Practice: Time Travel

Imagine that you have been transported back in time to Jerusalem in the year 10BC. Jesus is about to come to earth and solve the human problem. What is the situation of the world? Do some research and answer the following questions:

• Who is in charge of most of my world?
• Who is in charge in Jerusalem?
• What is the Sanhedrin?
• Who are the Sadducees? The Pharisees? The Essenes?
• What are the traditions of the elders?
• What is the language that will get me around the Mediterranean world the most effectively?
• What are two or three languages spoken in Israel?
• What are the Scriptures?
• What do most of my fellow Jews think about the Maccabees?
• What are people expecting in a Messiah? Are they all expecting a Messiah?
• What do various Jews believe about the afterlife?

Write up the results of your research and, submit below.