A. Proselytize and try to convert those Roman heathen, possibly inviting retribution.

B. Show how great Judaism is by having loud and frequent displays of enthusiasm, possibly inviting retribution.

C. Quietly practice your religion and pray that the Romans don't find cause to wipe you out.

I think choice 'C' in this case makes sense. If you're under foreign rule you don't want to make waves. You just want to get along with your life as quietly as possible, like what the Jews did under the beginnings of Nazi rule. They didn't make waves. They didn't provoke violence. It was brought to them.

Back to old Israel. Things are relatively quiet but now you have a new voice, a loud voice, a disturbing voice. Someone is raising a ruckus, gathering followers, making a scene in your temple. What do you do?

A. Try to talk things out but he turns over tables and causes a near riot.

B. Ignore him but he is not to be ignored.

C. Have him arrested. Get him out of the scene altogether.

Again, choice 'C' seems the most logical if it boils down to having one guy arrested (and possibly killed) versus your entire religious community wiped out because the Romans are sick of the uppity noisesome Jews.

Jesus gets arrested, crucified, resurrected, and ascends - Hallelujah! The Jews don't get wiped out - double Hallelujah!

Now the ironies: If Jesus didn't get crucified and resurrected there'd be no Christianity. There'd have been no hatred of Jews resulting from the perception that Jews killed the Christ. That's like a kid thanking his parents for his birth by killing them. Where's the love?

Again, this is just mind games which can go in any direction. No offense is intended. I think I need to take a break from Religion arguments (which ultimately are arguments over speculations, like who's hotter: Mary Ann or Ginger) and get back to ripping Bush and the Puckered Right.