How Current History Starkly Mirrors the Past
Jan Greenhawk, Editor/Writer Radio Free Oxford
Since it’s Easter Christians around the world will be celebrating the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. Although Christmas is a more celebrated and commercial holiday, Easter is the most important in the Christian calendar as the core of the day is the foundation for Christianity, sacrifice, resurrection, and forgiveness. The events of two thousand years ago shaped our modern world.
I believe we are at a time in our history that may not be as important but nearly so. Please don’t interpret what I am about to write as a comparison between anyone now to Christ, I am not. What I am comparing is how a series of events occurred then and now.
When Christ was roaming the Holy Land teaching and performing miracles, the people knew He was special, that he was their savior. As he gathered his apostles, those in power, the Pharisees noticed and were not happy. The Pharisees were businessmen and leaders in the Synagogue. They were collaborators with the Romans. They knew that if he prevailed, they would lose their land, their money and their power.
On Palm Sunday, Jesus arrived in Jerusalem riding a donkey and crowds followed and praised him, “Hosanna, Blessed is the King of Israel that cometh in the name of the Lord.” (John 12:13)
That really pushed the Pharisees and church elders over the edge.
So, they plotted against him. They wanted to sacrifice him for their own gain. They were the ones who got people to pressure Pilate to prosecute Jesus. They made up the “crimes.” They were the ones who ginned up the crowd to choose to save Barrabus, a career criminal who had attempted to overthrow the Roman Government, over Jesus, thus condemning Jesus to death by crucifixion.
Of course, Jesus knew this would happen. He knew it had to happen. He didn’t fight it. He didn’t want it to happen, but he allowed it to happen. He knew he wasn’t guilty of doing anything wrong.
Do any of the facts sound familiar? People in power being upset that their corruption would be exposed? Operatives in a crowd getting people to revolt? A man being unjustly persecuted? Don’t get in a twist, I’m not saying anything about the current people involved, just the actions. Even if you are not Christian and don’t believe in Christ, the story is a compelling one in light of today’s events.
We know the rest of the story. Jesus carries his cross to Calvary, is crucified, and dies.
Aside from the operatives in the crowd in front of Pilate, there are so many parallels to current events.
In our country, we have the Pharisees in charge. In our current administration, the Senate, the House, many state houses and even some local governments, we have people who have a good thing going for them and don’t want it to end. They have made millions off of “public service” and are not willing to let that go. They are collaborators with the Chinese, the Russians, the WEF, etc. If someone, anyone, comes in to threaten that, they fight back fiercely.
And now Donald Trump has been indicted for a ridiculous, non-existent charge.
It’s so bad that we have an long time elected official, Nancy Pelosi, declaring that an indicted individual, President Donald Trump, can “prove his innocence.” Apparently Nancy has forgotten that whole Constitutional thing of “innocent until proven guilty.”
Pelosi ripped for tweet saying Trump can ‘prove innocence’ at trial – Washington Times
In her mind and minds of other compromised Progressives, that means they can use the Department of Justice to unfairly prosecute parents at school board meetings, certain protesters, meme makers online, and even former Presidents. Locally, if that means creating fake charges to indict people on, they will do it. Heck, they will even illegally indict a former President and current candidate for 2024.
At the ground level, the message to crazed Progressive activists is that everyone is fair game. The rules of law and decency no longer apply. Therefore, they can harass, cancel and silence people they disagree with on social media, in the workplace, in the public square, and in government. Sick transgender individuals even feel empowered to shoot 6 people at a Christian school in Tennessee. That murderer was killed, However, the rest of the crazy activists know that unlike the rest of us, they won’t be condemned or prosecuted for their actions, but actually given condolences:
White House says ‘trans community’ is ‘under attack’ after Nashville shooting | Fox News
And they’re given their own national holiday. They know the administration doesn’t care about dead Christians, even children. In fact, they imply that the victims had it coming.
This during the week when a crazed transgender person killed 6 people. This on the week of Palm Sunday, one of the most holy days in Christianity. Biden and his feckless Progressive masters totally ignored Palm Sunday in their pandering comments. It’s a Christian holy day after all. And they hate Christians.
The trans activists and their sick allies even condone killing more people:
Ariz. governor’s aide resigns after tweeting meme of guns threatening “transphobes” (msn.com)
At a personal level, I had an online attack from a local person who didn’t like my post regarding a medical form I had to fill out for a relative. I stated that I thought it was crazy that because of the transgender insanity, I had to fill in four questions about my relative’s gender and one about his sexuality. (I had to state his gender at birth, what his gender was now, which gender he identified as and which pronouns he used.)
The local person trolled me repeatedly on and off Facebook, even under a different name and profile. I kept the evidence and called local authorities.
Mild, I know, but I think a good example of how people suddenly feel empowered to attack everyday citizens who disagree with their sick ideology in so many areas.
It’s all persecution. Sadly, as these Marxist cultists gain more power. It will get worse. Marxism/Communism is the new religion, the new dogma.
This is a great podcast from James Lindsay on why things are the way they are: (hang in there, it’s a long podcast and it is mind blowing) You can find James’ work at newdiscourses.com. He has so many great podcasts there and articles!
I started out talking about a story of persecution and comparing our current situation to what happened to Jesus when he was murdered. Again, not calling any of the victims “Jesus” but talking about what is happening, events, actions. etc.
This persecution is startling in its similarity. It’s frightening. To what extent will leftist Marxists go to shut us up? How will they keep dividing people and activating the unhinged to promote and commit violence against us. It seems they keep upping the ante time after time. These are dark times.
But let’s not forget one thing. When Jesus was persecuted and killed, he rose from the dead in three days and through his apostles, spread His word and Christianity to millions of people across the world.
He had to die to create something new. Let’s hope none of us have to die for things to change. But maybe the thing that has to die is our willingness to go along with things we know are not right. Maybe the thing that has to die is our reliance on acceptance by everyone to validate ourselves. Maybe the thing that has to die is our silence. Maybe the thing that has to die is our belief that our government is to be believed and trusted no matter what. And maybe the thing that has to die is our reluctance to be active citizens in our town, counties, states and country. We have to kill that desire to let someone else do it and step up and do it ourselves. Just hoping they will leave us alone will no longer work.
If those things die in us, what will be reborn is citizen participation to an extent we haven’t seen since 1776. It will be a resurrection and a rebirth of truth and liberty.
The time is now. Just like it was thousands of years ago.
Have a blessed Easter Sunday and never forget what Easter is truly about!
Jan is a retired teacher and a current Chapter Chair for Moms for Liberty, Talbot
© Janet L. Greenhawk and Radio Free Oxford, 2023. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this site’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Excerpts and links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Janet L. Greenhawk and Radio Free Oxford with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.
A beautiful piece from Kyms Kitchen:
“He received 39 stripes because 40 was known to kill a man. They wanted him alive. They held handfuls of his beard, and hair and pulled it out by the roots. They wanted him alive. They kicked, punched, and spit on him for hours. Until there wasn’t a single spot on his body not covered in blood. They wanted him alive. They shoved a crown of thorns down on his head so harshly it stuck in his skin. They wanted him alive. After hours of being beaten, mocked, whipped, flogged, and tortured they made him walk with a cross. They made him carry it. A rough piece of wood with splinters digging into fresh wounds. They wanted him alive. They wanted him to feel every ounce of pain they could bring. He had to feel it in order to heal us. Crucifixion was historically one of the cruelest most tortured deaths a human could face. Hours upon hours of torture. Torture most of us can not mentally think of because the cruelty isn’t normal. It isn’t something our minds can comprehend. We celebrate Easter with pastel colors, happy children hunting eggs, and chocolate. Truth is there was absolutely nothing happy about the day Jesus died. It was cruel, bloody, and nasty.
He could have stopped all of it. He could have called every angel in heaven to demolish every person standing and shouting “Crucify Him!” He didn’t. He knew in order to have a Sunday you have to have a Friday. He knew in order to have joy you have to carry your cross. He felt everything that day. He felt how your heart broke wide open when you had to watch your baby die. He felt how heavy your life was when you were staring down the barrel of a gun wondering if the man you called husband was going to shoot you. He carried the weight of the burden you have felt since your spouse died and life just doesn’t seem right since. On that cross he held the rapist and murderers, the sinner and the saint. He leveled every playing field and said ALL of you are worth it. He knew he had to carry the cross. He never promised the cross you carry in this life would not be heavy. His wasn’t. His promise is that Sunday is coming.
No matter how heavy Friday is. Financially, emotionally, mentally, or physically. Friday is heavy. That cross is weighing you down and you are about to crumble under its weight. His promise was simply this. He won’t make you carry it alone. What kind of king would step down from his throne for this?
Jesus of Nazareth, the Son of God did. For you.
He did every bit of it for you and me. Oh yes it is heavy. So heavy sometimes you do not think you can take one more step. But look up, because Sunday is coming.”
