Love Jesus 13

Written by Adolfo TM
Audio Transcript of this Post:

Jesus made many enemies in His day and was ultimately killed for it.

Then his disciples arrive on the scene to tell everyone what they should think of that life and death — and resurrection — of Jesus.

Many denied he rose from the dead just as some today deny he even existed.

Jesus’ story is one we all know and take for granted; however, when it is first presented, it offers the world a linear view of human history — a Christian way of thinking that is VERY different from the Greek and Roman views of history. 

(The Greeks were influenced by Plato and Aristotle. Rome was obsessed by its own grand accomplishments and a focus on “glory” to the State).

“The pagan and Christian inhabitants of the Roman Empire lived in two radically different mental worlds,” notes Ernst Breisach, in his seminal work, Historiography. 

Historian Paul Johnson (A History of Christianity), does not doubt that there was in fact a historical person named Jesus. And he does not doubt that this same Jesus was, in fact, crucified.

But what does that fact mean? The very question implies his death had meaning.

This way of looking at Jesus explains, in part, why Christians became persecuted in Rome — at least initially. To the Christians in Rome, history has meaning. History has purpose. And history has a goal.

When the apostle Paul comes along, he begins to expound on the meaning of that event. And the crucifixion of Jesus literally changes history–or, rather, the understanding of history.

Paul and all the writers of the New Testament interpret the historical fact of Jesus’ life, ministry and death in such a way as to, in reality, offer the world a unique view of history — a Christian point of view. And that viewpoint is staggering, given the claims!

Paul spends his life traveling the known world to explain to his people that the focal point of Scripture was to describe the death, resurrection and ascension of Christ (that is, Christ ascension into heaven). This, according to Paul, is the climax of God’s saving activity.

Linear history, then, refers to a beginning, a climax (in Christ), and an end. This is true history.

Let’s examine the ramifications of this “dangerous” idea from this “new sect,” as Christianity was referred to initially.

1. If Paul’s claims are true, then God has acted in human history and continues to do so.

2. If God has acted in human history, then history has meaning! History is not meaningless. History has a purpose and a goal. That purpose has been given to it by God.

3. If history has meaning, then life has meaning. Which means your life has meaning, my life has meaning, and we have a purpose. Life has a goal.

Christ is superior to Aristotle, Plato and the glory of Rome … and all other creatures.

 “Like Christian faith itself, Christian interpretations of history have centered on the Bible with its two cannons–the Old Testament and the New Testament — as the most essential historical record,” (Breisach, Historiography). 

Note that the Bible is not the only historical record — but the most ESSENTIAL record for understanding God and the understanding that God has acted in human history in the past, is currently active in human history, and will be active in the future, i.e., linear history.

As God says in Isaiah 46:9–10, “Remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, ‘My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose.’”

We may not accomplish all our purposes and desires, but God says He will accomplish everything He has set his mind and heart to do. And that includes solving the problem of evil and redeeming a lost humanity.