Jesus Christ Influence

Jesus Christ is without a doubt one of the most polarizing figures in history. His life and work have changed the course of the world and the fate of millions. Within his own time, Jesus was a controversial figure in the viewpoint of the Jews and the Romans. To the Jews he was a blasphemous heretic, To the Romans, he was a dangerous inciter of Judaic nationalism and rebellion. In the modern era, Jesus is hailed as the leading figure in Christianity and the role it took in history. Many factors went determining the events of his life, but one of the most influential was the state of Judaism. First-century Judaism had a monumental impact on the life of Jesus and the face of Judea. Judaic temples, history, rituals, and religious groups all contributed to the historical setting of the New Testament. The Jerusalem Temple has long been a historic site of conflict and religious upheaval. According to Andre Parrot in his book The Temple of Jerusalem, this structure has seen numerous wars, its own reconstructions, and the rise and the fall of the Roman Empire’s control over Judea. Although the Temple has always been a site of great importance to Judaism, it has been destroyed and rebuilt several times. At the time of the …show more content…
All practicing Jews were united under the belief that there was only God. This one God chose the Jews to be His unique children and entered into a holy covenant with them. Herod’s Temple stood at the center of this conviction. However, other aspects of Judaism was not as cohesive. Many different sects and groups appeared, each one having their own beliefs on lifestyle, diet, rituals, and more. Still, one sect grew into the most dominate and widespread of Jesus’ time. The most famous group within is perhaps the Pharisees. Estimates place their numbers at around 6,000. However, their relatively small numbers did not to diminish their influence or political