No doubt that Jesus and John were both influenced by their anti temple corruption stand, men in white did appear many times during his ordeal, dressed in white robes the Essenes trademark, but Jesus, a froward Jewish man, was not a candidate for their sect. He even criticized the Essenes for keeping the meaning of the Law secret, hidden from Jewish laity.DYOR
He was an Essene .
As was his Zealot cousin , John .
On the appointment of presbyters.
When these men have undergone, with blamelessness of conduct, a two year preparation in the fundamentals of the community, they shall be segregated as especially sacred among the formal members of the community. Any knowledge which the expositor of the Law may posses but which may have to remain arcane to the ordinary layman, HE SHALL NOT KEEP HIDDEN FROM THEM; for in their case there need be no fear that it might induce apostasy.
On religious discussion.
No one is to engage in discussion or disputation with men of ill repute; and in the company of froward men everyone is to abstain from talk about (KEEP HIDDEN) the meaning of the Law. (Dead Sea Scrolls, manual of discipline)
This is why Jesus said, "No one lights a candle and then hides it under a bushel, no, they put it on the lamp-stand to everyone in the room can see.", and why some exclaimed, "Where did he get this teaching!" Not because it was unknown, never heard before, but because it was supposed to be kept secret, HIDDEN, especially from froward men like Jesus.
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