3. TIL the earliest known reference to Christ refers to him as a magician.

TIL the earliest known reference to Christ refers to him as a magician.

He was part of a long tradition of messiahs. This is explored in the fascinating book, "Cows, Pigs, Wars, & Witches: The Riddles of Culture" in a chapter titled, "The Secret of the Prince of Peace".

Essentially, Israel was occupied by the Romans who, understandably, wouldn't let the Jews keep a standing army. This lead to the military-messianism which was essentially a charismatic leader who lead a group of men against the Roman army.

This is why it's said that people were confused when Jesus died because they thought fulfilling the prophecies of the Old Testament (which hadn't been codified as such yet) which most read to mean that he was going to kick the Romans out.

Enter Bar Kochba a messiah who actually DID kick the Romans out and partied like it was 1999 for 3 years until the Romans came back, kicked ass, enslaved tens of thousands, and generally made Israel regret the day they first heard of Bar Kochba. Which is why you generally don't hear about him still.

As for whether Jesus was a Prince of Peace (like modern white people wanna think) or a warrior-messiah (like he actually was), consider Matthew 10:34-38 where he's sounding totally gangsta.

"Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn

' a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law— a man's enemies will be the members of his own household.'

"Anyone who loves their father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves their son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me. Whoever does not take up their cross and follow me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it."

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