A fictional religious history of the relationship between Jesus of Nazareth, Caiaphas of Jerusalem, and Mary Magdalene Synopsis of Jesus: A Would Be King In the first century of the common era, two families, inextricably entwined, would shape the course of history. Their quest for power set them on a collision path that shook an empire to its core, altered a thousand year old religious tradition culminating in the destruction of its Temple and ending the sacrificial system, and initiating a redefined expectation that conquered western civilization and dominates religious understanding to this day. Caiaphas instigated and complied with the process that climaxed in the death of Jesus of Nazareth for sedition. His brother-in-law ordered the stoning death of James, son of Joseph, brother of Jesus. Jews and Romans continued to harass Jesus’ family members, leaders of the nascent Christian movement in Jerusalem, into the early second century. Probable casualties included a wife institutional Christianity maligned, a son second century followers of Jesus refused to acknowledge, brothers whose important roles were greatly diminished and marginalized, a mother whose reputation was reclaimed with mythological make over, and a Jewish interpretation of Jesus and his ministry distorted and demonized by secondary, Hellenistic interpreters. Galilee and Jerusalem. Prophetic call to social justice and entrenched religious institutional self-preservation. The reign of Yahweh and the reign of Caesar. The son of Yahweh and the filius deus. Moschiach and High Priest. Life and death.