Metta Valley Gospel, Book 1

By: Zachary Helton

Narrated by: Zachary Helton

A story for those grieving the faith that once defined them.

Raised in a world of rules and shame, Jesus has always questioned what others accept. He’s sharp, restless, and tired of being told who he’s allowed to be. When his defiance finally erupts in a clash with the rabbi who trained him, he is forced to leave his home behind. Angry and unmoored, he wanders the ancient world in search of a new beginning—stumbling instead into a journey that will overturn everything he was taught to believe.

His path leads him east, into a remote Buddhist monastery tucked in the mountains. There, as he faces the voices of shame and fear within him, he begins to unlearn the stories that once held him captive and to imagine a freer, more compassionate way of being.

Metta Valley Gospel is a work of literary, philosophical, and historical fiction about Jesus—an engaging, imaginative retelling for anyone healing from fundamentalism or reconstructing their spirituality.

Perfect for fans of The Book of Longings, The Alchemist, Lamb, and other character-driven, historical and spiritual fiction.

If you're ready for the Jesus story they never taught in Sunday School, this is a good place to start.

©2025 Spark & Scroll, LLC (P)2025 Spark & Scroll, LLC

Critic reviews

“For anyone healing from fundamentalism, this book feels like freedom.” —Cindy Wang Brandt, author of Parenting Forward

“Helton’s engaging adaptation of Jesus’s story… opens the imagination to the depths of our shared histories.” —Sharon Salzberg, author of Lovingkindness and Real Life

“Not since Christopher Moore’s Lamb has there been a fictionalized retelling of the Jesus story that had this much imagination, style, and punch.” —Rev. Dr. John R. Mabry, author of The Worship of Mystery

Absolutely Tremendous

I thought I would like this book but was blindsided by how much I love it!

It’s absolutely entertaining, well written, performed, and is paced great! But this reframing/reimagining of Jesus’s story was often emotionally and spiritually overwhelming (in the best way). This became an all time book for me and can’t wait until the next book.

An amalgamation story

The major religions of our earth have many common themes. The author chose many stories and themes from the Abraham’s faiths and woven them into a Buddhist setting. The reader with a strong Christian background may be offended

felt heard

I felt the story is what I've always believed to be true. Love compassion and gratitude.

Compelling story on thought provoking topic

This was a pleasuto listen to. I enjoyed the story telling and listen to most of the book in one sitting. I'm fairly new to the idea that Jesus wasn't who we were told about in Sunday school so I enjoyed the alternative idea of his life. I'm also new to mysticism so this was a compelling story. Great work.

Eyes wide open

Peace be with you… and also with you.
I’ve always known I was meant to keep seeking truth. This book feels like another puzzle piece, helping me understand why I’ve always felt that Jesus never asked to be worshipped.