Most people supported or were apathetic towards Jesus because Jesus was just some random dude up until that point, or a charismatic dude who performed miracles if we take the gospel as gospel (lol). Going by history, Jesus was just some dude who most people wouldn't care about one way or another and going by the gospels, Jesus was a charismatic miracle worker who most people liked because of his miracles.
The amount of people who genuinely wanted Jesus dead probably numbered in what, several hundreds at best. An entire Roman legion is shaking in their sandals over several hundred unarmed Judeans who really wanted some dude dead but lacked the initiative to just form a lynch mob and string him up a tree.

[–] LeeeroooyJeeenkiiins@hexbear.net 1 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago)

The amount of people who genuinely wanted Jesus dead probably numbered in what, several hundreds at best

Yea but which several hundreds, and how influential were they

An entire Roman legion

I found a shitty source with bad numbers and then another shitty source that questions him even having a legion so could you give me at least an equivalently shitty source that he even did?

several hundred unarmed Judeans who really wanted some dude dead but lacked the initiative to just form a lynch mob

What if several hundred influential judeans who wanted him dead were pissed off at that not happening and then used any number of reasons to rile up many thousands of others in revolt, or what if pontius pilate was made to credibly fear that result even if it weren't likely

Why was he arrested btw because idk it seems like there'd a reason for that since nameless nobodies don't just stumble onto a crucifix