Just as an added note, the same argument pertains to Paul, who is almost universally credited with establishing the separate religion of Christianity. Yet he too was charged with blasphemy against Judaism by the Sanhedrin and faced death. If Paul, in his mind, had started a new religion and had rejected Judaism, why didn't he play the Christian card? Paul had an even more persuasive argument than Jesus:
"Sanhedrin: I worship Jesus Christ whom you reject. I'm no longer a Jew, I'm a Christian. You have no authority over me as the leader of a religion other than Judaism. Governor Felix (the Roman prefect): I'm a Roman Citizen--born a Roman citizen-- and I proclaim I'm a Christian not a Jew. If the Sanhedrin could indict non Jews for blasphemy they would indict you and all Romans. Would you tolerate that? You must release me according Roman law."
Would Felix have any option other than releasing Paul, especially since the Romans had no argument with him (Acts 28:16-18)? Yet Paul allows the charge of blasphemy of a Jew against Judaism to stand -- without challenging it. In doing so he squanders five years at the height of his ministry (it's now almost 30 years after the crucifixion) with arrest, imprisonment, transport to Rome for his trial, and several years of house arrest in Rome before he is executed -- as a Jew. Why?
One obvious explanation stands out. In Paul's mind his brand of Jewish Christianity was the new Judaism open to everyone. But after his passing, that vision was lost. The converted Roman pagans picked up the Christian baton. This group, having no ties to Judaism, sought increasingly to distance Christianity from Judaism; thus the separate religion was firmly launched.
Unfortunately, the gospels and later parts of the New Testament do not take up or even mention why neither Jesus nor Paul played the Christian card. I wish Bill O'Reilly had. It's a serious issue that can't be casually dismissed!
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