wkmac
Well-Known Member
For two of the most popular and/or exposed religions in the United States, this weekend celebrates the cornerstones of their very orthodoxy of their respective faiths. Christians observe the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth typically referred to as Easter, whereas Jews observe Pesach, or Passover, the celebration of God freeing the Jewish people, through the prophet Moses, from Egyptian slavery (this year is the extra special, Birkat Hachamah). Whether they believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God/Messiah/Risen Lord or that the Messiah is yet to come, Jews and Christians alike should both understand the role that governments played in shaping their religions.
Christians must remember that despite an oft repeated, under-your-breath, anti-Semitic statement, it was the Roman government that killed Jesus Christ. Pontius Pilate, even with his own reservations for crucifying a man he found guilty of nothing (as did Herod), offers the mob of mostly Roman citizen a chance to free Jesus with Barabbas. The mob instead chooses to free Barabbas and kill Jesus, which some scholars argue was an attempt to shift responsibility of the murder the Jews rather than the Romans (as if it was soldiers from Jewish legion that drove the stakes!) . But with his unwavering allegiance to the State, Pilate cannot find the moral fortitude to listen to his conscious and thus orders the execution of Jesus by Roman soldiers. Matthew records in his gospel that the Jews in the crowd lamented, “His blood be upon us and our children.” (Chapter 27, verse 25). Were it not for the murderous soldiers of the Roman Empire and bootlickers like Pontius Pilate, would Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin have anyone else to turn to for prosecution and execution? This weekend, Christians should remember what government henchmen did to their Savior.
Like the Romans and their Caesar, the Egyptians had their Pharaoh; though the Egyptians also had a subjugated slave population under their control, know as the Hebrews. As if suffering routine beatings, forced labor, rape and similar atrocities slaves endure by their masters weren’t enough, the Egyptian government, orders the execution of all new born, male Hebrews. Thankfully, one Hebrew baby by the name of Moses is sparred. Moses grows up to the lead the people out of slavery and into freedom. Though Pharaoh, like all despotic tyrants, would not let his slaves go on a simple request of Moses (and Aaron). It took ten plagues set upon Egypt by God, culminating in the Passover sacrifice of the Hebrews and the death of the Egyptian firstborn sons. The Hebrew’s were to mark their doorposts with the blood of a spring lamb, signifying to the spirit of the Lord to pass over and spare the lives of those in the homes of the Hebrews. This weekend, Jews should remember what government henchmen did to their people.
It would be one thing if the bedrock orthodoxy of these two religions was only rooted in the aforementioned acts of tyranny, but it is another thing completely that these religions are defined by their people’s oppression and genocide by the hands of government! How many Christians and Jews alike have suffered unspeakable torture and murder throughout recorded history by tyrants and despots?! From Nero’s persecution of the early Christians and King Nebuchadnezzar’s forced exile of Jews to Babylon, to the 20th century Nazi genocide of Jews and Soviet Genocide of Christians, millions and millions of followers have been executed through laws, decrees, codes, orders and outright bigotry at the behest of those institutions we entrust to protect and order society. Whether or not Jesus of Nazareth is the Paschal Lamb, Jews and Christians would be wise to agree that neither of their religions fare well when governments are enlisted to preserve their freedoms, their religions and their very lives.
May the Lord bless and keep you; may He make His face to shine on you and be gracious to you; may He lift up His Countenance on you and give you peace.
Yivarechicha Adonai V'yishmirecha;
Ya-Ayr Adonai panav Aylecha v'yichunecha;
Yee-saw Adonai panav Aylecha v'ya-saym l'cha shalom.
Aaron, Numbers, 6:22-27
Have Blessed Easter/Passover
source of above coments