When Jesus first appeared
Speaking as if he was related to God – personally –
And implying he might even be a human embodiment of God –
It wasn’t just the Romans and Jewish high priests
Who viewed that claim as a threat.

Regular, everyday religiously-faithful people,
Reacted badly as well –
To the audacity of placing himself ahead of Moses,
Greater than David or Solomon,
And even surpassing Isaiah, Elijah, and Jeremiah. 

They murmured, “Just who does hethink he is?”

Jesus appeared among everyday “good” people
Who, potentially, had the ability to make a spiritual “leap”
Directly to God
By accepting him like his disciples did –
But they refused –
In fact, he made them as angry as possible –
Which resulted in their secret wish for the authorities stop him.

And that wish was fulfilled.

What made it possible for “good people” to desire the destruction of Jesus –
A human being who, correctly, believed he was speaking for God?

The answer is what eventually became the Crucifixion/Resurrection myth.

They hated him so much for his apparent “hubris”
That they wrenched away his humanity
And replaced it with a “Christian myth”
So they could sleep soundly again
And never need reflect upon what an acceptance
Of Jesus’ (as well as their own) “human/God” life
Might mean.