You might be interested in this little tidbit of information from Michael Shermer:
Jesus was not the only messiah at the time. There were lots of messiahs. In fact, there was another fellow named Apollonius of Tyana, who, in the first century, was claimed by his followers that he healed the sick, raised the dead, was able to walk through walls and buildings, that he was in fact persecuted for his religious beliefs, he was brought to trial by the local Roman courts, he was crucified and after he died he, we are told, ascended to Heaven and he came back where his followers saw him. This is not the Jesus story. This is Apollonius of Tyana. Who the heck is that?