Based on de Jonge's 1989 Shaffer Lectures at the Yale Divinity School, this book explores afresh the question of the historical Jesus, focusing on Jesus' own views of his relationship to God and the nature of his mission. It makes the case that there was considerable continuity between the disciples' reaction to Jesus' message, death and the resurrection and the post-resurrection proclamation by early Christions of salvation through Jesus. De Jonge suggests new openings on the problem of the historical Jesus by engaging earlier approaches to it, showing in the process how much has changed in New Testament scholarship. It is aimed at students, specialists and the general reader.