The subject, then, very critical, not on Jesus, but on God, accused of being a butcher. Saramago takes the Bible literally and therefore, if there are multiple sacrifices demanded by God is that God really requested them. So, God is there, cruel and unscrupulous; facing him, the Devil, good shepherd of (!) and Jesus, figure a little clueless but generous.
It is irreverent and iconoclastic but exciting. However, the main criticism addressed to God "You are because of the monotheistic violence 'is laughable; one man is a wolf to man and the crimes committed in the name of God are always human crimes.