Jesus the Politician?

Interesting quote from Mark Allan Powell from his book The Jesus Debate: Modern Historians Investigate the Life of Christ:

"With regard to Jesus' stance towards politics, scholars seem to be moving closer to consensus...For a time, the issue seemed to be whether Jesus should be regraded as a religious figure (the traditional concept) or as the leader of as political movement. Today, the dichotomy seems unnecessary, an anachronism imposed, perhaps, by Western scholars reared in societies that pride themselves on (supposedly) being able to separate church and state. Even today, especially in the Mideast, the line between politics and religion is indistinct. This was certainly true in Jesus' situation as well."