issue.”
“Sedition,” Zabad responded. “It is true those were the charges put forth by the religious leaders. If you are aware of the trial, you will know that the charges were not proven, that Pilate was forced to do the will of the religious leaders or face riots.”
Zabad turned back to Caleb. “Why was the religious establishment so eager to have Jesus killed?”
Caleb shrugged. “He falsely claimed to be the Messiah. I stress falsely .”
“Was it a false claim?” Zabad countered. “After all, every couple of years a madman comes out of the desert heat to make that claim. Dozens did before Jesus. Dozens have since. Few take notice, except to enjoy the entertainment.”
Caleb held up a hand. “I can name a half dozen crucified for the claim.”
“By Rome. And only because they actually gathered armed followers with the intent to revolt against Rome. The Jewish religious establishment refused—and refuses—to dignify the claims of most of them by paying any heed to their rantings. Yet the full force of the temple authorities was used to arrange the death of Jesus. So you’ll agree that Jesus—unlike the others who claimed to be Messiah—was actually a threat to the Jewish leaders?”
Caleb’s face was expressionless. “I suppose.”
“We agree Jesus was a threat,” Zabad said. “Because He was a good teacher?”
“Certainly.”
“You know that is wrong. Good teachers are welcomed and applauded among our people. Did Jesus contradict any of the teachings?”
“He . . .”
“You know as well as I do that He did not contradict a single teaching. He knew our laws completely. He stated again and again that He was here to fulfill the laws, not destroy them. So why was He a threat?”
Caleb shifted position slightly but did not reply.
“I will answer it for you then,” Zabad said. “He was a threat because He performed miracles in validation of His claim. It is that simple. He healed the lame and the leprous. Raised a man from the dead. Asked if it was easier to forgive a man’s sins or tell him to get up and walk, a man who had been lame all his life.”
Zabad waited several moments before continuing. “You may try to deny the miracles, but you know the man did take up his mat and walk. You know there are ample witnesses still alive who will attest to that and to the rest of the miracles. Jesus had a power from beyond this world. It made Him so dangerous, the temple authorities had to kill Him. Will you agree with that assessment? Or should we make this a very legal trial and send for the witnesses?”
“We don’t have time for that!” Helius snapped. “Move on.”
Zabad smiled calmly. “You’ll concede the point then?”
“For the sake of argument, yes.” Caleb appeared calm and confident, waving away a protest that Helius was clearly about to make.
“Then let me emphasize this,” Zabad answered. “I will proceed as if we are in agreement that Jesus performed miracles as attested to by hundreds of witnesses, and because of it, His following grew to the point where He—unlike any other to make the messiah claim—was such a threat to the temple authorities that they were forced to find a way to kill Him. For the record, do you agree with me on this?”
The slave with the stylus looked up. The conversation had obviously become interesting to him.
“Yes,” Caleb said. Still calm, still confident.
“Now that we have established this point together,” Zabad said, “I am prepared to deal with the matter of His resurrection. Can you assure me He was truly dead before He was taken down from the cross?”
“That is my question to you. The Resurrection cannot be debated unless we are both certain He was dead. And I have my doubts.”
“Excellent,” Zabad said. “Let me address those doubts then. Roman soldiers are trained to ensure that no one survives a crucifixion. Ever. Would you expect that they make an exception in His case?”
“Perhaps they were
“Sedition,” Zabad responded. “It is true those were the charges put forth by the religious leaders. If you are aware of the trial, you will know that the charges were not proven, that Pilate was forced to do the will of the religious leaders or face riots.”
Zabad turned back to Caleb. “Why was the religious establishment so eager to have Jesus killed?”
Caleb shrugged. “He falsely claimed to be the Messiah. I stress falsely .”
“Was it a false claim?” Zabad countered. “After all, every couple of years a madman comes out of the desert heat to make that claim. Dozens did before Jesus. Dozens have since. Few take notice, except to enjoy the entertainment.”
Caleb held up a hand. “I can name a half dozen crucified for the claim.”
“By Rome. And only because they actually gathered armed followers with the intent to revolt against Rome. The Jewish religious establishment refused—and refuses—to dignify the claims of most of them by paying any heed to their rantings. Yet the full force of the temple authorities was used to arrange the death of Jesus. So you’ll agree that Jesus—unlike the others who claimed to be Messiah—was actually a threat to the Jewish leaders?”
Caleb’s face was expressionless. “I suppose.”
“We agree Jesus was a threat,” Zabad said. “Because He was a good teacher?”
“Certainly.”
“You know that is wrong. Good teachers are welcomed and applauded among our people. Did Jesus contradict any of the teachings?”
“He . . .”
“You know as well as I do that He did not contradict a single teaching. He knew our laws completely. He stated again and again that He was here to fulfill the laws, not destroy them. So why was He a threat?”
Caleb shifted position slightly but did not reply.
“I will answer it for you then,” Zabad said. “He was a threat because He performed miracles in validation of His claim. It is that simple. He healed the lame and the leprous. Raised a man from the dead. Asked if it was easier to forgive a man’s sins or tell him to get up and walk, a man who had been lame all his life.”
Zabad waited several moments before continuing. “You may try to deny the miracles, but you know the man did take up his mat and walk. You know there are ample witnesses still alive who will attest to that and to the rest of the miracles. Jesus had a power from beyond this world. It made Him so dangerous, the temple authorities had to kill Him. Will you agree with that assessment? Or should we make this a very legal trial and send for the witnesses?”
“We don’t have time for that!” Helius snapped. “Move on.”
Zabad smiled calmly. “You’ll concede the point then?”
“For the sake of argument, yes.” Caleb appeared calm and confident, waving away a protest that Helius was clearly about to make.
“Then let me emphasize this,” Zabad answered. “I will proceed as if we are in agreement that Jesus performed miracles as attested to by hundreds of witnesses, and because of it, His following grew to the point where He—unlike any other to make the messiah claim—was such a threat to the temple authorities that they were forced to find a way to kill Him. For the record, do you agree with me on this?”
The slave with the stylus looked up. The conversation had obviously become interesting to him.
“Yes,” Caleb said. Still calm, still confident.
“Now that we have established this point together,” Zabad said, “I am prepared to deal with the matter of His resurrection. Can you assure me He was truly dead before He was taken down from the cross?”
“That is my question to you. The Resurrection cannot be debated unless we are both certain He was dead. And I have my doubts.”
“Excellent,” Zabad said. “Let me address those doubts then. Roman soldiers are trained to ensure that no one survives a crucifixion. Ever. Would you expect that they make an exception in His case?”
“Perhaps they were
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