I believe that neither the Romans nor the Jews understood Jesus of Nazareth, nor did His disciples who now preach His name.
The Romans slew Him and that was a blunder. The Galileans would make a god of Him and that is a mistake.
Jesus was the heart of man.
I have sailed the Seven Seas with my ships, and bartered with kings and princes and with cheats and the wily in the marketplaces of distant cities; but never have I seen a man who understood merchants as He did.
I heard Him once tell this parable:
“A merchant left his country for a foreign land. He had two servants, and he gave each a handful of gold, saying: ‘Even as I go abroad, you also shall go forth and seek profit. Make just exchange, and see that you serve in giving and taking.’
“And after a year the merchant returned.
“And he asked his two servants what they had done with his gold.
“The first servant said: ‘Behold, Master, I have bought and sold, and I have gained.’
“And the merchant answered: ‘The gain shall be yours, for you have done well, and have been faithful to me and to yourself.’
“Then the other servant stood forth and said: ‘Sir, I feared the loss of your money; and I did not buy nor sell. Behold, it is all here in this purse.’