Terrific work. Quite a persuasive picture. Would there have been a salvific aspect to the execution, in this case? Or simply a tragic/shameful death, like how the
Toledot Yeshu portrays it?
Also, with these bare elements of what appears like an early figuration of the "Christian" hero, it almost looks like he was seized by a mob and then
"hanged" (notable that the
Toledot Yeshu shows an execution by hanging,
not a crucifixion, and it appears the punishment is done based on charges of
blasphemy instead of sedition, which is even still true in the canonical narratives), with no trial and no "way to the cross" or anything. Indeed, the
Toledot Yeshu portrays its Yeshu as always
on the run, just like the Christ of the Fourth Gospel. I cannot help but compare this to the
"sent out" nature of the itinerant apostles, always similarly
on the move. There appears to be remnants of this in the oldest parts of Mark (also seen in Marcion) where the commission orders the disciples to be wanderers, never to stay in one place for too long, and gives reason for the Markan/Marcion hero always traveling around; he isn't on a preaching tour, he's
on the escape.
Giuseppe wrote: ↑Tue Nov 30, 2021 12:29 pm
- Falling that difference between rival Jesuses for us moderns, we are titled to recognize that that concession above is equivalent to an embarrassing confession of a historical fact.
Supposing
any historical person behind the Christ character, would you suppose a resurrection is even necessary for his revelatory appearing as a divine being to his apostles/followers? It looks like you could have his tragic end but his godly spirit persist, giving people visions, empowering them, and giving them eternal life (perhaps this is the root of the Johannine paraclete?) without any need for a resurrection.
Also: could this brigand Christ be the reasoning behind the rather violent cleansing of the Temple?