I’m not the first writer to ask, why didn’t Jesus write a book? We know he wanted his story written down and passed on because that’s what the disciples subsequently did under the influence of his Spirit. So why not start the ball rolling himself?
Or why not dictate his memoirs to Matthew or another of the literate apostles during the 40 days after his resurrection? Give them a written catechism to take to Jerusalem, Samaria and the uttermost parts of the Earth? Why make his church wait decades for secondhand and sometimes contradictory gospels (e.g. the resurrection accounts)?
Had Jesus penned his own gospel, it would have eliminated so much ambiguity and emphasized exactly what he thought was important. The subsequent eyewitness accounts could corroborate his story and the forthcoming epistles could have built upon it. There would be a clear hierarchy among holy texts. Such a book would still have been subjected to controversy and criticism; no question about that. But it would have been a more solid anchor point for the whole New Testament.
For whatever reasons, Jesus chose not to pick up a pen or confide in a scribe. Care to share your speculations as to why not?
OPEN Mike 
Hmmm … interesting thought. Perhaps the Father thought it was best to delegate the vital task to his creation. Teamwork.
Great question, Mike! I will ponder it.
As you know, Jackie, there is no answer. But speculation is another word for meditation, and it can be enriching to the soul.
John says that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God….” What if Jesus saw himself as The Word – his life was more complete than any written tome. BTW – have we become too reliant on written communiciation, and less so on interpersonal relationship?
I think many have become too reliant on the written word and have become bibliophiles as a result. There should be a balance between what is in print and what is in spirit.
“I think many have become too reliant on the written word and have become bibliophiles as a result. There should be a balance between what is in print and what is in spirit.”
“But he answered and said, It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” St. Matthew 4:4
“It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” St. John 6:63
“why didn’t Jesus write a book?”
“And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together” Genesis 22:8
“The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.” St. John 1:29
“And there shall in no wise enter into it any thing that defileth, neither whatsoever worketh abomination, or maketh a lie: but they which are written in the Lamb’s book of life.” Revelation 21:27
He is the Word. He is the Book. He did write a book – the Bible – I read it every day : )
I can’t answer your question, but boy-o-boy have you got me thinking!