The Christian church has its roots in Judaism. For centuries the Jews hoped for the coming of their promised messiah. By the time of Jesus, conditions for the Jewish nation of Israel, had gone from bad to worse. Their tiny kingdom was under the thumb of the pagan Roman Empire which had appointed a foreigner as their king. They despised Herod the Great, King of the Jews. He was also referred to as "the king of a nation that hated him."

The Jews longed for their promised deliverer. They were looking for a great military leader to free them from Rome's hated rule. Instead, the Bible says their plans were not God's plans, as the Apostle Paul says, "But when the right time finally came, God sent His own Son. He came as the son of a human mother and lived under the Jewish Law, to redeem those who were under the Law, so that we might become God's sons." (Galatians 4:4,5 TEV)

When Jesus, God in the flesh, walked among the Jews and taught them of a heavenly kingdom to come, they rejected Him. He did not satisfy their expectations. Jesus emphasized that in order to be citizens of the kingdom of God, they needed to change from the inside out. In part, His point was, that merely changing their living circumstances on earth was not a permanent solution. Jesus taught that a man is born a sinner and needs a hand-up, a Divine rescue in order to be saved. But the Jews wanted a powerful, righteous ruling, warrior king. When Pilate, the Roman governor, asked, "Shall I crucify your King?" the people replied, "We have no king but Caesar." (John 19:15). The Jews, by their words, were shown to be in violent opposition to the teachings and claims of Jesus.

With a brief public ministry lasting approximately three years, Jesus put in place a work that would turn the world upside down. So revolutionary would be His impact upon mankind that time would come to be measured by much of the world as B.C.(before Christ) and A.D.(after Christ). Even the Jews, rejecting the A.D, B.C. notations, have had to acknowledge Christ's lasting influence by inventing B.C.E. (Before the Common Era) and C.E. (the Common Era) as a substitute way to label time.

After Christ's crucifixion, the followers of Jesus would come to be known as disciples, brethren, saints and apostles. They would carry forward His message following His marching orders: "Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world." (Matthew 28:19,20).

Championing the cause of Christ, His followers began their work in what is now called the Apostolic Age (about 33 A.D to 100 A.D.). This age, spanning the lives of the apostles, extends from the time of Christ until the end of the first century. It was an age of explosive growth built on the ideals of Christian love that Jesus planted thickly into the hearts of His followers. Such love was a new and radical belief that sprang up as seeds of truth for all men to gather. In this era, Peter, Paul and John grew to be His representative apostles. Jerusalem became the mother church for all Christianity.

Blessings in your study of God's Word!

Marvin Hunt

There is never a charge for my articles, and if you have a good reason, there is no limit to how many you may request. However, if you find them valuable you may want to order my latest book, History, Mystery and Facts About the Bible. Order at 1-800-845-7618 (ext. 301). You may also order from Amazon.com. Proceeds from the book go to support this ministry.

Blessings!
Marvin Hunt

Http://www.biblehistory.com

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