Book excerpt: For Christians there is nothing more important than understanding the significance of the life and teaching of Jesus. It is when people gain an insight in to the mind of Jesus and understand how his teaching is relevant to them personally that a life-changing relationship develops. Here, the insights of psychology are applied to the figure of Jesus as we encounter him in the gospels – his personality and how it is portrayed, the psychological significance of his teaching, and the psychological processes involved in our reading of the gospels. The contributions range from considerations of the psychology of Jesus himself, and how he is portrayed, through chapters covering the message, sayings and encounters of Jesus in the gospels. A final section explores what we bring to our own reading and interpretation of the gospels. Accessible and approachable, Jesus & Psychology is a must for anyone interested in the psychology of religion, who is looking to deepen their understanding of the gospels and the figure of Jesus. Contributors: Fraser Watts, Justin J. Megitt, Liz Gulliford, Sara Savage, Beaumont Stevenson, Jesse W. Abell, James M. Day, Leslie J. Francis, Everett J. Worthington Jr