The Historical Jesus of Nazareth

The bible is a book of revisionism...meant to take people's power and place them in awe of authority...exactly the opposite of what the real, historical jesus taught. Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could recognise that we are all 'sons and daughters of god'? That we all have the capacity to heal and create miracles... Certainly that is not what authority wants us to believe...keep 'em under the thumb...and hopin' for a better world to come, someday... I'm with jesus...kick out the money changers...and question the authority of the pharisees... Throughout His ministry, Jesus violated many of the pharisees' oral laws. He mixed freely with tax collectors and sinners, making Him ceremonially unclean (Luke 7:39). He ate and drank with them, and was called a glutton and a drunkard (Luke 7:34). He ate with ceremonially unclean hands (Luke 11:38). He broke their Sabbath laws by healing people, and gleaning 'corn' to eat (Luke 13:14, Matthew 12:1-2). He forgave peoples' sins, which to the Pharisees was blasphemy (Luke 5:21). He also freely criticised the Pharisees for their hypocrisy and self righteousness (Luke 11:37-52). In the Pharisees' eyes, Jesus was guilty of law breaking and blasphemy. The idea of Jesus criticising them was an outrage (Luke 6:11). They also saw Him as a threat both to their popularity and their authority over the people (Luke 13:17). Because of this they plotted to kill Him. I think it is incumbent upon all of us, as 'sons and daughters of god' to freely criticise the 'Pharisees' (regardless of their religious, military or economic philosophy) for their hypocrisy and self righteousness... To work toward healing the earth and her inhabitants...and to manifest miracles... That is my christmas wish for us all.