Jesus and Justice: Organizing for God’s Reign on Earth

Then and Now

Jesus and Justice

presents the life of the historical Jesus as a bold and transformative call to action, inviting readers to actively follow his nonviolent and revolutionary example. Grounded in rigorous historical analysis, the authors show how Jesus organized a grassroots movement of poor and marginalized peasants to confront the Roman Empire’s economic, political, and ideological domination—an imperial system with striking parallels to today’s corporate-driven global order.

The book reveals Jesus’ message as a radically anti-imperial vision of God’s Reign: a collaborative, egalitarian and justice-centered alternative to systems built on scarcity and oppression.

Drawing connections to modern movements led by figures like Martin Luther King Jr., Cesar Chavez, and Dolores Huerta, Jesus and Justice offers a powerful spiritual and theological framework for confronting contemporary injustice. It challenges readers to embrace a revolution of love and nonviolent action and equips them to respond to God’s call for participatory protagonism through committed, organized action for God's Reign on Earth.

Black-and-white line drawing of olive branch

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Articles and Podcasts

“A book that deserves our attention. Read, study and discuss with others — and see where Jesus takes you.” - Daryl Grigsby, National Catholic Reporter

“

Jesus and Justice looks at the historical Jesus and finds a peasant with an attitude. This radical spirit of Jesus initiated the Reign of God movement, which is at once the summit of the ancient prophecy and a source of contemporary Christian resistance to oppression. I recommend this book to schools, universities, and churches for whom faith and justice are integrally united. ” - Rev. David Inczauskis, Liberation Theology Podcast

“Jesus and Justice reflects on Jesus as a grassroots movement organizer of nonviolent resistance, and combines Crossan's scholarship with Okinczyc-Cruz's organizing work on the streets of Chicago.” - Rev. John Dear, The Nonviolent Jesus Podcast

“The life of the historical Jesus is a revolutionary story. Yet, when it comes to revolutionary stories that challenge the status quo, they are often buried or sugarcoated by powerful people and institutions."
"We often interpret Jesus’ titles as Son of God, God Incarnate, Savior of the World in strictly religious terms. However, during Jesus’ lifetime and in the period following his public execution, referring to Jesus in these terms was politically and theologically explosive. The message and vision of the Reign of God movement and Jesus’ role within it as the Savior of the World was indeed provocative, rebellious, and revolutionary."
Jesus' decision to organize along the shores of the exploited Sea of Galilee shows he “understood that if you are seeking to build a movement, you need to ask the question ‘Who are my people?’ and ‘What are their primary concerns, fears and challenges?’... you must go to where the struggle and action is most dramatic.”

Meet the authors

A black and white photo of John Dominic wearing a cap and glasses, with his hand touching his chin in thought in front of a stone structure resembling ruins.

John Dominic Crossan, Professor Emeritus of Religious Studies at DePaul University, Chicago, is an Irish-born biblical scholar with two-year post-doctoral diplomas in exegesis from Rome’s Pontifical Biblical Institute and in archeology from Jerusalem’s École Biblique. He has been a mendicant friar and a Catholic priest, a Co-Chair of the Jesus Seminar, and a President of the Society of Biblical Literature. His focus, whether scholarly or popular, whether in books, videos, or lectures, is on the historical Jesus as the norm and criterion for the entire Christian Bible.

Black and white portrait of Michael with a beard and short hair, smiling, wearing a suit, in front of a background with blurred architectural elements.

Michael Okinczyc-Cruz, Executive Director and co-founder of the Coalition for Spiritual and Public Leadership (CSPL), is a community organizer who has worked alongside faith communities and thousands of grassroots leaders to address poverty, violence and systemic inequities. He is also an adjunct professor at the Institute of Pastoral Studies at Loyola University of Chicago. Michael possesses a BA from the University of California-Berkeley, a Master’s in Theology from Colgate Rochester Crozer Divinity School and a Doctorate of Ministry from Fordham University.

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