Jesus in the Talmud

Jesus in the Talmud 125the bitter end of his narrative but reveals very early on that his hero wasraised from the dead (2:22) and that he will ascend into heaven:(13) No one has ascended into heaven except the one who descendedfrom heaven, the Son of Man. (14) And just as Moses lifted up theserpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, (15)that whoever believes in him may have eternal life. (16) For God soloved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believesin him may not perish but may have eternal life (3:13–16). 110It is this eternal life, bestowed upon him by the Father, that Jesus constantlypromises to those who follow him. When he heals the paralyzedman, he explicitly refers to the “Father”:(21) Indeed, just as the Father raises the dead and gives them life, soalso the Son gives life to whomever he wishes. (22) The Fatherjudges no one but has given all judgment to the Son, (23) so that allmay honor the Son just as they honor the Father. Anyone who doesnot honor the Son does not honor the Father who sent him. (24)Very truly, I tell you, anyone who hears my word and believes himwho sent me has eternal life, and does not come under judgment,but has passed from death to life (5:21–24).This, he claims, is what Moses told the Jews in reality and which theystubbornly refuse to accept (5:46). 111A long series of miracles that Jesus performs is always aimed at provinghis claim that he acts as the Son of God who provides eternal life. Themiracle of feeding the five thousand with bread climaxes in the announcementthat Jesus is the bread of life:(51) I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoevereats of this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give forthe life of the world is my flesh. ... (53) Very truly, I tell you, unlessyou eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have nolife in you. (54) Those who eat my flesh and drink my blood haveeternal life, and I will raise them up on the last day (6:51–54).