Modern-day Judaism traces its roots to the teachings promoted by the
followers of Hillel who survived the destruction of Jerusalem and began
codifying their teachings around 200 AD. So wise was Hillel that even two
sayings we commonly attribute to Jesus were coined by Hillel before his
death and were being quoted by Jesus in the Gospels. These were the Golden
Rule (“Do unto others...”) and the summary of the Law and the Prophets
(“Love God with all your heart, and love your neighbor as yourself”).
Whenever you see Jesus interacting positively with the Pharisees (for
instance with Nicodemus or the Rich Young Ruler), he is probably
interacting with Pharisees from the school of Hillel.
The
Sanhedrin
The
(Great) Sanhedrin was comprised of 70 elders with a president, who in the
Time of Jesus was Gamaliel. The Sanhedrin functioned much like a
combination of the Senate and Supreme Court. You will note in the Book of
Acts that Gamaliel, the president of the Sanhedrin, encouraged tolerance
of the Christians.
The
Trial of Yeshua (Jesus)
At the
trial of Jesus the quorum was hurriedly assembled and included almost
across the board members of the Sanhedrin who were either Sadducees or
Pharisees from the school of Shammai, while possibly only Nicodemus and
Joseph of Arimithea represented the school of Hillel. The outcome was
inevitable, especially because of the threat Jesus posed to the Sadducees.
In their view this man was an unparalleled danger, standing in direct
contra-diction to their theology across the board. For one, he is casting
out devils the Sadducees deny exist.
He
miraculously resurrects Lazarus just three miles from Jerusalem in the
presence of numerous witnesses including hostile Pharisees--