How central is... the theme of divine self-donation for sinful humanity and human self-giving for one another? In The Real Jesus Luke Timothy Johnson has argued that the canonical Gospels "are remarkably consistent on one essential aspect of the identity and mission of Jesus." He continues:

"Their fundamental focus is not on Jesus' wondrous deeds nor on his wise words. Their shared focus is on the character of his life and death. They all reveal the same patterns of radical obedience to God and selfless love toward other people. All four Gospels also agree that discipleship is to follow the same messianic pattern. They do not emphasize the performance of certain deeds or the learning of certain doctrines. They insist on living according to the same pattern of life and death shown by Jesus." (Johnson 1996, 157f.)

This note was recorded by Joshua Neds-Fox from page 24 of Exclusion and Embrace.