¶ … Jesus
Although many modern Christians do not realize it, an understanding of Jesus' historical context is extremely helpful, perhaps even essential to true understanding of Christianity. After all, it is only once one understands the geographical, political, religious, and social environment of Jesus' time period that one can truly understand the impact of Jesus Christ. One of the reasons that a historical perspective is important is because many modern-day Christians are separated from their Jewish roots. However, one must always bear in mind that Jesus was not a Christian; Jesus was a Jew and his life and death had been foretold in Jewish prophecies for hundreds of years. In addition:
Jesus addressed his gospel- his message of God's imminent kingdom and of judgment, of God's fatherly providence, of repentance, holiness, and love- to his fellow countrymen. He preached only to Jews. Not a syllable shows that he detached this message from its national soil, or set aside the traditional religion as of no value. Upon the contrary, his preaching could be taken as the most powerful corroboration of that religion. (Harnack, 31).
Therefore, in order to understand how Jesus impacted the Jews of his time and how his life and death required the creation of a new church, one must understand what it meant to be a Jew in the time of Jesus. Furthermore, in order to understand how Judaism transformed into early Christianity, it is essential to understand the central role of forgiveness in Christianity.
One of the most significant things about Jews during the time of Jesus and, in fact, throughout the Old Testament, is that Jews had a tremendous attachment to the physical land of Palestine. In fact, "among the outward means by which the religion of Israel was preserved, one of the most important was the centralization and localisation of its worship in Jerusalem." (Edersheim, Life and Times, i.3). Unlike other religions of that time, which were not tied to a certain location, Jews were inextricably linked to Palestine:
He had only one Temple, that in Jerusalem; only one God, Him Who had once throned there between the Cherubim, and Who was still King over Zion. That Temple was the only place where a God-appointed, purse priesthood could offer acceptable sacrifices, whether for forgiveness...
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Jesus and Mohammed -- Their Lives & Legacies Jesus Christ and Mohammed are thought of historically -- and today as well -- as the two individuals that have probably had the greatest impact on the world in a spiritual and religious context. While other iconic spiritual and religious leaders have made their mark on history and society, Jesus (who founded Christianity; today there are an estimated 2.8 billion followers) and Mohammed
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Furthermore it is with Isaiah that one first becomes acquainted with the idea that the Messiah would die. "And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth." The passage clearly predicts a Messianic figure who dies, in order to bring peace to the multitudes. "Out of the anguish of his
Jesus & Muhammad Jesus and Muhammad: Similarities and Differences in the Lives of Two of History's Most Extraordinary Men The power of religion is unmatched by any other philosophy. Religion has been utilized throughout history to unite or divide entire populations, to attain political prestige or financial power, and to subjugate society by often thwarting scientific reasoning. Yet, for many, religion has also provided guidance in times of turmoil and a sense of
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