JESUS OF NAZARETH Part Two: KICKING THE HORNETS’ NEST: Arrested, Condemned and Executed —That Was the Plan?

This audiobook is narrated by a digital voice.

Thousands of books have been written about Jesus of Nazareth, but in this series I explore what it was like to be Jesus. The story has three threads to it. The first thread is of how Jesus is faced with a job offer without a job description. Everyone had their own opinion about what the Messiah was supposed to do. Jesus had to figure out his mission, develop his message and formulate an action plan without their help. He saw from the beginning that the religious framework of animal sacrifice and superficial cleansing rituals had to go. As he said, you can't put new wine in old wine skins. For his Kingdom of God to work, the Temple had to go.

The second thread consists of the alarmed opposition that arose. In Poking the Hornet's Nest, Annas, the head of the family which owned the monopoly of the Temple business operation, opened a file on him. He took steps to raise opposition to Jesus' work, and began to lay the groundwork to neutralize Jesus if he went too far. Of course he did both in what he said and did. Finally he raised Lazarus from death. That was too much. The Sanhedrin called for the arrest and stoning of Jesus on the grounds that he was leading Israel astray, but by then Jesus had made a strategic withdrawal to Galilee where he raised support and would return to confront the Temple authorities. That is the story of part Two.

The third thread begins to appear as Jesus wrestles internally with issues he has to face alone. In prayer he spends time with the Divine, learning first hand what the will of God was. This is the third thread that runs throughout, both books. God's will would not be denied, and would achieve its goals despite all the opposition ranged against it..