In her fascinating new book, historian Paula Fredriksen has created a unique analysis of Jesus' motives, message and murder. Overlooked for centuries, she takes her search for the real image of Jesus to John's Gospel, dismissing its mystic reputation and acknowledging its importance as a historical source.
In doing so she untangles the conflicting images that have emerged over the past twenty years: Jesus as a wandering exorcist, Jesus the Cynic sage, Jesus as social revolutionary, Jesus as prophet of the apocalypse. Fredriksen's argument brings her to focus on two indisputable facts: Jesus of Nazareth died a political death when crucified by the Roman State and yet none of his immediate followers were harmed or arrested.
