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What did you learn about Jesus` background that stands out or surprises you?

I learned that even though Jesus is king of all kings, he decided to come to us in the lowest of lowest ways. Also, I didn't know that Jesus spoke Aramic...

By: Aaron Wen
Category: First Century Context and History

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What did you learn about Jesus` background that stands out or surprises you?

Syncretism
The first interesting thing to note is that the Roman government adopted the policy of syncretism, that is, to allow different beliefs, religions and traditions to coexist. So Jesus was crucified primarily because the Jewish leaders insisted on his death, not because he had broken some Roman law. It is the Jewish leaders who wanted Jesus to die, not the Roman governors, who "couldn't find anything wrong with this man." Although the "official" reason to crucify Jesus was that he claimed to be God, but I guess the Jewish leaders were afraid that Jesus would gather with him a lot of followers and thus threaten the traditions they were so eager to preserve, and the authority of themselves. This is another point which can illustrate that Jesus had an influence among the people that even the Jewish leaders couldn't overlook him.

The Massacre
"At the time of Jesus’ birth, the local Roman ruler, King Herod had initiated a massacre of all Jewish baby boys born at the time."
This policy is shocking. One would ask, under what circumstances and on what basis would Herod launch such a massacre?

The Role of Women
"In first century Israel, women were considered second-class citizens, akin to slaves. The fact that they are mentioned as avid followers of Jesus is unusual – both that they would be allowed to follow him with his disciples, and unusual that the authors of Jesus’ biographies would mention their presence at all."
Another interesting account. I would want to know more about the status of women in first century Israel, to as to gain a better understanding and insight into this issue. It is hard to see this point without knowing the corresponding background, and one might miss important clues because of this.

Monotheism vs polytheism
"The Jewish people believed in one God (monotheism) who was invisible and could not be portrayed. In contrast, the surrounding cultures believed in many gods (polytheism) who could be represented by images or idols."
Jew's belief was quite unique at that time and in that kind of environment.

The Passover
"The major religious holiday during the Jewish year was the Passover feast celebrating the deliverance of the Jewish people from their slavery in Egypt. During the Passover, many Jews would travel to Jerusalem in order to celebrate in the holy city. This is why Jesus and his disciples traveled to Jerusalem for their last supper together – they were celebrating the Passover. This is also the tradition that caused so many Jews to be present in Jerusalem at the time of Jesus’ arrest, trial, and crucifixion."
Jesus's crucification happened in a setting of many eye witnesses, before Jews and non-Jews.

By: Xin Liu
Category: First Century Context and History

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Ways to understand Gods will

I guess the most fundmental way to understand God's will is through the knowledge of Jesus, about who he is, what he has said, and what he has done. Our knowledge comes from the Bible, the four gospels primarily. There are other books discussing evidences supporting these accounts of Jesus, and they should be considered good sources too.

The most inspiring thing I have learned from this lesson is the immense value of everyone of us.

"If any man has a hundred sheep, and one of them has gone astray, does he not leave the ninety-nine on the mountains and go and search for the one that is straying? And if it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. Thus it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish."(Matthew 18:12)

"In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." (Luke 15:8-10)

Christianity is not just confined with saving ourselves, it is about humanity, the redemption and salvation of the whole world. Because it is not God's will to let any one to fall into the gulf of darkness and be punished by eternal fire.

By: Xin Liu
Category: Brief Life Summaries

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