Skip to main content

Waiting for the Messiah... the Zealots


While the Pharisees and Sadducees were generally limited to the religious class, there was another significant group within first century Judaism that wasn’t primarily theological; the Zealots. While the term “zealot” can technically be applied to anyone who is an extremist of their group, here it refers to something specific. The Zealots were the rebels of their day.
            
For the Zealots, the greatest enemy on the planet was the Roman Empire. Their entire life was devoted to the overthrow Roman rule and the independence of Israel, usually by any means necessary. This meant kidnappings, uprisings, murder, and more. Zealots hunted down Roman officers, politicians, and soldiers. They considered anyone who collaborated with the Romans an enemy (tax collectors, for example) and therefore fair game. In modern terms we would call them terrorists.
            
When we think of what first century Jews were looking for in the Messiah, it is usually the Zealots’ picture that comes to mind. They sought a military leader who would lead a bloody war against the Roman Empire and establish Israel as a global superpower. Their grand vision was the Messiah, sword in hand, standing over the groveling Caesar of Rome. While most of the Jews in Judea weren’t Zealots, most did support this view. When the Sadducees and Pharisees bring Jesus before Pilate they accuse him of being a Zealot (aka attempting to overthrow Rome). Barabbas, who is released instead of Jesus, was a Zealot charged with attempting an uprising.
            
What the Zealots got right about the Messiah is that he would come and defeat their greatest enemy. What they got wrong was the enemy. Jesus did indeed come to wage a war, and to win it. But as Paul tells us in Ephesians 6, this war isn’t against flesh and blood. It’s a spiritual war. Jesus did defeat our enemies, but it wasn’t the Romans. Jesus defeated sin and death.
            
Today it may seem that there are no Zealots in our midst. After all, few Christians are calling for the overthrow of the government and the establishment of a new superpower. However, the impulse of the Zealot is alive and well. How many Christians view some other group of people (be it Democrats, Republicans, Muslims, etc.,) as the enemy that needs to be overcome? More than we’d like to admit. Jesus did not come to destroy people, but to save them. Did he come to wage a war? Oh yes, but against he dark spiritual powers and against sin and death itself.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Augustine of Hippo: Historical Friday

We pause our overview of the history of Christianity to talk about an extremely influential figure, whether we realize it or not. Augustine of Hippo, so called because he lived in the town of Hippo Regius, has had a tremendous amount of influence on Christianity in the western world. Many of the theological conversations we have in our churches today have been directly shaped by this man. Many of the terms and ideas we throw around originated with Augustine.  Today we are going to look at SOME of the ideas that Augustine has shaped. In reality this man has touched in some way or another every aspect of Christian thought. If I had to choose the most influential people on Christianity outside of Jesus and the Apostles, Augustine might very well be number one alongside Martin Luther. Before we get into the theological ideas, a brief biography is in order. Brief Biography Augustine's story is actually very interesting, one I cannot hope to do justice here. If you are intereste...
Post a Comment
Read more

Christ is Risen

This is the manuscript of a sermon I preached on Easter Sunday, 2021. All around the world people of every tribe, nation, and tongue gather to celebrate the pinnacle of history. Almost two thousand years ago to the day everything changed for the human race and indeed the cosmos. The word went out that death had been broken because Christ is Risen. Blessed by Providence we gather here today to celebrate the triumph of life over the powers of death and darkness. We gather to participate in the Resurrection Body of our Lord. We gather to behold the beauty of God displayed in the trampling of death by death on the cross, a victory of which we can be assured because Christ is Risen. Glory to the Father, glory to the Son, and glory to the Holy Spirit. May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts overflow with adoration and praise for our Almighty God. We can rest assured in the comfort of his grace because Christ is Risen. Dear brothers and sisters if Easter Sunday is about ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Justice

Our view of justice is narrow and limited. Typically when we, as Christians, talk about justice we are really only referring to punishing wrongdoers for their crimes. While that is certainly a part of justice that isn't the only thing. In the Bible justice consists of much more. Consider the book of Amos, one of the minor prophets and therefore a book that most Christians barely touch. Amos is announcing judgment against the nation of Israel for their infidelity to their covenant with God. What do you think is the most repeated indictment against Israel? Interestingly it's not idolatry, sexual immorality, or war although these things are mentioned. The primary sin of in Amos is Israel's neglect of the poor and their oppression of the needy. Over and over again Amos declares that judgment is coming to Israel because of their treatment of those less fortunate. The poor are trampled and the needy are crushed. There is no justice in the land. Biblical justice includes both crim...
Post a Comment
Read more