October 17

Historical Interlude - Influences on a Dispersed People, Hellenism and the Jews, Judaism Under Roman Rule

Not everyone is influenced by their culture....

I don't know if it's because we're reading the Bible chronologically and I have a greater sense of the history. Or I'm just concentrating more. Or I'm just older and I have a deeper more global perspective. Or it's the Holy Spirit working. Or something of all of the above. But the influence of other cultures throughout the Bible has been more evident to me. Israel wasn't just a slave to the Egyptians. They were touched and touched by that culture. Separate but a part. Joseph was a prince of Egypt and married an Egyptian. Moses grew up in the house of the Pharaoh. And as, I remember Egyptians were allowed to be a part of their worship. Daniel advises through the interpretation of dreams, like Joseph did, and becomes respected by the King of Babylonia. Esther marries the King and Nehemiah and Ezra also play important roles in the culture. They were part of the cultures yet separate. As we are in our modern world. A part of it and yet apart from it.

Here we read how the Jews become more mystic in their interpretation of God's word, influenced by the cultures they've been apart of. The rabbinical movement is on the rise, replacing or taking some of the authority of the priests. Synagogues arise and steal some of the luster of Temple worship. So Jesus walks into a Jewish culture far different than the one God instituted. But he doesn't spend His time condemning their tweaks and interpretations of God's instituted religion. Except in manners that related to how they dealt and treated others and in manners of their heart. He could have come as a reformer of the organization of the Jewish. Preached against the perversions to their method and mode of worship. Instead, he comes to free them and place importance on the heart of man.

The Roman rule at Jesus time is important. It becomes a conduit for the spread of the faith as does the Greek translation of the people. I've always pondered why Christ picked this time in history to arise. Why not now when transportation and communication are far easier. But maybe walking and really coming into contact with people was important to who He was and what He did. A broadcast wouldn't have done Jesus justice. His performance was best viewed live. And His teaching came so many times on the way, in the midst of a journey. Would He had as much time to teach in car? Could He have touched the people encapsulated and separated from the lands and people He passed by in a car or above it all in a plane.

I wonder if He would have been lost and we would have been lost had he waited until now.

Lord knows.