Mel Gibson's Passion

[Sloats]

Here are a couple of comments concerning a theory I heard about Jesus’ live with consideration of the state of Jerusalem at the BC.

The poor, the sick, and the crippled were not allowed into the Temple. There was a view that God had punished people and those with lepersy et al. "deserved" it. The Temple High Priests had their own separate entrances so that their cleanliness would not be tarnished by a touch by someone unclean. Unclean being defined by Leviticus (I believe), rules around women menstruating, handling of raw meats, etc...

Jesus was greatly bothered by how much luxury the Priests lived in. Many of them had several baths, necessary for purification, but extravagant compared to the general population. There was a comparison to the wealth that the priests lived in and the Romans.

Jesus intentionally went to Jerusalem on Passover to cause a scene. Passover would have been the most packed day in the city. Coupled with angst over the Roman occupation and just general confusion and emotions of a large number of people in one place was viewed as a powder keg. In fact, Jesus entry into the city on a donkey was meant to directly combat the Priests because of a prophesy. He meant to fulfill it to cause a problem.

Judas was a good friend of Jesus and not a betrayer. Messengers customarily were paid a fee and Jesus sent Judas to summon the temple guards who were looking for him. Judas was not paid a fee to betray Jesus.

Basically, the theory is that Jesus martyred himself over the abuses in the Jewish religion. In some aspects, he is a reformer, just as Martin Luther was to the Catholic Church. He challenged the authority and the power of the High Priests, he never challenged the Romans.