Before "The Passion of Christ," there was Christopher Moore's 2003 novel "Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ Childhood Pal," a brief read which suggests that angels may not be all that bright, that Jesus may have known Kung Fu, and that an elephant can indeed learn yoga. 

The book begins with Levi, otherwise known as Biff, being resurrected by an angel in order to personally write about the missing years between Christ's birth and his first miracle at Cana. 

According to the angel, Biff was an asshole in his previous life – a man obsessed primarily with soap operas and Spider-Man.  This assessment seems only partially true, however, considering that Biff stays with Jesus (who is referred to as Joshua – his Hebrew name) throughout his adventures despite a strong desire for the luxuries of the city.  These adventures include the discovery of bacon and yak's milk, a prolonged trek to find the Three Wise Men, and the eventual understanding of who Josh is and what it means to be a messiah.  All the while, Moore does a very talented job at not crossing the line between humor and blasphemy.

In this rendition, it is Biff who protects Josh, finding ways to save him before the time of crucifixion.  Everything from circumcising a Greek statue to living in a Buddhist temple comes to pass for the two.  At the temple, Biff and Josh learn many arts including Kung Fu and yoga.  It is Biff who does Josh's sinning for him so that Josh can understand the nature of what he will preach against.  One such venture has Biff spending money on whores while reciting what the experience is like to an attentive Josh in the next stall.

"Lamb" contains a very different view on the life of Christ, being not so much concentrated on suffering as on Josh's humanity (such as crying for those he sees as victims before casting salvation).

It is interesting to see Josh mature over the years.  From resurrecting lizards to people, Josh eventually even admits to feeling somewhat depressed over not being allowed to "know a woman" in the carnal sense (both Josh and Biff were in love with Mary Magdalene since childhood).  Josh also goes through the drafting of his sermons (which accounts for the meek rather than the "dumb-asses" inheriting the Earth). 

 "Lamb" is, on the whole, a depiction of a loving, forgiving, goofy, and naive man.  A man who just so happens to also be the Messiah.

Other works by Christopher Moore include: "Fluke; or I know why the Winged Whale sings," "Island of the Sequined Love Nun," "Practical Demon Keeping," "The Lust Lizard of Melancholy Cove," "Coyote Blue," "Bloodsucking Fiends," and "The Stupidest Angel."

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