Biblical Shalom: Finding the Common Ground

As I have visited churches in different parts of the United States and in countries overseas, particularly in Europe, Eurasia and China, I am saddened by the lack of substantive teaching on Biblical shalom. In fact, many Christians I meet are unfamiliar with the word shalom and don’t know how to respond when I greet them with this Biblical word.

My study of shalom has convinced me that there is ample “common ground” for agreement among Christians on this topic and that a deepened understanding of shalom would greatly impact the ministry and influence of Christians if they knew more about Biblical teaching on this powerful, dynamic subject.

Jesus and Two Very Different Women (Part II)

"The Raising of Jairus' Daughter"
Edwin Long, 1889.

In my last post (May 13, 2013), we were following Jesus on his way to the home of Jairus, whose daughter was dying. Jairus, the leader of the Capernaum synagogue, had fallen at Jesus’ feet when he returned from his trip to “the other side” of the Sea of Galilee, and pleaded with him to heal his only child.

Jesus and Two Very Different Women (Part I)

Byzantine Mosaic,
Ravenna, Italy, 6th century

One of the most dramatic stories in the Gospels is Jesus’ encounter with two desperate people who are out to find him and two women, one young and one old, who have their lives changed by him. This story can be found in Luke 8:40-56 and Mark 5:21-43.

Foreign Occupation

Caesar Augustus

One of the most important realities that sets the context for Jesus’ life and ministry is the fact that Jews in Palestine in the first century were living under foreign military rule. Palestine was part of the Roman Empire. The powerful presence of military forces and political rules closely tied it to Rome. Rome’s constant demand for more taxation was a feature of Jewish life that Jesus knew very well.

Historical reminder: 150 years out of 2,000 years of Old Testament history, the Jews were a marginalized, powerless people, often caught between hostile and aggressive empires in Egypt, Persia and Greece. The last books in the Old Testament dealt with this region as part of the Persian Empire. The New Testament, which picks up the story of the Jews 400 years later, presupposes the dominating presence of the Romans.

Here are some examples that highlight this Roman dominance in Jesus’ life and New Testament times:

• Luke tells us that Jesus’ birth was connected with the decree by Emperor Augustus “that all the world should be enrolled.”

• Jesus grew up in a land where the propriety of paying taxes to Rome was a live and contentious political and theological issue.

• It was a Roman magistrate who sentenced Jesus to death.

• Jesus’ execution was carried out in a brutal Roman style normally reserved for rebels and political enemies of Rome.

• Paul, a Roman citizen by birth, was a carrier of the gospel throughout the Roman Empire, even to Rome itself, where he was executed.

• The early church faced terrible persecution from Rome, as the Apostle Paul warned would happen.

• Finally, Revelations -- authored by John, one of Jesus’ disciples -- presents an image of the Roman Empire as a seven-headed monster waging war against the people of God!

Siege of Jerusalem by the Romans

The first major encounter Jews had with the Romans occurred in 63 B.C. when the Roman army, under the leadership of Pompey, besieged Jerusalem. After three months, they breached its massive walls, stormed the Temple grounds, slaughtered the priests who continued their worship in the Temple as if no war were underway, and then entered the sacred “Holy of Holies,” an event the Jews refer to as the “Abomination.”

Following the occupation of Palestine, Rome initially granted freedom of religion, but over time “the Imperial Cult of Rome” took over and “No God but Caesar” became the reality of the day.

We need to keep this in mind as we consider Jesus’ life and times. Because those of us in modern North America have never experienced foreign military rule like this, it is hard for us to imagine what it was like and what challenges it presented to people trying hard to eke out a living, pay burdensome taxes, and were now hearing the “gospel of peace (shalom)” from Jesus.

For the people who lived in Palestine, their land had been ruled for 650 years by the empires of Babylon, Persia, Greece and Rome. There was a deep longing for liberation among the Jews, for a king who would break the chains of their oppression and end the occupation. When would God hear their prayers and give them freedom, like God did when their ancestors were slaves in Egypt? When would a new “King David” appear? In this context, how was Jesus’ message heard?

So What?

• As many of you know, I love history and politics – these were my undergraduate majors and I did a doctorate in this field as well.  But that’s not why I am highlighting this facet of Jesus’ life.  My concern is that we often read the Bible without seriously considering the context of the stories we read.  Jesus was a Jew whose life unfolded in turbulent times and he was not oblivious to this reality.  I will try to illustrate the importance of this in the weeks to come.

• It is a joy for me to see new dimensions of the biblical story when I learn more about the world in which Jesus lived. It’s amazing to see how it opens up new (to me) biblical truths in my own, very different context. I hope you have the same experience! I would love to have you share with me some of the insights you gain.

Location, Location, Location

Geography is an important part of biblical studies and, for many of us, it can open up surprising new insights. Some biblical scholars feel it is so important that they refer to the land of Palestine as “the fifth Gospel.”

I highlighted earlier the fact that Palestine in Jesus’ time was approximately 50 miles wide and 150 miles long, roughly equivalent to the size of the state of Connecticut. The vast majority of the Biblical story takes place in this small area. Palestine has often been referred to as “a land in-between.” It forms a land bridge between three continents, is the homeland of three monotheistic religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), and is a territory where the sea and the desert come together.

For a small territory, it has amazing diversity in climate, plant and animal life. Mount Hermon is 9,200 feet high – higher than Mount St. Helens, while the Dead Sea is 1,300 feet below sea level – the lowest spot on earth. There are coastal plains, low lying hills, a central mountain ridge, and the impressive Jordan rift valley.

Knowing where Jesus traveled and who he talked with in these regions helps in understanding his message. I often challenge the participants in my adult education classes to pay attention to where Jesus was when a certain event occurred. This can often help us understand what he did and said.

Jesus’ home base was located in Galilee and three times during his short three-year public ministry he traveled in-and-out of this region; all of these journeys are described in the Gospel of Mark. Jesus also traveled to Perea, which is east of the Jordan River, but only Luke records this facet of his ministry. Jesus’ time in Judea is carefully documented in the Gospel of John and John’s chronology is often linked to various religious festivals.

Many of the insights I will be sharing with you in the weeks ahead come from my three trips to Israel in 1986, 1988 and 1980. Dr. James Fleming and Dr. James Martin were the biblical scholars who lead these study trips and they opened my eyes to the significance of the land and how understanding the geographical and cultural context of Jesus’ life and ministry provides important insights in the content of his teaching and deeds.

I still remember the thrill of walking on land where Jesus walked and visiting the area around the Sea of Galilee where Jesus spent so much time. I also have a clear memory of standing outside Jerusalem and looking toward the Herodian, one of Herod the Great’s mountain fortresses. It was from a location like this that Jesus told his disciples that if they had the faith to move mountains, it could be done. To the disciples, who knew that Herod the Great had actually forced Jewish workers to literally move the top of one mountain to its neighboring peak in order to build this fortress, Jesus’ observation hit home!

This experience was an eye-opener to me because it showed the important connection between location – the geographical context -- and Jesus’ teachings. The connections between the words of Scripture and the land itself provided a deepened understanding of the Biblical message, the gospel of peace (shalom), and I have been blessed ever since. I will share these insights with you in the weeks ahead.

So What? 

• Do any examples come to mind of important experiences in your life where the location of the experience was a key to what occurred? 

• Here’s a helpful key when reading the Bible: First, what did God say and do then and there? Second, what does it mean for us here and now? Addressing both questions is important as we read God’s Word. 

Helpful Resources

• If you want to learn more about the land of Palestine during Jesus’ time – and I would encourage you to do this, take advantage of the excellent resources of the Preserving Bible Times. Their web site is www.preservingbibletimes.org. In particular, explore their “Above Israel” and “The Bible and the Land” DVDs as well as two very helpful books – A Visual Guide to Bible Events and A Visual Guide to Gospel Events. 

• Doug Greenwold, the Executive Director of Preserving Bible Times, leads a trip to Israel each year and the web site noted above will provide details if you are interested in joining him for this remarkable Holy Land experience.