(1) No. He was yet another messianic nutjob who made too much noise, got nabbed by the Romans, and tacked up for his troubles.
(2) They didn't. The whole story around the trial at the Sanhedrin is a lovely bit of blood libel about as likely as convening the US Senate over Christmas to try a horse thief.
(2) They didn't. The whole story around the trial at the Sanhedrin is a lovely bit of blood libel about as likely as convening the US Senate over Christmas to try a horse thief.