achievements. Yet in spite of all this progress, many souls feel lonely and displaced. We need God and have an innate thirst for spiritual answers because of that “still, small voice” that lives within us. Finding God by living the personal religion of Jesus satisfies that thirst.

The religion of Jesus is based on faith, love, and selfless service. His pure and original message of unending life through faith in our heavenly Father is the spiritual birthright of every man, woman, and child of every nation, race, religion, and economic status. The teachings of Jesus stand apart from any religious, political, or social institution. The religion of Jesus, distinct from the theological religion about Jesus, holds the key to happiness and productive living. His spirit invigorates the inner life and provides power from above to transform people who then go out to transform society. The brotherhood of men is founded on the fatherhood of God. The family of God is derived from the love of God—God is love. God the Father divinely loves his children, all of them.

The Art in this Book

The one hundred and six paintings in this book run the gamut of fine art celebrating the life of Jesus. Here you will find both classic and modern paintings by many renowned Christian artists. You will also see many newly commissioned paintings for the first time. Thirty-five artists poured their souls into these portraits of higher spiritual reality. Our deep appreciation and humble gratitude goes out to each one of them.

These paintings illustrate Jesus’ life journey from his humble birth and childhood to adolescence and manhood; from private to public ministry and on to his death, resurrection, and ascension. The artwork celebrates his diverse life as son, father-brother, carpenter, boatbuilder, tutor, translator, caravan conductor, teacher, healer, minister, and friend. No one knows what Jesus looked like, but these artists painted their soulful interpretations to spark our imagination of these scenes from the Master’s life. Our intent is to give you a visual communion with Jesus that complements the enthralling narrative.

About The Urantia Book

The Urantia Book was first published in 1955 and contains four parts. The first three parts present an expansive new revelation of God, the cosmos, the afterlife, angels and the heavenly hosts, world history, and much more. The fourth part is a restatement of the life and teachings of Jesus. This narrative sometimes uses unfamiliar names or terminologies, which are defined in the glossary on page 346.

The search for the genuine Jesus continues to intrigue humanity. Since the Bible only records an estimated fifty days in his life, it follows that there is more to his story. You will find it here in this detailed history of the Master’s entire life, including the public ministry recorded in the Gospels. It is beautifully written in modern, page-turning prose. It provides a coherent and seamless biography of this magnificent personality who continues to shape spiritual progress in our world.

While we have captured many fascinating stories and noble teachings, our highlights represent less than a third of Part IV of The Urantia Book. Condensing the life and teachings of Jesus into these pages is like trying to illuminate the sun by lighting a candle. We encourage you to read the original source.

The story of Jesus is one of the most enthralling chapters in human history. The closing passage of John’s gospel speaks to a life larger than even the world itself. In John’s day the Word was made flesh. In these days the Word is made book.

A Final Thought

We pray that these stories, teachings, and paintings provide you with a new sense of faith, comfort, and purpose. And to you who may not believe in Jesus, we ask you to look again. Read the stories, enjoy the art, and get to know the man through new eyes.

What the world needs now is unconditional love, unfailing compassion and matchless good will. Even after two thousand years, Jesus’ teachings have not been practiced on a global scale. When that day comes, his inspired life will transform, transfigure, and rule this world. His message of personal faith in a loving heavenly Father coupled with unselfish service to one another is a clear and direct pathway to peace in this life and passage to the next. May you be blessed by the supreme adventure that follows!