In The Jesus I Knew, Robert Martin Walker combines two methods of storytelling, narrative and autobiography, to present more than two dozen creative portrayals of Gospel characters. Starting with the biblical text and then imagining how a character would narrate the story from his or her own point of view, Walker transports readers into the Gospel story, enabling persons to identify with the Gospel characters as the real persons they were and to see Jesus through the eyes of those who knew him best. What finally emerges from the portrayals is a picture of who Jesus was, and is. As readers hear the Gospel message in a new and fresh way - through these distinctive witnesses to the birth, ministry, passion, and resurrection of Jesus Christ - their own faith will be enriched and enlivened. Each portrayal begins with a Scripture reference and is followed by a brief prayer and questions for reflection and discussion. Character portrayals include Mary and Joseph, Herod the Great, John the Baptizer, The Rich Young Man, Mary and Martha, Nicodemus, the woman at the well, Lazarus, Judas Iscariot, Peter the Rock, Zacchaeus, Pilate, Joseph of Arimathea, two disciples on the road to Emmaus, and others.