The authorities in Jerusalem hated the idea of their text being made flesh—literature had long since become a matter of power and authority. The Roman overlords didn’t like it, either. They didn’t care about the scripture, but they sensed the rebellion in what he said. The result was yet another sham trial and death sentence. Socrates had been lucky, having been allowed to die a painless death in the company of his students. Jesus was publicly mocked, a crown of thorns was pressed onto his head, and he was made to drag his heavy wooden cross through the streets and up the executioner’s hill.
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