Week 17: April 24

"Killing Jesus" by Bill O'Reilly and Martin Dugard

I didn't know what to expect when I began this book. I know that Bill O'Reilly is an active Catholic so I figured it would be a positive view of Jesus Christ's life. There were a few things he mentioned that had me raising an eyebrow but for the most part, I enjoyed his history based account of our Savior.

I've always had a hard time figuring out where Jesus fell in history. In school we would learn of the Romans and their rule but I never did put two and two together. In a way, I feel cheated from my history classes. If we were allowed to learn about the Romans and other civilizations, not only in history class but in english class as well, how were we not allowed to learn of Jesus? He was the most influential historical figure and yet, he was never brought up in history class. As Mr. O'Reilly and Mr. Dugard have proven, you don't need to talk about Jesus in the Biblical/spiritual sense. You can talk about him in the historical sense. And why not? I think we should all have the oppurtunity to learn where all religions got their start. It's a vital part of our history as humans I feel. Let's embrace it instead of running from it or trying to hide it.

I went on a rant....I apologize!

When I read the Bible, it can be hard for me to bring things together and to really understand what was happening at the time that Jesus lived. What this book does is bring in the history surrounding Christ's death to life. What was the significance of crucifixion at that time? What were the politics going on? It really brings a new light to what Jesus went through and the hoops the Jewish high priests were jumping through, trying to have Jesus convicted with no true crime committed.

The life of Romans in this age remind me a lot of what is going on today. This explains why I can see so much being taught in the Bible relates to our society as it is now. It doesn't matter if it was 2,000 years ago, the same crap is still going on. It really is annoying that we have learned so little. One part that stuck out to me was the description of how Roman rulers would distract their people with pop culture such as plays or fights to the death in the arena, to avoid uprisings towards the government and how they rule. Sounds a bit too famiiar to me.

I enjoyed how Mr. O'Reilly and Mr. Dugard gave the background on other key prophets of that time such as John the Baptist and Judas of Gamala. I know John the Baptist from the Bible but didn't know about Judas of Gamala.

The main focus, obviously, is Jesus. Everytime I read what he went through, I become so emotional. Hearing of the last week of his life and how much agony he was feeling, asking God to spare his life, yet making sure it was by God's will and not his own. Jesus shows us true obedience to the Lord and knowing what he went through as someone without sin so that we, who have sinned countless times, may be saved. One part that made me realize the humily and obediance of Christ was when he sent two of his disciples to find a donkey. By Jesus riding a donkey into Jerusalen, not just walking in, fullfills the prophecy of him being the true Christ. The mindset that Jesus had to have at that time, to tell himself, "this is surely my death sentence", I had to put the book down. Hearing of the "death squad" and their forms of torture brought upon by criminals prior to being executed made it even more heart-breaking to know what Jesus did for us.

Yes, I know this all can be found in the Bible. And yes, I have read through this part of the Bible many times but I think it's easy to get distracted and not realize the true meaning of what is happening until someone explains it to you. As a human being, I want to focus on the good that comes out of Jesus's life and not reflect too much on the pain he suffered. Which is ridiculous because suffering is a part of life and to know his suffering creates more yearning from myself to follow him.

This book is yet another awakening of the sacrifice God made for us. Another reminder of how far I personnally have to go to live my Christian life the way He intended.