Jesus as metaphor

Some time ago I read The Jesus Mysteries which asked whether Jesus was a Pagan. It is a plausible but highly unlikely account. But its real significance for me was presenting Jesus's sayings and teachings as metaphor. 


So when Jesus talks about being reborn, perhaps he wasn't referring to physical death but rather to a spiritual rebirth in this lifetime. Which insight allowed me to make a lot more sense of what Jesus said, without having to rely on much of the later re-writes* which turned him into "the risen Lord and Saviour" of modern Christianity. With the metaphorical view of Jesus, there is the possibility of heaven on earth and a system that doesn't rely on payback in the afterlife. Most of all I love the statement "The Kingdom of God is at hand" with this slant on it; it's here, now.


And I have recently found - in  a sermon by Meister Eckhart of all people - an extension of the idea of metaphor. Which examines the use of the word "virgin" to describe somebody free from all outside ideas, empty according to God's will. Then links this to the use of the word "wife" to describe somebody in whom God is conceived. Giving us the opportunity to look at the virgin birth as the creation of Jesus himself as metaphor.


* A book whose name I cannot recall gave a fascinating analysis of what Jesus actually said and separated it from what are generally believed to be later additions. In essence, when the early Christians needed a Messiah and son of God they wrote about one and that was added to the story.