Jesus' Last Days--A New Version

     In this essay I will present, what I believe to be, a new version of the events from the time Jesus entered Jerusalem until his death and then offer an explanation of why the biblical version differs from it.

The Preamble

     About 7CE a revolutionary party, which Josephus refers to as "the fourth sect", emerged in Galilee, let by Judas, and Essene, and joined by Sadduc, a Pharisee, dedicated to ridding the country of foreign domination.  The numbers recruited by Judas became known as Zealots, those by Sadduc as Sicarri.

     Their efforts "filled the civil government with tumults" so the Romans were kept on edge wondering when and where the next uprising would occur so when Jesus and his disciples, at least one of whom was a Zealot, entered Jerusalem from Galilee, notorious for its revolutionary activity, to be greeted by crowds shouting "Hail to Jesus, King of Israel", not surprisingly, Pilate jumped to the conclusion it marked another uprising and took steps to suppress it.

     On hearing the shouts of the crowd Jesus realized how the Romans would react and began to warn his disciples that his days among them were numbered.

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