Based on Fresnel-Kirchhoff diffraction theory, we set up a diffraction model of nonlinear optical media to Gaussian beam, which can interpret the Z-scan phenomenon from a new way. This theory is not only well consistent with the conventional Z-scan theory in the case of small nonlinear phase shift, but also can fit for the lager nonlinear phase shift. Numeric computations indicate the shape of the Z-scan curve is greatly affected by the value of the nonlinear phase shift. The symmetric dispersion-like Z-scan curve is only valid for small nonlinear phase shift (|Δφ0|<π), but with increasing the nonlinear phase shift, the valley of the transmittance is severely suppressed and the peak is greatly enhanced. Further calculations show some new interesting results.