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National Museum, Stockholm
After the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 C.E., Christianity became deeply influenced by Hellenistic Mystery cults, in which a worshiper would be joined to a deity’s death and restoration through ritual. The Gospel of John, written around 100 C.E., reflects this idea of Jesus as a new kind of Greek god who offers himself to his followers: He tells his disciples, “Whoever consumes me will live because of me” (John 6:57).