An Amazing Life: Jesus and His Times

Book One – The Context of An Amazing Life

Overview & Contents

Jesus lived in one of the most complex periods in human history. Jesus accepted and taught one of the
most complex religions. Jesus was substantially involved with three great cultures (along with their
languages) and several lesser ones. Jesus interacted with very diverse groups, peoples, sects, and
organizations. Jesus made choices that are very odd and confusing. Jesus chose key disciples who reflect
unexpected combinations of family, friendship, mission, and purpose. Jesus openly acknowledged having
secret knowledge and acted with mysterious means, methods, and mysticism. If Jesus was a modern
figure living in a familiar time, place, and culture, he would still be difficult to understand.

Those who suggest that they can “know Jesus” through reading and study of the New Testament are
delusional. Even if every part of it was true and accurate, it would still leave open a great many questions
and mysteries. And, of course, as we progress we will find that the canonized gospels of the New
Testament were not intended to be historical, factual, or complete. If your goal is to merely understand
the doctrine and theology of Paul and his Church, this book is not for you. But, if you really wish to
understand Jesus as a man, a teacher, and a monumental figure in human history, I hope that you read
this book carefully.

In the Introduction there is a list of six facts which prompted this writing. There are a few other facts and
premises which I hope you find compelling:

1. Jesus was aware that Judaism as commonly taught and understood by his peers was a hoax
created by the Zadokites. His deeper understand of history and truth led him to a deeper
understanding of God and God’s Will. Thus, while Judaism offered a foundation for his teachings,
Jesus was hardly a “Jew” in accord with his contemporaries.

2. Jesus knew that the Temple and its priests were falsely represented, lacked authority, and were
sufficiently corrupt as to undermine Judaism. He advocated a return to the basics of his religion:
adherence to God’s law and the seeking of righteousness through one commandment: loving-
kindness.

3. Jesus was involved politically and socially in ways never explained or detailed in the NT gospels.
We have every indication that Jesus was a Davidic heir, but we ignore what that meant in the
context of his time. (If Jesus was not a legitimate and verifiable Davidic heir, no one would have
seriously suggested he was the “Messiah”). As a Davidic heir, we must place Jesus within that
hierarchy and reassess his family ties. It also helps to have a better grasp of who David was and
why being a Davidic heir was significant at a time when Herodians and Romans controlled the
region.

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 4. Jesus was involved religiously in ways ignored by the NT gospels. This is clearest from the
independent historical record regarding James, but is also evident within the genealogies offered
in the NT gospels. If his brother James was a popular and powerful priest as the evidence
indicates, then Jesus had close ties to a competing line of priests. This dramatically changes our
notions of his being an itinerant pauper teacher who was basically unknown by Caiaphas and
Annas before his arrest. It also explains the biblical accounts of religious authorities querying
Jesus about his religious views (and his title “Rabbi”).

5. Jesus brought together twelve (or thereabout) leaders which included his siblings and an odd
mix of friends, family, associates, and contemporaries. These “Apostles” covered a wide mix of
social and political strata along with diverse religious and nationalistic sects. The people of his
time would have best understood Jesus in terms of his choice in leaders.

6. Jesus was the oldest son in a powerful and well-connected family, but there was something odd
about the circumstances of his birth (not “immaculate conception”). Thus, the next sibling
(James) was the one consecrated under family tradition (as “Rechabites”) and Jesus was treated
as a “mamzer” during his life. This little known aspect of his life had great impact upon his
choices.

7. Jesus was one of John the Baptist’s followers who took over the reins of his movement after
John’s arrest and execution. It would seem apparent that John’s influence over his younger
cousin was greater than commonly thought and given that Jesus started his mission with the
same exact premise as John, we should carefully consider John’s story. One issue that is largely
ignored is why some followers of John did not follow Jesus.

8. It is apparent that Jesus was deeply involved in the issues of his time and culture and yet we
have generally ignored those issues. We have a few instances of officials approaching Jesus to
seek his positions on religious questions and Jesus’ answer to an inquiry regarding taxes, but
little else. If Jesus chose to avoid the fray of social issues, we should explore his reasoning. Or, if
he was engaged, we should explore how and why we are not offered more information in the
gospel accounts.

9. Jesus had “secret knowledge” that he kept from even his chosen Twelve 1. While it has been
generally assumed that such knowledge related to God or God’s Kingdom, Jesus seemed open
and frank about that subject. So what was this “secret knowledge” and why should we assume it
to be religious in nature? Once placed into a fuller historical context, new possibilities become
apparent.

1
“The secret of the kingdom of God” (Mark 4:11-12); “God's secret wisdom” (1 Cor. 2:7); the secret things of God”
(1 Cor. 4:11); “Lord…you have hidden these things” (Matt. 11:25-26); “higher knowledge”, Eusebius (History 2.1); a
“spiritual resurrection through this secret knowledge” Clement of Alexandria quoting “The Secret Gospel of Mark”;
See “The Secret Tradition” by Margaret Barker at http://www.marquette.edu/maqom/tradition1.html.
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 10. Jesus chose a path and engaged in actions which had the likely outcome of his crucifixion. He
was clearly not betrayed by Judas or anyone else – except perhaps by his belief that God would
intervene to save him. What beliefs led Jesus to make these choices?

11. Jesus did not die on the cross and yet the single best attested fact about Jesus is that he was
crucified. The entire account of his arrest, trial, crucifixion, and resurrection in the NT is silly,
irrational, unhistorical, and inconsistent. And yet, many of his time and millions since have
accepted it as truth. This requires a careful examination and unbiased analysis by anyone who
takes Jesus seriously and should involve more than “blind faith” by Christians.

12. As pieces of the puzzle surrounding the family of Jesus fall into place, it is impossible to retain
the legendary view of Jesus as the son of a poor “carpenter” who rises to the position of
“Rabboni” and is widely accepted as the Meshiach by a large number of contemporaneous Jews.
It is also absurd to perpetuate the notion that his family was uninvolved, unsung, and largely
unknown within Jesus’ mission or the early pre-Christian church.

Here are the goals I hope to achieve by taking your time:

1. A new vision of Jesus as a man with a mission – serving God’s Will.

2. A new understanding of the complex life that Jesus lived and how his culture and the events of
his time led to his choice to be crucified.

3. A new compassion for Jesus and his family – a family which shared his mission and his misery
more than we have been taught.

4. A new awareness of the religion which Jesus took and forsook.

5. A new outrage over the manner in which Jesus’ life, message, and mission became co-opted and
corrupted.

6. A new hope that we may restore the wisdom, regain the vision, and restore the meaning which
Jesus sacrificed so greatly to offer us.

7. The possibility that many of those who have found love for Jesus through false doctrines and
simple legends will find love for Jesus through his truth, his love, and his righteousness.

This book is not chronological or sequential. Its structure is categorical: sections are grouped by content
and within the sections it is probably easier to read in sequence. Start with any section you want; skip
around as you wish. The whole idea is to build as complete and useful a context as possible. It is large
and complex, but tightly interwoven. Hopefully you’ll find it fascinating.

If there seem to be sections missing, it is likely because I felt there was little to add to excellent work
already available or to the general understanding which is prevalent. In support of the first case, I offer

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an extensive bibliography with subject references and links. One good thing about the study of Jesus’ life
– there is a plethora of worthwhile material available for free.

Contents:

I. Part One: The Family

a. Overview
b. Mary
c. Joseph
d. Siblings
a. James the Just
b. Simon
c. Joses
d. Jude
e. Sisters
e. Cousins
a. John the Baptist
b. James and John, sons of Zebedee
c. Lazarus, Mary, Martha
f. Davidic Descendancy & Jewish Royal Lineage

II. Part Two: Judaism

a. Overview
b. Relevant History (a new perspective)
i. David
ii. The Exile & Return Therefrom
iii. Onias
iv. Hasmonean Era
v. Herodian Era (and the Birth of Jesus)
vi. Judean Politics and Power in Year 1 (and thereabouts)
c. Jewish Laws and Customs
i. The Temple(s)
ii. Festivals
iii. The Sacred Treasures
iv. Social, Religious, and Political Structures and Titles
1. The Sanhedrin
2. Zugots (esp. Hillel and Shammai)
v. Family Law
vi. Trials and Punishment
d. Jewish Sects and Groups
i. Pharisees
ii. Hasidim

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 iii. Sadducees
iv. Essenes
v. Zealots
vi. Nazoreans
1. The Nozerim
e. Mashiach/Messiah
f. The Jewish High Priesthood
g. Gnosticism and Jewish Mysticism
III. Part Three: Sources and Missources
a. Overview
b. Ancient Writings
c. Gospels
d. Sources About Jesus
IV. Part Four: About Jesus
a. Overview
b. The Apostles and Disciples
c. The Teachings of Jesus
d. Jesus and the Priesthood
e. The Trial of Jesus
f. The Crucifixion & Resurrection of Jesus
V. After Jesus (Preview of Book Three)
a. Overview
b. After Crucifixion
c. After Entombment
d. After “Resurrection”
e. After Death
VI. Appendices
a. Characters
i. Glossary of People
b. Places
c. Chronology
d. Glossary

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