Imagine the headlines and articles back in the first century of Jerusalem when an unknown outsider came to the region and “turned the tables” on the establishment.
“Strange Man Disrupting the Norm” could have been one headline, written by Bernstein, Son of Carl. “He doesn’t Speak For Me!” could have been another. “Stranger Forces Girl To Serve Him Following Healing”, could have been another.
How about the news reports?
“This is Cronkite, Son of Walter of JBS reporting on a strange-looking man who descended upon the region and is recruiting followers and preaching new theology.”
“Ordinary citizens are appalled at this man’s behavior and the government is in arrears, worrying he may disrupt their ways of governing the people.”
Imagine the nightly news in Israel saying, “This man’s followers are a bunch of zealots, spewing the same insane rhetoric as their leader.”
“Government leaders need to look at ways of halting leader’s followers and movement.”
With all the hate and insults hurled at them, it is amazing the leader of the movement and his followers didn’t throw in the towel. I mean, three years of constant lies and insults directed at the man and his followers, it’s incredible he stood his ground and grew his body of support.
Imagine people getting on their “tablets” back then and posting messages like, “That man is full of hate. I saw him ripping through the marketplace at the Temple, overturning tables and destroying people’s livelihoods.”
Or another, “That man is SO egotistical, he insists on riding into the city on the back of a donkey. And his followers all bow down to him. It’s disgusting!”
“I don’t care what his message is, I would rather live under Roman rule than listen to that man lie, lie, lie. I don’t see how people can be loyal to a man who has done nothing since he came on the scene!”
Imagine this leader being interviewed in a packed coliseum by Barbara, daughter of Walters.
“So, you claim to have thousands and thousands of followers yet we can only find a dozen or so,” says Barbara. “Is that not lying to the people?”
“You claim to have healed a sick woman and gave sight to a blind man. How? How do you make such claims without fact checking? And to top it all off, you do it all for free with no monetary disbursement? C’mon!”
Imagine the media coverage of the spectacle at the praetorium.
“This is Holt, Son of Lester of JNN, reporting from outside the governor’s camp. People are rioting and causing an upheaval here as they await the news on the verdict. Oh look, a man is being assaulted by what appears to be angry dissidents of the followers of the man on trial. Incredibly, the Roman guards give no heed to the disruption for fear they will be overwhelmed.”
“Lester, this is Robin, daughter of Roberts, and I’m seeing the power of the people rising up today to stop the tyranny of this so-called leader. It makes me proud to be an Israelian at this time, seeing my fellow countrymen and women being the voice for society!”
Imagine the reporters at the scene of the execution, some tearing up as they proclaim the end to the man’s “dictatorship”.
“Lester, this is Anderson, Son of Cooper with JBC and I tell you, witnessing this with my own eyes is the ultimate culmination of my career. I can now breathe normally and stop worrying. I can honestly attest this event will hopefully bring unity to this region.”
“It is finished. I just heard the man say it, Lester. This craziness from the last few years is officially over.”
But was it?
I bet the news media outlets in 0 A.D. went crazy a few days later...
