Reflections on the Trials of Jesus annual cycle of festivals. This necessity should, I suggest, be seen as of crucial
importance. It is remarkable that, even in recent years, it has seemed possible
to discuss the ‘‘Palestinian Judaism’’ of this time as a purely personal religion,
without giving a central (or indeed any) place to the communal worship and
sacrifice at the Temple.^21 But John’s narrative may precisely reveal the cen-
trality of this communal sacrificial cult in the life of Jesus. If his portrayal
gives us a Jesus who is less far from ‘‘the historical Jesus’’ than the one whom
the Synoptics represent, then we can at least perceive that their attachment
to these festivals was one thing which Jesus and his accusers shared. It was
not Roman law but their own which made them say, at that moment, ‘‘It is
not allowed to us to execute anyone.’’
. So E. P. Sanders,Paul and Palestinian Judaism(), part I: ‘‘Palestinian Judaism.’’