Jesus & Empire: John Dominic Crossan

Summary

The transcript explores the Jewish faith amidst historical oppression, leading to apocalyptic eschatology. It contrasts John the Baptist's imminent divine retribution with Jesus' teachings of an already-present kingdom requiring human cooperation. Jesus' nonviolent approach and expansion of the kingdom's message through disciples, as opposed to John's centralized baptism, highlight a shift from passive waiting to active participation in divine justice.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The Jewish people faced successive imperial powers, each bringing its own form of injustice and oppression.
• 🙏 The faith of the Jewish people was tested as they believed in a just and controlling God amidst an unjust world.
• 🔍 The concept of apocalyptic eschatology emerged as a belief that God would eventually intervene and 'clean up' the world's mess.
• 🌟 The expectation of God's intervention grew with the increasing power of empires, leading to a sense of urgency for divine justice.
• 👥 John the Baptist and Jesus were both figures within this context, with Jesus initially being a disciple of John.
• 💧 John the Baptist's message involved a nonviolent, imminent divine intervention, symbolized by baptism in the Jordan River.
• 🕊️ Jesus diverged from John's teachings, emphasizing that the kingdom of God is already present and requires human participation.
• ✋ Jesus taught that the kingdom's establishment is nonviolent and requires cooperation with God's nonviolent nature.
• 🌐 Jesus expanded the message beyond a single leader by encouraging his disciples to spread the word and perform acts of kindness and healing.
• 🔄 The failure of John's movement upon his execution contrasted with Jesus' strategy to decentralize the message, making it harder to suppress.

Q & A

What is the main theme discussed in the script?

The main theme discussed in the script is the concept of apocalyptic eschatology in Jewish faith, particularly focusing on how the Jewish people reconciled their belief in a just and controlling God with their experiences of injustice and oppression under various empires.

What does 'eschatology' mean in the context of the script?

In the context of the script, 'eschatology' refers to the study of the end times or the final events of history, including the ultimate fate of humanity. It is specifically tied to the belief in a divine intervention that will 'clean up' the world.

How does the script describe the progression of empires affecting the Jewish people?

The script describes a progression of empires, from the Assyrians to the Romans, becoming increasingly powerful and oppressive, leading to a growing expectation among the Jewish people for divine intervention to 'clean up' the world.

What is the significance of John the Baptist and Jesus in the script's discussion?

John the Baptist and Jesus are significant figures in the script as they both represent different approaches to the expectation of divine intervention. John preached an imminent divine judgment, while Jesus taught that the kingdom of God is already present and requires human cooperation.

What did the Jewish people believe would happen 'any day now' according to the script?

According to the script, the Jewish people believed that 'any day now' God would intervene to clean up the world, destroy evil, violence, and injustice, and restore justice and peace.

How does the script characterize John the Baptist's message?

The script characterizes John the Baptist's message as one of imminent divine judgment and purification. He conducted baptisms in the desert, symbolizing the leaving behind of sins and entering the Promised Land as purified people, expecting God to act soon after.

What lesson did Jesus learn from John the Baptist's execution according to the script?

The script suggests that Jesus learned that the kingdom of God is not imminent but already present, and that it requires human cooperation. He also learned that the approach must be nonviolent and that the movement should not be centralized around one person to avoid its end with that person's death.

How does Jesus' message differ from John the Baptist's according to the script?

Jesus' message differs from John the Baptist's in that Jesus emphasized the present nature of the kingdom of God, the necessity of nonviolent cooperation with God, and the decentralization of the movement to ensure its continuation beyond any single individual.

What is the meaning of 'apocalypse' in the context of the script?

In the context of the script, 'apocalypse' refers to a revelation or disclosure of divine knowledge, particularly concerning the end times or the final events of history. It implies a future event where God will reveal Himself and 'clean up' the world.

How does the script interpret the Lord's Prayer in relation to apocalyptic eschatology?

The script interprets the Lord's Prayer as expressing the hope and expectation for the coming of God's kingdom and the fulfillment of God's will on earth, aligning with the apocalyptic eschatological belief in divine intervention to establish justice and peace.

What is the significance of the nonviolent approach in Jesus' teachings as discussed in the script?

The script highlights the significance of the nonviolent approach in Jesus' teachings as a reflection of cooperating with a nonviolent God. It suggests that Jesus learned from John's fate and emphasized that the kingdom's establishment requires nonviolent human participation.