The king decided that all should follow the religion he
prescribed. In essence doesn't that make
him both god and king? Most of the gentiles
followed his dictates, they didn't care, they weren't committed to their god or
gods in the same way Judaism was dedicated to Yahweh. The gods were not particularly exclusive nor
were they taken seriously in the way that Judaism understood its God. Some of the Jews, however, were willing to
accommodate themselves to the king's wishes.
They willingly accepted this new religion in order to secure the good
favors of the king and his representatives.
The temple was desecrated in various ways, from the setting up of altars
to whatever god Antiochus Epiphanes was worshipping in the temple to the types
of sacrifices that were both commanded and those that were outlawed. The punishment for adhering to any part of
Judaism was steep, babies were killed if circumcised and hung around the necks
of their mothers for instance. Some,
however, as in the days of Elijah, refused to play along. It will be these that the book of the Maccabees
will tell us about.
Does Jesus not know what other people are saying about
Him? He wants to know how influenced the
disciples are by what others may say and believe. Do they have an independent opinion about Him
or are they being swayed away from their original thoughts about Him? Peter's answer shows that they have come to
be more fully convicted by what they have seen and heard rather than swaying in
the wind of popular opinion. Can you
imagine telling someone you know that you believe he is Messiah? It was indeed a bold step for Peter or anyone
else. Jesus' affirmation certainly made
his risk worth the while. Protestants argue
that the rock on which the church is built is Peter's confession, the truth
about Jesus, while Roman Catholics argue that Peter himself is that rock. Conviction on that point tends to hinge on
which you are already and whether you believe Peter is the head of the Roman
catholic church or the church catholic. Right
judgments, however, are key. What we
make of Jesus and our willingness to toss aside any other claimant to His
throne is ultimately the measure of the matter.
Now that the wedding feast has been declared we see the
rider on the white horse, the groom Himself.
He is faithful and true, which means he is no ordinary man. In righteousness he judges and makes
war. Again, no ordinary man, only God does
those things and only God can be called faithful and true. Then we hear of his diadems (Crown Him with Many
Crowns) and then we hear he is called the Word of God and we know who this must
be, Jesus, the incarnate Word from John's Gospel. He and the heavenly armies are all arrayed in
finest linen, pure and white but his robe is dipped in blood and the battle
begins now in earnest and in person. The
judgment of God prophesied by John the Baptist is now come to earth and it will
be final and full. Sides must be chosen
with great wisdom.
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