A report that the council of chief priests, the Sanhedrin, was plotting to kill the preacher Jesus was resurrected this week following an allegation that they also planned to kill his friend Lazarus. Both stories have been vigorously denied by the religious authorities as "scandalous, outrageous, scurrilous." Or "SOS", as it was headlined in the Moon tabloid.
Some weeks ago it was claimed Jesus had raised Lazarus from the dead. This was dismissed as "an elaborate trick" by the Sanhedrin. But since then vast crowds have been descending on Bethany, the village where Lazarus lives. They go there to see the once dead man. Many of them are saying Jesus is the Messiah.
A report in the Palestine Times this week said reliable sources had indicated members of the Sanhedrin believed the situation in Bethany was "out of control". Plans to kill Lazarus were "under active discussion". Jesus, meanwhile, has not been seen all week.
Predictably perhaps, the letters columns of the Palestine Times have been filled with speculation as to whether in law it is possible to die twice. The legitimacy of Lazarus's current existence has been extensively explored, as has his status as a man of property.
Legal experts have responded that, were the claims about Lazarus true, the situation would be unprecedented and "make an ass of the law". A reader replied that, as it was not possible for something to change into what it already was, "then surely the law would become something different. A bird brain perhaps?"
The legal experts concluded however that, as it was believed the Lazarus episode was indeed an "elaborate trick" to boost the Jesus campaign, all such speculation was "mere entertainment."
For his part Lazarus is said to be finding current pressures difficult. He has retreated to his home and is not giving interviews. Last Tuesday his clothes were nearly torn off as crowds rushed to touch him. A man at the scene said it was "disgraceful. He probably wishes he was back in the tomb. At least there he had peace and quiet."
It also emerged this week that some time ago Jesus had forecast he would be killed in Jerusalem by the authorities, including the chief priests. He also said he would rise again, three days afterwards.
Sources close to the campaign recalled that when Jesus announced this, Peter, one of his closest supporters, reacted: "Never, my friend. That will not happen as long as there's breath in my body." Jesus turned and told him he was the devil himself. This shocked everyone.
Jesus has become more volatile lately. "You are a stumbling block . . . " he told Peter. "You're only thinking of this world, not of God."
Peter was devastated. Just a few days earlier Jesus had told him he was the rock on which he would build his new administration. Not even hell itself would be able to touch it, he said. He went further and said that whatever laws Peter made would apply in heaven as well as on earth. Even some of his friends thought that was a bit much, like his claim about rising from the dead in three days. But they let both pass as typical examples of Jesus's fondness for hyperbole.
That "rock" incident happened at Casearea Philippi after Jesus asked them who they believed he really was. Peter piped up that he was "the Christ, the son of the living God", which some of the friends thought a very clever move. It was clear to them that Peter and John were vying to be Jesus's deputy in the new administration. But even they felt it was over-the-top to say Jesus was "the Christ".
Jesus, it was obvious, bought into the idea too. He told Peter he was `blessed' to know what he did and that his knowledge came not from men but from his father in heaven. This also caused confusion.
"Jesus's father is still in Nazareth, and that is as far from heaven as you'll get, and Simon Peter's father is still in Capernaum. What's going on here?" was how another of Jesus's friends reacted. He did not wish to be named. He continued that "Jesus then, in all seriousness, told us not to tell anyone he was the Christ. Even he must realise how ludicrous it is. He'd be the laughing stock of Palestine if that got out."