And Jesus Wept explores the major differences between what Jesus-of-Nazareth taught, and the faith that claims him as Savior. Anthony Gifford, once an ordained minister, always a seeker, challenges listeners to look at the original message of Jesus, but to bypass churches. Gifford uses clear insight and long experience to explain how Gentile symbolism/interpretation, imperial politics, and theological changes have hidden Jesus’ original teachings under many years of dogma, violence, sexism, and exclusion.

The book delves deep into the ways institutionalized religion has distanced itself from the simple yet profound teachings of compassion, inclusion, and justice. It invites listeners to strip away centuries of dogma and rediscover the radical essence of Jesus's message, a call to love that transcends boundaries and social hierarchies.

He points out the contrast between the gospel-of-empire and the gospel-of-love in matters of control, patriarchy, environmental apathy, and Christian Nationalism. In reaction to worrying modern-day matters such as many Christians backing authoritarianism, And Jesus Wept, is not only a history book. It urges us to clearly see our present world and to look collectively at what is needed to meet our crisis. To choose the path and then to actually walk it. This is a courageous call to those who have lost faith in religion, but who still know there is ‘more’, who hear the call to follow/live a Way of love, not merely believe that it exists, having nothing to do with traditions of dogma and fear.