Ben Wilson

And you can use my AI voice if you would like to listen to whatever you want, including the New Testament in my voice. With that said, let's get into it. This is the life of Jesus. Okay, so let's talk about the context a little bit. At this time, and we're talking about the turn of the millennium, so, you know, about 0 AD, of course, the Jews were waiting for a messiah.

And you can use my AI voice if you would like to listen to whatever you want, including the New Testament in my voice. With that said, let's get into it. This is the life of Jesus. Okay, so let's talk about the context a little bit. At this time, and we're talking about the turn of the millennium, so, you know, about 0 AD, of course, the Jews were waiting for a messiah.

Why are they waiting for Messiah at this particular time? Essentially because of the Roman conquest. Under the great King David, Israel was established as an independent kingdom and a regional power. David's son Solomon had built a beautiful temple that becomes the center, the beating heart of Jewish worship.

Why are they waiting for Messiah at this particular time? Essentially because of the Roman conquest. Under the great King David, Israel was established as an independent kingdom and a regional power. David's son Solomon had built a beautiful temple that becomes the center, the beating heart of Jewish worship.

but then they are conquered by the Babylonians who destroy their temple and take the people into captivity. The Babylonians are overthrown by the Persians who allow them to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple. So the temple is rebuilt, but then the Jews get new rulers when the Persians are overthrown by Alexander the Great.

but then they are conquered by the Babylonians who destroy their temple and take the people into captivity. The Babylonians are overthrown by the Persians who allow them to return to Jerusalem and rebuild their temple. So the temple is rebuilt, but then the Jews get new rulers when the Persians are overthrown by Alexander the Great.

Efforts are made by some of Alexander's successors to Hellenize the Jews, kind of adopt them into Greek culture. And so the temple is taken and rededicated to Zeus, and pigs are sacrificed to Zeus in the temple, which was a normal sacrifice by Greek standards, but pigs were unclean to Jews, and this was highly offensive.

Efforts are made by some of Alexander's successors to Hellenize the Jews, kind of adopt them into Greek culture. And so the temple is taken and rededicated to Zeus, and pigs are sacrificed to Zeus in the temple, which was a normal sacrifice by Greek standards, but pigs were unclean to Jews, and this was highly offensive.

Eventually, the Jews revolt under the leadership of Mattathias Maccabee and his five sons, and they win independence from this Greek kingdom. but it's not very long-lasting independence because they are soon once again conquered, this time by the Romans. The Romans are not as repressive as the Babylonians, but neither are they hands-off as the Persians.

Eventually, the Jews revolt under the leadership of Mattathias Maccabee and his five sons, and they win independence from this Greek kingdom. but it's not very long-lasting independence because they are soon once again conquered, this time by the Romans. The Romans are not as repressive as the Babylonians, but neither are they hands-off as the Persians.

Most offensively, the person who did this conquest was Pompey the Great. So he came to the eastern Mediterranean, he cleared out all the pirates, and he was a contemporary of Julius Caesar's. And when he conquers Judea and Jerusalem, he goes into the temple. He goes into the Holy of Holies, which was kind of the very back, the very middle.

Most offensively, the person who did this conquest was Pompey the Great. So he came to the eastern Mediterranean, he cleared out all the pirates, and he was a contemporary of Julius Caesar's. And when he conquers Judea and Jerusalem, he goes into the temple. He goes into the Holy of Holies, which was kind of the very back, the very middle.

It's the most sacred part of the temple, the most sacred place in the world, according to Jewish worship. He leaves the temple intact, but entering the Holy of Holies was an act of defilement, according to the Jews. And so the temple is kind of no longer holy and whole. Now, the Romans often like to rule places via client kings.

It's the most sacred part of the temple, the most sacred place in the world, according to Jewish worship. He leaves the temple intact, but entering the Holy of Holies was an act of defilement, according to the Jews. And so the temple is kind of no longer holy and whole. Now, the Romans often like to rule places via client kings.

So in other words, you guys can keep your king, we don't want to deal with your little squabbles, but that king reports to us. So they had a client king named Herod, who came to be known as Herod the Great. And he had a good relationship with the Romans. Culturally, he was pretty well Hellenized.

So in other words, you guys can keep your king, we don't want to deal with your little squabbles, but that king reports to us. So they had a client king named Herod, who came to be known as Herod the Great. And he had a good relationship with the Romans. Culturally, he was pretty well Hellenized.

I don't think you would call him a sincere Jewish believer by any stretch of the imagination, but he had a lot of Jewish support because he renovated the second temple and greatly expanded it. So the Jews have their temple. They are allowed to worship in it, but they still resent Roman dominance over them. They want their independence.

I don't think you would call him a sincere Jewish believer by any stretch of the imagination, but he had a lot of Jewish support because he renovated the second temple and greatly expanded it. So the Jews have their temple. They are allowed to worship in it, but they still resent Roman dominance over them. They want their independence.

There were a thousand little ways in which Roman rule bothered them. Some were big things. For example, a Roman eagle stood at the entrance to the temple, letting the Jews know who was really in charge here. And some in small ways. N.T. Wright in the New Testament and its world highlights a story that I find hilarious about one religious riot in Jerusalem shortly after the life of Jesus.

There were a thousand little ways in which Roman rule bothered them. Some were big things. For example, a Roman eagle stood at the entrance to the temple, letting the Jews know who was really in charge here. And some in small ways. N.T. Wright in the New Testament and its world highlights a story that I find hilarious about one religious riot in Jerusalem shortly after the life of Jesus.