ery different image of Jesus surfaces when the simple historical facts of his life are separated from the interpretation of his followers and his life is put in historical context. Jesus was an outcast in his time, a peasant, part of the dregs of society. He was a member of a minority religious sect known as the Jews and he essentially lived a nomad!
ic life, making no permanent home and begging for food wherever he happened to be. His message was that of equality in a time where social order was rigid. While seemingly a simple gesture of good hospitality in modern times, his practice of eating with whomever happened to be there at the time, be it nobles or thieves, was much more a defiance of common social practice. With regards to dining, the different classes of society were expected to remain within themselves, and Jesus specifically attacked this practice. In the Lord's Prayer, which is believed to be an accurate recording of Jesus' words, he said "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." What Jesus told the people was to try to find the kingdom of heaven on earth. He felt as though the kingdom of heaven was something that was attainable on earth, through such things as social equality. Throughout the centuries following his death, his life was interpreted by others, many embellishing!
certain aspects to serve their own personal goals. The bible interprets the manner of Jesus' death as him making the ultimate sacrifice for mankind, yet crucifixion was the most common way the Romans dealt with those who made trouble within the empire. For centuries, men have taken advantage of the fact that Jesus
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