WAS JESUS CHRIST A ZEALOT?

Christians all over the world get into a Christmas mood to celebrate the presumed birthday of Jesus Christ every end of the year month of December.However much need to be reflected upon the phenomenon .It is no wonder many Christians have always vied Christmas as a holy day, for meditation, thanks giving and fellowship celebrations. My view is that we Christians and even other religious followers in our society need to reflect on Jesus’ ministry and its implications to the modern, historical and even ancient revolutions in society and what we can learn from it.

First, Jesus Christ was born as a Jew in Bethlehem territory of the Jewish people that was dominated by zealots during the reign of the Roman Empire. The Roman Empire rulers in [Palestine ruled with gist, ruthlessness and injustice against the Jewish masses. They imposed draconian laws that involved subjecting the masses to heavy taxes and labor. They also imposed laws that prohibited the Jews giving birth to baby boys.

Like in any society that is subjected to such injustices, rebellious groups are bound to evolve. The zealots as they called themselves were openly opposed to the roman rulers and advocated for the freedom of the Jews, politically, culturally and religiously. The zealots gave birth to Zionism, a movement that later was to form a political awareness of the Jews that led to the establishment of the modern Israel state. They were freedom fighters.

The ministry of Jesus Christ was openly opposed to the ways and system of the roman rulers. He adamantly used his ministry to divert the attention of the masses from the centre principles of the rulers by rebuking them. In other words Jesus Christ was a reformist whose religious teachings were both religious and political. His persecution and death signaled a great symbol of change in the Jewish society. The rulers saw him as a threat to their autocracy and draconian principles as he was a great influence to the masses. On his cross the Romans inscribed: The King of Jews. There is indeed a lot we can learn from Jesus Christ.