Here's another insight from the books of the Maccabees: You can see in all the wars and political maneuverings in the time period that there is this thing called being a Friend of the King (for example, in I Maccabees 6). In my English Bible (NABRE) it's even capitalized, as a title, to show that it was kind of a title - to be a "Friend of the King" meant a couple things. For a person, it meant being in the king's inner circle, part advisor, but more importantly, in a position to get favors. For a nation, it meant being an ally. When it comes to Rome, one can be a Friend of Rome - which was a thing, even before there were emperors - see I Maccabees 8:20, where the Jews send a delegation to make a treaty with Rome. The treaty includes the idea that "your enemies are my enemies" so if anyone attacks Israel, the Romans promise to step up and fight for them. Likewise, if anyone attacks Rome, the Jews promise to fight on their side.
Ok, so what? The point is that this provides an important background for John 19:12, which says: Consequently, Pilate tried to release him; but the Jews cried out, “If you release him, you are not a Friend of Caesar. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.”
So you see, knowing that being a "Friend of Caesar" is an actual thing, not just rhetoric, really shows the teeth of the threat here - the leaders of the Sanhedrin are saying to Pilate, "If you release him, we will report back to Rome that you are betraying your treaty with them." Or something like that. This gives us an insight into why Pilate was so willing to give in to them.
This was for March 24th, recorded for the Ascension App
Thanks for your patience - here is our next installment of The Journey - it's session # 96, but I'm also calling it PART 1 of a "miniseries" on John chapter 6.
Whoever watches it first, please let me know if it looks good or if there are any problems with it - I get through the first two sections of the text on the feeding of the 5,000.
Enjoy!
I mentioned in The Journey that I wrote a song based on Isaiah 2, which is one of my favorite OT passages:
In days to come, the mountain of the Lord’s house
shall be established as the highest mountain, and raised above the hills.
All nations shall stream toward it. Many peoples shall come and say:
“Come, let us go up to the Lord’s mountain, to the house of the God of Jacob, That he may instruct us in his ways, and we may walk in his paths.” For from Zion shall go forth instruction, and the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.
He shall judge between the nations, and set terms for many peoples.
They shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruning hooks; One nation shall not raise the sword against another, nor shall they train for war again. House of Jacob, come, let us walk in the light of the Lord!
I hope you like the song!
As I'm going through all my belongings as part of our move, I have come across some audio CDs of my old music, from when I had my band, Remember Rome - if any of you still have a CD player, and you would like me to send you some of what I have, send me the address to send them to at this email address: [email protected]
Some of these CDs are in their original cases, and some were demo samples, but either way, it's all original music written by me, and performed by me and my band back in the late 90s and early 2000s.
I'll be happy to find a good home for these CDs in case you might enjoy them, and because you all have been supporting me (and I haven't produced much content in the last month or so) I'll send you one or more CDs for free. Just give me an address.
Thanks!
Here's the link to the new edition of my Rome book on Amazon:
https://www.amazon.com/Rome-Second-Pilgrims-Guide-Eternal/dp/B0F8TGTWZX
