1. Brief History of Christianity

2. Jewish-Roman Relations In the time of Jesus, Roman relations with the Jewish population were not good. For many Jews, they felt persecuted and betrayed by their leaders for not seeking independence from Rome. Instead their leaders were mostly profiting from Roman trade, security, and the occasional bribe. Many felt abandoned by their leaders, without hope, and seeking answers in their faith.

3. “The Anointed One” Born into this was Yeshua, son of Youseff and Miryam sometime around the beginning of the first century A.D. Through a series of translations we know these people know as Jesus, Joseph and Mary. According to Christian tradition; however, Jesus was not the son of Joseph, but the son of Yahweh the God of the Jews. He was born the “son of God.” In Greek, they called him Christ or Christos. This means the “Anointed One.”

4. Jesus the Rabbi Jesus was the son of a carpenter and according to certain sources became one himself for a time. Ultimately, though he became a rabbi and began traveling throughout Judea and Galilee teaching the Torah. The Torah is the Jewish holy text, some of this text is included in the Christian Old Testament. Jesus preached to “love thy neighbor” and to “turn the other cheek” these were concepts known to the Jews, but not really practiced due to the Roman occupation. His message became one of love, salvation, and hope.

5. Jesus, “Son of God” Before he gave his famous Sermon on the Mount, Jesus had preached to hundreds of people and created quite a following. This following included 12 Disciples that followed him around telling many of his deeds. According to them, he was the “Son of God.” When Jesus gave his Sermon on the Mount, he gave out a list of guidelines and rules to follow now known as the Beatitudes. It is here that more than likely he announced that he was the “Son of God” and instead of hundreds listening to him it was well into the thousands.

6. Death of Jesus Jesus travels to Jerusalem during Passover, a Jewish holiday recognizing their deliverance from slavery, and is promptly arrested by the Roman governor Pontius Pilate. According to Christian belief, Judas Iscariot betrayed Jesus and gave the Romans his location. Pilate arrests Jesus of treason, but when he is questioned he finds no fault in the man. However, the crowds in Jerusalem are angered that Jesus claims to be the son of God so they ask for his death. This request shocks Pilate, but in order to maintain the peace he allows Jesus to be crucified. Upon his sentencing, Pilate washes his hands in front of the crowd and declares, “I wash my hands of this.” Jesus is beaten severely and ordered to carry his cross to Golgotha or the “Hill of Bones.” It is here that he is killed, eventually from the spear of a Roman legionnaire.

7. Christianity After Jesus dies, there are unsubstantiated reports that Jesus was alive and ascended into heaven. This story gained steam quickly which made many people believe Jesus was the “Son of God.” Apostles, or followers of Jesus, quickly spread his message of love, salvation, and hope throughout the empire. Due to the security of the territories and its roads, the Roman Empire made it possible for Christianity to survive and thrive.