CHRIST REVOLUTION:
Two thousand years minus few decades ago, in a small village, and in a small state of one of the Roman states during the era of Julius Caesar a little boy was born. He did not even come to a crib like other babies; his mother laid him down in a poor manger within a guest house.
Thus, Christ was born: a foreigner, he lived a foreigner, and died a foreigner. He was known and loved by a few who believed in him, though (through the years) his followers turned to be in millions.
He split history into two: before and after his birth. His Name became known in the East and the West and beyond both poles.
While we are celebrating His birth today, it is worth our while to recall the story of the "Rebel".
The Jews' concept of "God" was a primitive one. They described God as King of Kings and Lord of Lords, with armies who fought for him. He struck the first born of Egyptians with his sword to prepare the exodus of his nation from Egypt. He was the one who drowned the Pharaoh and his ships in the sea. He stopped the sun in the sky to enable Joshua attain victory. He was the one who some of his people called upon "fight against them that fight against me".... This was the Israelite's idea of God.
Then... Christ came: he told them God was not King of Kings, nor was He Lord of Lords, nor was he a Leader of armies, rather a compassionate Father of the human race. He is my and your Father; my and your Lord embracing all of us within his care, without discrimination between the good and the bad or between the free and the slave, or between the prince and the poor. We are all equal before him. This was how he broadened the human idea and took it from its narrow scope to the widest scope ever known. IT WAS A REVOLUTION.
As it is the case today, the Israelites counted themselves as being God's chosen people, and no one else. Other nations were unclean and not included in the population.
Christ came: He dispelled this myth. He said that since we all belong to ONE Father, who is God, then all of us - the whole human race - share the same Filiality: the Iraqi, the Greek, the Egyptian, the Roman and all other children of Adam and Eve, are all equal siblings before God. Hence, God set the relationship between humans among each other on the basis of equality and fraternity. IT WAS A REVOLUTION.
The Israelites boasted about the Temple which King Solomon built for them... They considered it the icon of their status and a symbol of their glory. It housed the Altar on which they offered their sacrifices in atonement of their sins. The Great Priest stood before it each year seeking forgiveness on behalf of the people, thus becoming a mediator between them and God.
Christ came: He said to them “Do you see all these things?” he asked. “Truly I tell you, not one stone here will be left on another; every one will be thrown down.” He challenged them: "Tear down this temple, and I'll rebuild it in three days". The Samaritan Woman asked him about the location of the correct place for worship was it in Jerusalem Mountain where there was Solomon's Temple, or was it in Samaria Mountain. Christ told her that it was neither nor, because God is Spirit and those who worship Him, in Spirit they worship. He made the relationship between a person and his Lord a direct relationship: without the mediation of a Priest. God's satisfaction became no longer restricted to sacrifices, gifts or vows but depended on a pure heart and a clear conscience. IT WAS A REVOLUTION.
The Israelites sanctified the Sabbath according to the Law of Moses, they exaggerated this to the extreme.... If someone died, one was not to be buried; if one fell sick, they were not to be treated through medication; if one needed food, it was not to be bought...
Christ came: he told them that the Sabbath was made for man and not the man for the Sabbath. He defied them: He performed his miracles on the Sabbath: He told them that His Father worked and that He also worked. Thus, Christ liberated the human being from the oppressive shackles laid down by the Law. His ultimate goal was the good of the human being. Which is the first and foremost and most sublime of all laws, everywhere and at all times. IT WAS A REVOLUTION.
The Israelites, especially the Pharisees, spent a long time in prayer, flaunted their fastings, their alms-giving, were keen on offering their tithes before the altar and made all this as part of their status and flaunting among themselves.
Christ came: he asked them about the purpose for the lengthy and repetitive prayers. Didn't God know their needs? He told them to rid themselves of this hypocrisy, to fast and pray in silence and he taught them a brief prayer, which is the essence of Christianity. Thus, Christ put an end to social hypocrisy. IT WAS A REVOLUTION.
During the era of Christ, the Israelites lived under he sovereignty of Rome. They were dreaming of regaining their lost sovereignty and bygone glory. They aspired towards the awaited Messiah who would restore Solomon's and David's Kingdom, and as is the case today they mixed religion with politics.
Christ came: the Jews thought that he would be the awaited Saviour and the promised King. Then Jesus said to them, “Give back to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's": He laid the separation between State and Religion. IT WAS A REVOLUTION.
This revolution which started from Bethlehem less than 2,000 years ago, led his followers to spread his teaching among the weak classes and continued to be active secretly for years until it reached Athens, Rome, Alexandria and other countries. It extended from the cottages of the poor to the wealthy and was joined by princes and kings. Everyone was under the impression that it had reached the peak of its victory, but as a matter of fact it reached the point of its decline.
As soon as Christianity was acknowledged as the "Religion of the Country": the revolution froze and religion was replaced by Israeli teachings; the Temple and Priesthood returned and religion became part of the state blessing, it with divine blessings and in return it rewarded the state with the goods of the earth and the authority of the King. Flags and crosses stood side by side. Christianity split into denominations killing and be killed in the name of Christ who had nothing to do with it.
Today the world is commemorating the birth of Christ: lights are everywhere, bells are ringing, boys and girls wearing new clothes, and presents are exchanged; all this in memory of that baby who, on his birth was deprived of a tiny crib and his mother laid him in a poor manger of animals in a corner, within a guest house for those who visited Bethlehem.
* Now, where do we stand in respect of the Revolution of 20 centuries ago.