The murder of God

NICODEMUS: I will not argue with you about the person of Jesus. His attitude at the trial has shaken me. I was ready to believe him a great teacher, a great prophet, perhaps the Messiah. I can do so no longer. He has claimed to be the Son of God -- not in a figure, but literally -- the right hand of the power and equal partner in the glory. That is either an appalling blasphemy, or else a truth so appalling that it will not bear thinking of.

CAIAPHAS: Are you saying that it might be truth?

NICODEMUS: I dare not. For in that case, what have we done? We have conspired in some unimaginable manner to judge and murder God.

Dorothy L. Sayers, "King of Sorrows," The Man Born to Be King