The right place at the right time: A historical rationale for the afterlife of the uprising of Jesus of Nazareth

This study aims to determine why the uprising of Jesus of Nazareth fostered an afterlife in spite of the fact that Jesus was executed. There were numerous uprisings at the turn of the Common Era in Palestine, and every uprising leader suffered the same fate, death, and every uprising subsequently desisted, except for Jesus'. The characteristics of the uprisings of Judas son of Hezekias, Simon of Peraea, Athronges the Shepherd, Judas the Galilean, John the Baptist, Jesus of Nazareth and Theudas (4 B.C.E. - 44 C.E.) are analysed in order to discover reasons to explain this anomaly. The perceptions and actions of the three ruling parties of Palestine at the time (Romans, Herods, Jewish leadership) are investigated to determine what affect they had on each uprising. It is concluded that the reason Jesus' uprising had an afterlife was timing. It is proposed that Jesus' uprising occurred at a time of relative peace and stability in Palestine. It was also a time of political concern for Pilate in relation to his standing with Tiberius. This state of affairs contributed to Pilate allowing Jesus' followers to live and fostered an environment conducive to advancing the movement.