Killing Jesus: A History

“Jesus’s behavior will see him branded as a revolutionary, known throughout Judea for his startling speeches and offbeat teachings. He will be adored by the Jewish people but will become a threat to those who profit from the populace: the high priests, the scribes, the elders, the puppet rulers of Judea, and, most of all, the Roman Empire. And Rome does not tolerate a threat.”

This quote showcases the literary device of foreshadowing. The authors remind the reader of Jesus’s enduring legacy, situating the story in its proper historical and cultural context and suggesting The Power of Narrative to Define Character.

“Murdering Caesar is the boldest—and most dangerous—of ideas. He is not like other men. In fact, he has become the greatest living symbol of Roman power and aggression. Caesar has so completely consolidated his hold on Roman politics that the only likely outcome of his murder will be anarchy, and perhaps even the end of the Roman Republic.”

Throughout the book, power is shown to be rooted in control over public perception. Powerful people are not just people; they are concepts and ideas. Caesar is synonymous with Rome, just as one day Jesus will be synonymous with Christianity.

“The death of Caesar has directly affected the backwater known as Judea, even if its citizens do not realize it. But the battle of Philippi, an epic moment in history, will affect the area even more. When this battle is over, nothing for the Jews will ever be the same again.”

This quote underlines the ways in which the imperial politics of Rome affect all its conquered territories, no matter how remote. By highlighting the cruelty of a system in which a faceless dictator can condemn entire cultures to starvation or massacre, the authors aim to establish a compelling backdrop for Jesus’s life and teachings.