status quo

It is apparent that the new Christians were thought as deviant and threat to people of Roman Empire. Many Christians, still now, tell the story that Romans once put early Christians in the Coliseum to fight with lions or wild beasts and enjoy those people to die brutally, even eaten by those animals. Set aside an anecdote, the Romans systemically oppressed the Christians until the legalization of Christianity in Milano Edict. Also according to Corinthians 15:9, Paul, who was formerly Jewish, says that he had “persecuted the church of God”, showing that Jewish communities and faith did not welcome the Christian faith and communities and continued to prolong the legacy of hate and oppression toward Christians even after death of Jesus. Both of the major communities clearly regarded the Christians as a hazardous community.

Then, what about the Jesus Christ himself? Since he was the leader and the messiah of Christian fellowship, he was undeniably threat to both major communities; however, most of the hateful interactions that Jesus had with others are within the Jewish communities. Jesus was questioned throughout his journey of spreading the genuine words of God by general Jewish authorities about both the spiritual lifestyles and the ordinary lifestyles, and Jesus also questioned those authorities in return. In addition, he approached people who had nothing or who were weak and therefore in lower strata of power, and influenced those people to be subversive of Jewish tradition. In short, Jesus, throughout the gospel of Matthew, gives sermons to people how to be good children of God by elaborating the Commandments that the Jewish community upheld for centuries and emphasizing the importance of inner goodness and inner relationship ...

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... also said “But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first” throughout his life. So the intention of Jesus does not matter anymore to the Jews; Jews, especially those in high positions will consider Jesus as an eminent threat to the community.

In conclusion, Jesus holds a unique position in Jewish communities: he is neither an enemy nor an ally, but something between. He is against the Jewish traditions, but still believes in the Jewish religion; however, his focus is in genuineness, modesty, and heart. Also, he approaches the alienated people, who are forgotten in the society. He does not reach other than the people of Israel but only the people of Israel, to enlighten the children of God. Therefore, the unenlightened children of God would presume that Jesus is a possible threat to preserving the status quo, fearing more than the Romans.