A FAMOUS JEWISH SCHOLAR'S STUDY OF THE LIFE OF JESUS
David Flusser (1917-2000) was a professor of Early Christianity and Judaism of the Second Temple Period at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. This 1969 book is one of the most famous studies of the life of Jesus by a Jewish scholar, and he begins by saying, "The main purpose of this book is to show that it IS possible to write the story of Jesus' life."
He observes that it was appropriate for Jesus to have been referred to as, or called `rabbi' or `teacher' by the people since such titles "had not yet become restricted to expert and ordained teachers." He explains, "Few people seem to realize that in the synoptic gospels, Jesus is never shown in conflict with current practice of the law---with the single exception of the plucking of ears of corn on the Sabbath." Flusser observes that in such areas, "His replies were not so revolutionary as the uninitiated might imagine. His saying about purity and impurity ... is completely in harmony with the views of the moderate scribes." "Both Jesus and Hillel before him saw the Golden Rule as a summary of the law of Moses."
One of the most interesting points Flusser makes is that there were other "miracle-workers" in Jesus' time, according to Jewish tradition. "Rabbinic literature tells us of four such men, who operated before the destruction of the second temple. Two of these were Galileans..." One was a laborer named Abba Hilkia, and one of the Galileans was Rabbi Hanina bar Dossa.
Flusser says, "The most wicked among (Pharisees) would never have resolved to kill Jesus because he had performed a work of healing on the sabbath---a permissible deed anyway." Therefore, "We can also deduce that it was not the Sanhedrin who condemned Jesus to death from the fact that he was buried at neither of the two graves reserved for those executed by order of the supreme council." He later adds, "It would seem, therefore, that Jesus' tragic end was preceded by no verdict of any earthly judiciary. It was the outcome of the grisly interplay of naked spheres of interest, in the shadow of brutal antagonisms, and to outward appearance, it had no real connection with the man Jesus and his cause."
This fascinating book is of great interest to anyone interested in the historical Jesus, Jewish/Christian dialogue, or New Testament history.