JESUS AND CAESAR
In the first century, the Roman Emperor Caesar was worshipped by many as a “god.” In fact, one of the common complaints against Christians among the Romans was their refusal to take part in emperor worship. During that time there was another man who also claimed to be divine, Jesus. In illustrating the vast differences between these two, author Wilbur Smith wrote, “Caesar was the ruler of the Roman Empire, one of the greatest rulers the earth has ever known; Jesus was a humble carpenter in the obscure little Nazareth. Caesar had proved himself one of the supreme military geniuses of all time; Jesus walked only the roads of Palestine and conquered only individuals. To follow Caesar meant glory, rich spoil, and political office. To follow Jesus meant to be ostracized from the ecclesiastical circles of Palestine; it meant persecution and …show more content…
The tomb where Jesus’ body was laid is empty. On the night that Jesus was arrested, 11 cowardly men fled for their lives. Approximately 50 days later they stood up and preached a risen Savior (Acts 2:5-47). What changed them? The desire for money, fame or pleasure? When one is a fraud his reward is in this life. His end goal for preaching a false message is to get rich, be powerful or pursue pleasure. But with the apostles we don’t see this at all. These men devoted the rest of their lives often in poverty, shame, ridicule, imprisonment, persecution and eventually gave their lives for something they fabricated? The most reasonable explanation in harmony with His fulfillment of over 300 prophecies, a sinless life, combined with His remarkable teachings is that Jesus was more than just a man. Paul wrote that Jesus was “declared to be the Son of God in the power according to the Spirit of holiness by His resurrection from the dead” (Romans
In the first century, the Roman Emperor Caesar was worshipped by many as a “god.” In fact, one of the common complaints against Christians among the Romans was their refusal to take part in emperor worship. During that time there was another man who also claimed to be divine, Jesus. In illustrating the vast differences between these two, author Wilbur Smith wrote, “Caesar was the ruler of the Roman Empire, one of the greatest rulers the earth has ever known; Jesus was a humble carpenter in the obscure little Nazareth. Caesar had proved himself one of the supreme military geniuses of all time; Jesus walked only the roads of Palestine and conquered only individuals. To follow Caesar meant glory, rich spoil, and political office. To follow Jesus meant to be ostracized from the ecclesiastical circles of Palestine; it meant persecution and …show more content…
The tomb where Jesus’ body was laid is empty. On the night that Jesus was arrested, 11 cowardly men fled for their lives. Approximately 50 days later they stood up and preached a risen Savior (Acts 2:5-47). What changed them? The desire for money, fame or pleasure? When one is a fraud his reward is in this life. His end goal for preaching a false message is to get rich, be powerful or pursue pleasure. But with the apostles we don’t see this at all. These men devoted the rest of their lives often in poverty, shame, ridicule, imprisonment, persecution and eventually gave their lives for something they fabricated? The most reasonable explanation in harmony with His fulfillment of over 300 prophecies, a sinless life, combined with His remarkable teachings is that Jesus was more than just a man. Paul wrote that Jesus was “declared to be the Son of God in the power according to the Spirit of holiness by His resurrection from the dead” (Romans