Whatever one thinks<\/a> of the reference<\/a>, I\u2019ve been intrigued for some time by a related topic, namely\u00a0the figures<\/a> that appeared<\/a> in the years<\/a> and decades<\/a> after Jesus, such as Theudas<\/a>. If we assume (as the evidence seems to warrant) that there were Christians making claims and telling stories about Jesus in this period in Palestine as well as elsewhere, then it is natural to ask whether such figures were consciously imitating Jesus, or if not, then why such comparable figures appear in such close proximity in time and space.<\/p>\n
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<\/a>Lately I\u2019ve been wondering and speculating about a possible explanation. Josephus doesn\u2019t mention John the Baptist\u2019s connection with Jesus, although he does mention John having had followers who seemed willing to do anything for him. I wonder whether, if John indeed spoke about one who is to come after him, one who is one of his disciples but will surpass him, might not these other first-century messianic figures also have been part of John\u2019s movement. Persuaded that John was right, and also convinced\u00a0that Jesus was not<\/em> the one whom John had predicted, they might have hoped that they instead might be the ones through whom God would bring his kingdom in.<\/div>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/blogger.googleusercontent.com\/tracker\/7622297540113836091-8029245130518103101?l=exploringourmatrix.blogspot.com\")
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