Counter claim
The church may believe that, but the evidence is that he died in a deliberate attempt to fulfil prophecies about the Messiah (two Messiahs in fact) and to demonstrate evidence for resurrection, something rejected by the ruling Sadducees. He was not attempting to save the world; just to rule it.
It is ironic that, although he failed (he got killed accidentally) and was never seen again (stories to the contrary are flawed), that failure has formed the basis of a worldwide religion that Jesus, as a Jew, would find alien.
STEUART CAMPBELL
Dovecot Loan
Edinburgh