The Ancient World and Roman Occupation
It could be argued that Christ's death was the direct result of his outspoken campaign for social and moral reform within a very troubled region of the Roman Empire. One might also suggest a conspiracy amongst the Jewish Council of Sanhedrin elders to stop Christ, a practicing Jew, even a Rabbi [John 3:26, Matthew 23:7-8, Mark 10:5] from spreading what was then considered blasphemy under the Law of Moses. Yet, another argument could be that Christ and his teachings were encouraging a level of discontent amongst the lower classes that would eventually force an armed revolt.
Rome's resources and patience were strained throughout the region and no real monetary return on the conquered province had yet been realized. Moreover, there was overwhelming poverty and discontent in a land controlled by a fortunate wealthy few under the protection of the word's largest and most exploitive capitalist state, the Roman Empire.
Consequently, anyone voicing any opinion on social reform was bound to gather an attentive audience, constituting both potential followers and enemies.
Still, there was something special about Christ. He was an alarming intelligent and forward thinking individual. With a simple sermon, he was able to instill serious concepts of social reform into a large segment of the local population, the uneducated and illiterate. Christ had a brilliant and charismatic manner that instantly attracted followers. When he rode into Jerusalem that last week before Passover, his notoriety and beguiling attraction had grown to where he was greeted as a conquering hero by throngs of cheering Jewish citizens. Then and there, Christ could have easily launched an uprising. Instead, less than a week later, he would be crucified.
Was Jesus' mercurial fall from public favor and subsequent execution politically inspired? According to the scholar Josephus, who witnessed the sacking of Jerusalem, John the Baptist's arrest a few years earlier was due to Herod Antipas' personal fear that John's broad influence and popularity could eventually force a revolution. Therefore, with the memory of The Baptist’s death still fresh, it wasn't a stretch to image Christ placed in a similar position.
Ultimately, the responsibility for Christ's death falls at the feet of Ponticus Pilate. Moreover, Pilate had both professional and political motivation for appearing to extricate himself from Christ's execution. Jesus had an outspoken religious following, of which Pilate had to be aware. Moreover, Pilate had recently returned to Judea after being put on probation by Rome, where he had been sanctioned for religious insensibilities and the brutal suppression of a Samaritan uprising. Pilate's reinstatement was tenuous at best. He only managed to return as Prefect of Judea because Emperor Tiberius had died just before they could meet. His tenure would be terminated just a few years later by Emperor Caligula when Pilate would be sentenced to exile in Gaul.
It can be said that Christianity, with its troubled starts and early divisions, eventually pulled itself together, providing fresh seeds to Western Civilization after the fall of Rome. To some extent, Christianity would bring limited peace and prosperity to Europe during medieval times.
However, outside of the monasteries and convents that would share bread and labor, the utopian society, void of disparity and free of inequities, did not occur. After being crucified, it would be unfair to blame Christ for failure. He had fulfilled his role. However, with today's social injustices, prejudices and war, it would be difficult to argue that his message had not fallen upon deaf ears. After all, Christ toiled throughout his life to serve his fellow man, not establish a religious institution.
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Secular Troublemakers
The reality is that Christ and his apostles could have legitimately been sited for a number of secular crimes against Rome as well as sacred crimes by Judea's ruling theocracy. So too, could most dissonant citizens of Judea at that time. During Christ's lifetime and for some time following, Judea was Rome's most distressed province, and that regional pot was forever ready to boil over into what has been called the Great Revolt. In fact, shortly before Christ's arrest, neighboring Samaria had been brutally suppressed for its own uprising.Consequently, anyone voicing any opinion on social reform was bound to gather an attentive audience, constituting both potential followers and enemies.
Triumphal Entry
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| Christ Enters Jerusalem |
Concerns Leading To Christ's Arrest
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| Duccio's Arrest of Christ |
- Herod's Throne
- Christ's own popularity placed him in a precarious position. In those days of upheaval Herod Antipas, who wore the title of Tetrarch of Judea, was concerned about his own position over the province. Also, history would seem to indicate Herod was having his own thoughts about leading a revolt. He would eventually be exiled to Gaul by Emperor Caligula for having a concealed cache of weapons sufficient to arm a good size army. In any event, the popularity of Christ would prove troublesome.
- Utopian Socialism
- Anti-Capitalistic Remarks and Activities:
- Romans were proud of their Mercantilism whose model stands today as the first as well as one of the most successful capitalistic societies in all of Western Civilization. In those times, it was a popular belief, amongst both Roman and Judean upper class, that people were poor because they were wicked. Stories about Christ praising the poor and damning the rich were likely making waves in upper class society. An example would be this New Testament extract from the gospel of Matthew (19:16-30):
- "The rich young man asks Jesus what he must do to discover eternal life. Jesus advises the man to obey the commandments. When the man responds that he already observes them, and asks what else he can do, Jesus adds "...If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me. On hearing this the young man became very sad, because he had great wealth. Jesus looked at him and said, "How hard it is for the rich to enter the Kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God."
- Yet, another example would be Christ's Cleansing of the Temple, where he openly accuses the money-changers of turning the Temple into a den of thieves through their commercial activities.
- Romans were proud of their Mercantilism whose model stands today as the first as well as one of the most successful capitalistic societies in all of Western Civilization. In those times, it was a popular belief, amongst both Roman and Judean upper class, that people were poor because they were wicked. Stories about Christ praising the poor and damning the rich were likely making waves in upper class society. An example would be this New Testament extract from the gospel of Matthew (19:16-30):
- Anti-Capitalistic Remarks and Activities:
- Insurgency and Roman Contempt
- Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5, 6 & 7):
Christ makes a passionate appeal to the gathered crowd to open their hearts to "the poor", "the meek", "those that thirst for righteousness", "the peacemakers" and "those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake". In short, Christ could be seen to be making a case for almost anyone but the upper social classes or occupying Roman authorities. - Christ's remark and subsequent inference, "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar and to God the things that are God" would have created additional waves.
- Heard by today's ears, this sounds both logical and fair. However, heard by Roman ears, Christ words could have been construed as inflammatory, even seditious.
- It placed a monotheistic God on the same level with Rome and her own gods.
- It discredited Caesar's position, who held the sacred post of Pontifex Maximus, or the gods equal on earth, by separating divinity from Caesar and thereby asserting Caesar to be less than godlike.
- It assumed Roman Society to be less godly than Christ's own social utopia.
- It proposed a passive partnership with Rome instead of obedient supplication.
- Remarks like this were seen to do little to bring the two communities closer together.
- Heard by today's ears, this sounds both logical and fair. However, heard by Roman ears, Christ words could have been construed as inflammatory, even seditious.
- Sermon on the Mount (Matthew chapters 5, 6 & 7):
Christ's Execution
There existed a considerable number of insurgents, along with an assortment of individuals passing themselves off as Messiahs, in Judea at that time. However, Christ had become a known leader to authorities, an orator with a distinct following. It could be argued that Christ's arrest and execution was the direct result of his outspoken campaign for social reform within the Roman Empire. It was, after all, Romans executing Roman law who arrested and crucified Christ. Jewish Pharisees oversaw Christ's scourging but did not execute him under Judaic law. Christ's punishment was handled by Rome and therefore secular.
The New Testament describes how Pontius Pilate could not agree on the guilt of Jesus and even appealed to the "mob". However, Pilate did nothing to spare Christ either. Subsequently, Christ was executed by crucifixion, a punishment reserved under Roman law for sedition. Judaic law capital punishment was limited to stoning and hangings. Execution was carried out by Roman Legionnaires along with additional torture, regardless of audience, again administered by Romans.
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| Antonio Ciseri's "Ecco Homo" (detail) |
Christ's Legacy
However, outside of the monasteries and convents that would share bread and labor, the utopian society, void of disparity and free of inequities, did not occur. After being crucified, it would be unfair to blame Christ for failure. He had fulfilled his role. However, with today's social injustices, prejudices and war, it would be difficult to argue that his message had not fallen upon deaf ears. After all, Christ toiled throughout his life to serve his fellow man, not establish a religious institution.
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Got Feedback?
Comments? Questions? Corrections? Any feedback at all? Just click on the comments box at the bottom of this page and enter your thoughts. All comments are welcome.
Santuario de Guadalupe, the oil painting by Tom Mallon. This 42" x 22" canvas is the latest addition to the Santa Fe Portrait Series. The Santuario is the oldest shrine to Our Lady of Guadalupe in the US.
Visit this later update by CLICKING HERE
Shostakovich and Cultural Snobbery, Could anyone survive Stalin's Purges, compose a large body, write for himself and the masses while producing constantly great work?
Visit this later update by CLICKING HERE
Tom Mallon's website "MallonArt". This website will provide you with links to all his paintings, drawings and other artwork portfolios, including the ongoing series entitled the Santa Fe Portrait.
Visit this later update by CLICKING HERE
