Christ and the Roman Empire
- Author Mark Slaney
Rome was considered one of the largest empires of the ancient world, covering areas throughout the Mediterranean Sea, North Africa, and Asia Minor. Soon after the Punic Wars took place, Emperor Augustus expanded the empire across other regions such as Egypt, Spain, and certain parts of the Middle East, including the land of Judea. Once Judea had become part of the empire, it would lead to the coming of Christ to the beginning and spread of Christianity.
The reign of Augustus would eventually end with his death when Tiberius became the new Emperor of Rome. When he heard about him proclaiming to be the Messiah, the Emperor would respond with great discouragement and plot his arrest. After learning about his teachings, the Roman Empire and majority of its citizens refused to believe that he was the Messiah. Others who did oversaw and gave an account of his events; for example, his power to heal and to cast out demons, and the moments leading up to his crucifixion.
The twelve men who did follow Jesus were concerned that he would be taken captive by the Romans. They wanted to protect Jesus no matter where they were to follow him, but he was tempted by the devil at the Garden of Eden. His point was not to prove that he’s the Messiah on earth but to allow the world to believe that he is. He wasn’t going to save himself and restore an earthly empire but become a sacrifice to justify his people through his own blood.
Pontius Pilate
When Pilate questioned Jesus about being King of the Jews, he answered, “My servants would have fought if my kingdom were of this world,” but because it’s not of the world, he would not release himself, nor would Pilate except on his own terms. After they chose to free a robber named Barabbas instead, Pilate washed his hands clean to say he is innocent of him. Pilate did not sentence Jesus crucified by his own authority, in fact, he didn’t convict him of anything during the trial. By rendering Christ innocent, he claimed himself to be from what they were about to do to him under Roman law.
His position could not decide Jesus’ death by any means. Even if he were to say “live”, it would be in conjunction with Rome and denial that he’s God, who held his own power to lay down his life. Jesus put himself on trial under Roman law in order to fulfill the law of Moses. Since he did not break any law, Pilate had no say in what Jesus was to carry out. He did not understand the spiritual element of sin and what Christ had to do by giving into the demands of the world and the Roman system.
Although he may have tried to waiver off the accusations against Jesus, he didn’t know that his sin was still pushing the Lord, leaving the final verdict up to the crowd — a decision made by the Jews, one that doesn’t involve himself. Pilate’s motives not to crucify the Son of God were unjustified by an act of self-righteousness. You can only become righteous by what Christ had to do, so in effect, he acted upon the circumstance of his crucifixion, unaware that he was also a sinner.
The Romans who crucified Jesus wanted to prevent their emperor from falling inferior and the empire from being overruled. In fact, the Roman Empire still put forth its policies to stop Christianity after the death and resurrection of Christ. Anyone who would be found a Christian would be put to death or imprisoned. Almost all of the apostles were martyred for teaching God’s work of salvation and his power over all the earth.
I have written and published articles for numerous writing companies. I also write articles for my own website at biblicalperception.com.
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