Rome and Jesus

Part 1: The Foundation – Judaism Before Roman Rule

All things physical represent a spiritual truth. This is shown in many things but especially in significant historical events. The one I’ve been pondering lately is the growth of the Christian faith. A growth that was exponentially assisted by one of its most brutal enemies.

To understand the growth of Christianity, you have to look back on its origin. That origin is the Jewish traditions lived by Jesus Christ himself. Judaism was a vibrant complex culture that has lasted through, and continues to last through, multiple destructive occupations that should have ended them. It’s no wonder the Messiah would come from their people, because of their ability to survive under the worst of circumstances.

Judaism is unique in that at its earliest stage God, or Yahweh, was the only true God. In the cultures that surrounded them, gods were lifted in victory and cast down on defeat. This may have been the core substance in allowing Judaism to strive in defeat. Daniel, despite being taken captive in Babylon, still worshiped Yahweh and was preserved from the lions. Within their captivity they held to the truth that Yahweh was the only God and that he could bless them individually, despite the seemingly doomed reality of their people as a whole.

Their faith was not in vain. When Persia took control of Babylon, their more open mindedness allowed Judaism to thrive again. They returned home. They rebuilt the temple. They established what would likely become the major traditions at the time of Christ’s ministry among them. Exile did not break their spirit. In fact, it solidified their commitment to the Law.

This would be a type of what was to come. The newest challenge would be Greek influence. This perhaps was the greatest test of their traditions.

With the conquests of Alexander the Great, Greek philosophy slowly trickled into the wealthy jews of their day. Those that reformed their ideas found a place among the courts of the Greeks. The clash was not one of war but one of word and practice. Those that pushed for change in jewish tradition felt informed about the world. This led to the slow decline that allowed a Greek king to defile the temple.

This blog isn’t about their defeat, but about their perseverance. Traditional jews gathered together to fight against their oppressors. Through strength in arms they gained victory step by step. Many factors played into their return to the temple and eventual freedom from Greek oppression, but one in particular highlights a greater story. Almost poetically, Rome was an ally in the cause. The very nation that would come to oppress not only them, but the christianity that would come from their midst.