I don't see it.

Yo.

Guy hangs around with prostitutes and other assorted low-lifes. Changes water into wine. Disciples are people like fishermen. Where do these modern-day holier-than-thous get off thinking he would actually approve of THEM?!?

Well, if you ARE better, is it snobbery? The difference is infinite love.

Not to mention putting the smackdown on the religious rules, regulations and requirements of the day.

Cat's Paraphrase: "You've added all these stupid requirements to my Father's law. Plus the whole point is you'll never make it trying to live up to His law in the first place. You need a new way to the Father that I will make for you."

..only 1 problem.

All the eyewitnesses were fishermen.

;-)

Okay, I didn't get Leelu's joke. Will someone explain it to the literal-minded nerdy girl in the back?

(Not all the apostles were fisherman; not all of the witnesses to the resurrection were fishermen, unless we're being very literal about that "fishers of men" business. I'm cranky. I need a gin and tonic.)

Fishermen have somehow acquired the reputation of being low on the veracity scale; consider how huge "the one that got away" always is.

Right. Of course.

Somehow rural men who fish for a living (now and in times past) occupy a different space in my tiny brain than hobbyists with hip boots or bass boats.

How funny. It's like they were two different words to me.

Which Jesus are we talking about here? And does "Jesus" include Paul?

Nope.

Good, because I hate Paul. Hate hate hate Paul. A friend of mine and I have a catch phrase for someone who styles themselves as suffering for a grand cause, but who has resources that allow them to suffer in style: "Oh, did I mention I'm a Roman citizen?"

Anyway, I'd have to say that the Jesus of Thomas comes off as pretty priggish. He may consort with low-lives, but that doesn't mean he's down with them, as it were.