Geoff:

I think the premise that in Judas's gospel there was no view that the body Jesus occupied was crucified is wrong. The book follows events according to timing tied to the last week. What was common in Gnostic gospels was that the body that went to the cross was crucified Jesus' spirit had already departed it, having occupied it on loan. The Apocalypse of Peter has such a text as well. So there is a crucifixion and the view has nothing to do with the view of the Essenes.

dlb