Had Jesus not been executed, had Jesus not been crucified, why make up such a preposterous story? No, the death of Jesus is no fiction. It was a grim historical reality. It was known to non-Christians, and it was a demoralizing event for Jesus’ followers—at least initially—and an ongoing embarrassment as the church proclaimed Jesus as Savior and Son of God throughout the Roman Empire. There can be no doubt that Jesus was executed. But why? Many people, including
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