How did the Jewish Hierarchy feel about Jesus? THE ARCHKO VOLUME. REPORT OF CAIAPHAS. He taught the eternity of God's laws, and promises in tlie super-importance of the humanitarian over the ritual laws and doctrines, but I do not think he wished to abolish the latter, or even the traditional laws, but merely to supersede them by a higher life. The natural result of all this was that he disregarded the laws of Levitical cleanness, which were considered so important by the Shammaites and Essenes, and also by the Hillelites. This is the point where division commenced, and the breach grew wider and wider until an insurrection must have been the result. He so far cut himself loose from the Jews that he ate with unclean sinners, publicans, and lepers, and permitted harlots to touch him, while his disciples went so far as to eat their meals without washing themselves. Furthermore, he looked upon the whole of the Levitical institutions, temples, sacrifices, and priesthood included, as no longer necessary and not worth the life of the animal. This was certainly the opinion of the Hillelites. Jesus, it seems, found in this Hillelite school a party furnished to hand, ready to take up with his heresy (and a large party they are, almost sufficient to divide the whole Jewish commonwealth). They taught the repentance of sin, the practice of benevolence and charity, the education of the young, and good-will toward mankind, as possessing much more moral worth than all the Levitical cleanness, or compliance with the whole moral law given to us by our God to govern us. His preaching was of the parabolic style. He would rely on a text of scripture, for he seemed to hold the scriptures in high veneration, so his preaching was on the midrash style of the scribes a maxim expressed in the style of Solon or of Sirach's son.

Josephus, you do know that John the Baptist, baptized Jews, because he said the end of the world was coming, and repent by being cleansed of your sins. It is a Jewish practice. Jesus was never baptized as a Christian.

Bush Bunny, I'm not sure if I ever mentioned Jesus baptism? what you say is true. John had been raised in the Essene community and purity was paramount in their view of the kingdom. Jesus praised John but considered him least in the Kingdom, as Jesus view of the kingdom included Gentiles. At the beginning and end of his mission he speaks of Gentiles. I am currently reading records from Roman government sources and Jewish sources as you can see extracts above.

To Bush Bunny. I don't recal John the Baptist preaching that the end of the world is near. What he seemed to preach, (from the limited text we have of him) is to repent because the Kingdom of Heaven is near.

What's the difference you might ask? Essentially the Jewish understanding and hope is that the masaiah would come and restore Israel to it's glory. Not be under rule of other kingdoms, passed down from one ruling empire to another. John preached that the Kingdom was near.

This might be a possible explaination why early in Jesus's ministry, John endorsed Jesus proclaiming him to be the "God's chosen One." And "The Lamb of God who takes the sin away from the world." But later some of John's disciples came to ask Jesus if he really was the Masaiah or if they should wait for someone else.

After a while of not conquering Roman rule, John may have been under the same impression that other Jews were aboutvJesus and the Kingdom of Heaven.

Just an FYI, to clear up any confusion.

It depends on what version you read, and what the Jews have to say about it. Good DVDs available, where there are spokespersons from many faiths. Including Muslim.

To Bush Bunny.

You say "It depends." I disagree. It is either true or not true. If the Jews today or the written account of Jews back then through history can confirm or correct with is true, then we should accept it as such. From what I've come to understand unless the Jews become Christian, and accept Jesus as the Masaiah, then they are still waiting for a masaiah to come. But I don't know of anything to say John the Baptist was preaching the end of the world. Nor or any Jewish thought that runs into that kind of thinking. If Jewish perspective is waiting for the "end times" or the end of the world in something other manner, then maybe we can consider your view of John the Baptist as something to consider.

"It depends" isn't always a bad answer. But in this case, it seems like a cop out to not seek the truth.