One friend of mine holds forth that Jesus was the illegitimate son of a transient; perhaps a Roman soldier. He became a magician (a common form of entertainment at the time), a profession which usually requires supplimenting one's income with job by job work, such as carpentry. A strong sense of politics and philosophy leaked into his act over time. Eventually, he remodeled himself into a sort of guru or shaman figure. the rest is history...of a sort.
Some of his miracles could have easily sprouted from simple magic acts, enhanced by his wise man status. His resurrection, however, given the complete disagreement and lack of mention in the various gospels, is probably an post-humous fabrication, as was his divinity. Its not uncommon for a flock to embue a divine connection to its shepard.
THe man was probably crucified when his act began to get old, as all acts must. Critics were harsher back then.