Texas could join Louisiana with a law to require the Ten Commandments in classrooms

[Bluetus]

17. Beyond that, Mark 15:3 (of the New Testament)

suggests that at least part of the establishment wasn't all that pleased with Rabbi Jesus in his day. As I understand it, this idea of the "kingdom of heaven" is not at all part of the mainstream Jewish tradition. There is practically no discussion of heaven or hell in the Jewish texts, although I guess there are various beliefs about this, some which are quite elaborate, involving multiple levels and "time out" periods for cleansing. But Rabbi Jesus was out there saying this isn't just a state of mind; it is a literal place and you only get there if you elevate me above all those other rabbis and priests because I'm actually God, or the son of God, kind of both actually.

All I'm saying is that I doubt this went down well with the Jewish establishment. They were already at odds with the Romans, who were still polytheistic at the time, and this Jesus character just made matters worse by drawing so much attention from Rome.