Huston Smith’s "The Religions of Man" is an extraordinary guide into the wisdom of Christianity. He said, "What Jesus taught is very different from what people believed…The people were amazed and said, "Never spake a man thus!"

Huston Smith rightly points out that Jesus started out as an unknown Jewish carpenter who was born of a virgin in a stable and died at the age of 33 years on a cross as a criminal. He owned nothing, attended no college, never married and wrote no books. Yet his birthday is kept across the world at Christmas. He changed western history to before Christ (BC) and after death (AD).

Jesus’ life and teachings show a love so great that he asked nothing in return. Peter, one of his disciples, summed up his life in five words. "He went about doing good."

Jesus moved among the dregs of society, healing, teaching and counseling people. He performed many miracles but never used them to convince people of his divinity. He did this quietly, away from the crowd and as a demonstration of the power of his faith.

Most of the time, Jesus told stories called parables with lessons. What He taught is very different from what people believed, so much so, the people were amazed and said, "Never spake a man thus!"

Jesus said to resist not evil but to turn the other cheek. The world believes evil must be fought.

Jesus said to love our enemies and bless them that curse us. The world says friends are to be loved and enemies hated.

Jesus taught the sun rose on the just and the unjust alike. The world feels the sun ought to rise only on the just and the wicked must be punished.

Jesus said the republican and the harlot go to heaven before many who are outwardly righteous. The world says the good and the respectable will be saved. Jesus told that the path to salvation is narrow. The world tells us to follow the crowd.

Jesus said be as carefree as birds of the air and lilies of the field. The world teaches us to build our security. Jesus said it is difficult for the rich to enter the kingdom as the camel to go through the eye of a needle. The world esteems wealth.

Jesus said that the happy people are those that are meek, who weep, are merciful and pure in heart. The world assumes the rich, the powerful and the well-born are the happy ones.

Jesus said a great deal about how to treat our fellow man. He said God loves us unconditionally. His love does not depend on our worth.

Jesus said repeatedly, "Love your neighbor as yourself," and share of yourself, your clothes and your food.

Jesus showed how God's love is absolute for all His children. When we are grateful for Gods grace we receive His love overwhelmingly and we can let it flow outward again to our neighbors.

Jesus warned, "Judge not lest you be judged", and he talked about those who go around with trees in their eyes looking for splinters in their neighbors eyes. He asked that we not judge others for we will be judged to the same extent we condemn.

Jesus invited all people to come to him, the hard working and the heavy laden, to give us rest. He said, "The truth will set you free."

Jesus was a man without pride, deceit or falsity, he lived a life completely under the will of God. Those that saw Jesus began to believe they saw God in human form.

Jesus asked that we follow and love God first for those that love parents and children more than God are not worthy of him.

Jesus spoke of a faith as small as a mustard seed that could move mountains. He said this faith comes through prayer and fasting.

He spoke of those with faith becoming as little children, pure at heart.

Three days after Christ was crucified on the cross his body disappeared. He later reappeared to his disciples and friends. Some say Jesus' resurrection showed his followers that he had the power to live on and that he was not vulnerable to death. Others say Jesus showed that our spirits live on too after our bodies die.

Jesus spoke of the kingdom of heaven where God the father dwells and hell where Satan dwells. Some people believe heaven, hell and Satan are real but others believe Jesus used these as pictures to help us understand what it feels like to be with or away from God. One is "heavenly" the other is "hellish."

Jesus said, " The kingdom of God is within you."

Jesus said, "I am the Son of God." Some people believe Jesus is the Son of God and that man is separate and different until he accepts God as his savior. Others believe Jesus is the Son of God and that all people are the sons and daughters of God. That Jesus came to the earth to remind us of our divinity.

Jesus spoke of being born again before we enter the kingdom of God. Some people believe he meant that we have only one life and we can only be born again in spirit by accepting Jesus as our Savior. Others believe we return to the earth as a baby again for we cannot enter the kingdom of God until we love and want to be with God more than our worldly attachments.

The disciples saw a vision in Jesus of what a person might be—to be powerful yet humble, to have great faith and lack pride and deceit.

But most of all, Jesus showed us the way to a deeper love for humankind than anyone had ever known.