This lecture cycle presents the most accessible and illuminating of Steiner's revelations with regard to Christ, and his significance for humanity's spiritual development. He discusses the link between Buddha and the life of Christ, a description that unites Buddhism and Christianity, not as philosophical theory but in perceived spiritual deeds of these two figures. Here, too, Steiner describes the relationship of the Greek Mystery traditions to the event at Golgotha.

These lectures, given in 1908, unveil the mysteries of Saint John's vision and show it to be a profound description of Christian initiation. As Rudolf Steiner says, "The deepest truths of Christianity may be considered quite naturally in connection with this document, for it contains a great part of the mysteries of Christianity, that is, the profoundest part of what may be described as esoteric Christianity."

These lectures constitute an important chapter in Steiner's commentary on Christianity. They stress the relationship of the Gospel of Mark to the "language of the macrocosm."

Although he had previously presented his insights into the Book of Revelation a number of times, in 1924 Steiner ventured to give a completely new perspective — in response to a request by priests of The Christian Community — by relating the subject closely to the work of the modern priest.

The twelve lectures include: ‘The Gospels, Buddha and the two Jesus children’; ‘Four varying depictions of Christ in the four Gospels’; ‘The Mission of the ancient Hebrew people’; ‘Preparations for an understanding of the Christ Event’; ‘On the right attitude to Anthroposophy’; ‘The Gospel of Matthew and the Christ conundrum’; ‘Group souls and Individuality’; ‘God within and the God in outer manifestation’; ‘The Christmas tree as a symbol’; and ‘A Christmas mood’. Translated by Christiana Bryan, this volume features an introduction by Tom Ravetz as well as notes and an index.

From his objective clairvoyant reading of the Akasha - the living cosmic record of all thoughts, events and deeds - Steiner was able to speak in detail about significant experiences and events in the life of Jesus in the years leading up to the Baptism by John which inaugurated the Incarnation of Christ.

In The Gospel of John lectures, Rudolf Steiner lays the foundation for a renewed understanding of the Mystery of Golgotha. He describes the John Gospel as not just a book of instruction but a force that can become active within our souls. He also regards it as the culmination of all the Gospels as it penetrates to the very heart of what Christ, the Logos, is for humanity and for world evolution.

Each of the Gospels emphasizes a different aspect of Christ: John describes the primordial principal of the Logos (the guiding Wisdom principle of all Creation); Luke, the physician, conveys the compassionate healing force for humanity; Matthew - the human-Judaeic fulfilment. In this series of lectures, Steiner elaborates Mark's experience of the Christ as a Being of cosmic power and the effects of this power on human and cosmic evolution.