Today is a day of celebration of religion and spiritual expression. Families are together worldwide, food is being eaten, and human beings are showing reflections on the historic year of 2017. This is also a day of remembrance. Over two thousand years ago, the birth of one person would change history forever. He was born working class poor in the area of Bethlehem in Israel. During that time, the Roman Empire conquered much of the Middle East, parts of Europe, and part of Africa over the course of long centuries. Ancient Rome evolved from a city found in a Republic into a city that was the capital of the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire fought the Carthaginians, the Celts, the Egyptians, and other groups of people. They used aqueducts and columns to express their architecture and grow their infrastructure. Mary and Joseph were Jewish people who lived under Roman oppression. According to the New Testament, they migrated from place to place in the Middle East. King Herod I was a known murderer and he was very controversy. The New Testament stated that he wanted to exterminate Jewish children around the time of Jesus’ birth. King Herod was an Edomite (or Iduemaean like his father was) and Arabic (Nabataen. His mother was Nabataen). Edomites were Semitic groups of people. He or King Herod I expanded the Jewish Great Temple, but many Jewish people opposed him because of his extravagant behavior, his murders (of the killing of his wife and two of his sons) and other extremist policies. During this time, Caesar Augustus ruled the Roman Empire. He was once part of the triumvirate (or 3 people running the Empire. He defeated general Mark Anthony and the politician Lepidus. Augustus was Julius Caesar’s adopted son and grandnephew). Later, Augustus defeated his rivals and formed the beginning of the peak of the Roman Empire (called Pax Romana by historians) all the way to ca. 200 A.D. Mary and Joseph settled in Bethlehem where Mary gave birth to Jesus Christ. The New Testament showed Jesus’ life as a life filled with massive developments. Josephus, Tacitus, Mara bar Sarapion, Suetonius, the Talmud, Pliny the Younger, Thallus, Phlegon of Tralles, and other sources document the existence of the Lord Jesus Christ. He worked hard as a child. He was raised in Nazareth in northern Israel. He was also baptized by the great religious leader John the Baptist.
As an adult, Jesus Christ was more than a reformer. He spoke out against corruption and economic materialism. His major ministry started when he was 30 years old and he regularly was in the Temple. He threw the money changes out of the Temple. He spoke up for the poor and brokenhearted. Also, religious establishment figures from the Pharisees and the Sadducees opposed him, because of his actions and belief system. Throughout Israel, 12 apostles (or his followers) traveled the land in preaching tolerance, mercy, and love. Jesus Christ talked about a future Kingdom of God which would solve problems and cause harmony in the Universe. Back then, many people wanted a kingdom now in order to defeat the Romans, but Jesus (in the NT) spoke about the future in prophetic terms from the destruction of the Second Temple to the tribulation period. Jesus Christ was also a man who changed people’s lives. According to the New Testament, Jesus Christ performed miracles, healed the sick, and raised Lazarus from the dead. Like in any social movement, jealousy reigned. Judas Iscariot was jealous of Jesus Christ and caused him to be arrested by the Roman authorities for 30 pieces of silver. Pontius Pilate ordered his execution. Pilate was was the fifth prefect of the Roman province of Judaea from AD 26–36. So, Pilate was like the Governor of Judaea. Jesus Christ was beaten, crucified and he died. He was buried in a tomb. Christians believe that he rose from the dead and ascended into Heaven 3 days later. This is the concept of the resurrection. The Virgin Birth and the resurrection of Jesus Christ are part of the cornerstone of the Christian faith. This historic religious movement of Christians spread throughout the Middle Eastern region and beyond. Peter went into Europe. Paul revolutionized Christianity as being instrumental in not allowing Gentiles (non-Jewish people) to be forced to have circumcision and dietary requirements in order to be believers.
Back then, Christianity was seen as a sister religion to Judaism as Christianity is a religion that developed from Judaism itself. By ca. 50 A.D., the term Christian was popularized. The Roman Emperor Nero blamed Christians for the fires in Rome. This started the centuries long persecution of Christians. The apostles spread the Gospel and many of them experienced crucifixion, death, being feed to the lions, discrimination, etc. While this was going on, Jewish people in Israel rebelled against Roman tyranny via revolts. Thousands of Jewish people died in the rebellions of 66 A.D., 73 A.D., and in 132 A.D. This grew the Jewish Diaspora and many Jewish people traveled the world from Israel after the Roman Empire brutally crushed those fights for freedom by Jewish people. Christianity spread by many factors. Its doctrines appealed to the poor, the minorities, and the oppressed who wanted to believe that life can get better. It had many egalitarian words and its tenets were totally against the Roman Empire’s precept of tribute or worship of the Emperor. As Christianity spread, it became more organized into bishops in cities like Rome, Alexandria, Jerusalem, Antioch, etc. The Lord Jesus Christ made it known that the Kingdom of God was not in the world, but within you. In other words, he wanted people to know that all of us have the power to create positive change to spiritually enrich ourselves and our neighbors. Constantine the Great in 313 A.D. ended the Roman Empire’s persecution of Christians and Emperor Theodosius made Christianity the official state religion (which is against the separation of church and state).
2017 has been a very historic, interesting year to say the least. It has been a year of terrible events like the inauguration of Donald Trump. Trump has spread his vicious brand of lies, racism, sexism, and ad hominem attacks. He has slandered peaceful protesters involving sports and he has been dismissive of anyone who disagrees with his political views. Also, we have seen terrorism worldwide and other tragedies involving hurricanes and fire. It has been a year where we saw the goodness of tons of human beings in America and worldwide. Tons of people have used charity and other forms of action to assist victims of Hurricanes in Texas, Louisiana, the Caribbean, and Puerto Rico. We have seen the Resistance organize and speak their minds to oppose any injustice in the world. We have witnessed voters in my state of Virginia and in Alabama reject bigotry and other regressive policies completely (especially, we send great respect to black women, who are the most strongest opposers of the Trump agenda. Black women deserve our honor, respect, and allegiance). We also seen new firsts involving new political victories and other contributions in society in general. Therefore, 2017 is a reminder that we have a long way to go, but all is not lost. We believe in hope, faith, and action in carrying us through into the Promised Land. Our cause for justice is cause and truth is on our side.
Back then and today, we have massive differences in technology, the composition of nations, and cultures. Yet, we still have many of the same issues as back then too. Back then, immigration was an important issue and the story of the Good Samaritan refutes xenophobia. Today, activists have rightfully defended immigrant rights and believe in compassion sent to refugees. Back then, there were racial issues among Romans, Jewish people, etc. Today, we still dealing with racial injustice and we want all people (regardless of skin color) to experience liberty, freedom, and justice. Back then, the Roman Empire was an imperialist powerhouse which violated religious liberty, many democratic freedoms, and promoted brutal games involving cruelty to humans plus animals in the Colosseum. Today, we have a President who glories in militarism, imperialism, bigotry, and sexism. Many Roman soldier forces used brutality against human beings and today, we are still fighting against police brutality (especially when black Americans and so many other people are victims of police brutality). So, we have to know what time it is in order for us to make the progressive change that we desire as human beings. We believe in helping the environment, strong education, economic justice, and universal health care too. So, on this day and on every day, we recognize the sacrifice of the Lord Jesus Christ and his true apostles who sacrificed their lives to make the world better and to advance the principle that the Golden Rule is eternally sacrosanct plus necessary to advance in our lives.
By Timothy
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