Did Jesus trained any army to make war against the oppressive regime of Rome or even encouraged any fight with the jews?
The Roman Empire was much more cruel than any regime existing today for those who would not comply to its demands, yet Jesus didn't even mention or encourage anyone to try to fight it.
Jesus was not in agreement with many of the jewish teaching at the time either, but he never used physical violence against any jew or anyone else with different views, like the samaritans for example.
When it comes to the Roman occupation and its cruel regime Jesus resisted it in a very wise and subversive way, teaching his disciples to do the same. Jesus was challenging people to live in a way that the rules of the Empire would not even affect them, but that required a radical change of lifestyle and consciousness, not submiting to the rules of the system, but also not living after the "comforts" the empire and urban life was offering.
Many people don´t know this important detail, but words like "The Good News" or "Gospel", "The Son of God", "Kingdom of God", "Lord", "Savior", "Prince of Peace" (just to name a few) were terms used in the Roman Empire and these titles were only used to refer to Caesar.
The Empire had "evangelists" who would proclaim "the good news"(evangelium) throughout all the Empire, proclaiming Rome´s victories and how Caeser was the "Savior" who would bring "peace" to all. Does this sound familiar?
Can you see how wise and political Jesus´ message actually was? Can you see the way Jesus was confronting evil and the Empire, not only spiritually but also politically? It was not with guns and armies, it was with wisdom, and teaching those who were being oppresssed on how to live under those circumstances.
Jesus could see the evil distortions of both the Roman and also the Jewish leaders. The Holy Scriptures were also adulterated and misused, as it is today, and Jesus clarified that too.
I´m going to quote some passages from the Jewish and Christian Scriptures for those who are not so familiar, or for those who want to refresh their memories.
In Deuteronomy 19:21, part of the jewish Torah attributed to Moses, it was written "and your eye shall not pity; but life shall go for life, eye for eye, tooth for tooth, hand for hand, foot for foot". Jesus mentions this passage this way : " - You have heard that is was said "eye for an eye and tooth for a tooth". But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn them the other cheek also." (Mathew 5:38-39)
It sounds like Jesus was not only against violence but he was also against the interpretation the Jewish teachers would have of their Holy Scriptures.
When Jesus was arrested by the Roman soldiers, Peter picked a knife and attacked the soldier to try to defend Jesus. And Jesus told him off saying : " - Put your sword back in its place" , Jesus said to him, "for all who draw the sword will die by the sword" (Mathew 26:52)
Now, there is a very controversial passage that some might use to defend that Jesus was for war, but lets look at it closely.
“Do not suppose that I have come to bring peace to the earth. I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I have come to turn "a man against his father, a daughter against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law, a man´s enemies will be the members of his own household" " (these last words was again Jesus quoting from the jewish scripture on the book of the prophet Micah 7:6)
Jesus said this at the end of his speech to his disciples when he first sent them to proclaim his message among the Jews. He was warning them that they would not be so welcomed and even persecuted as the message, and what Jesus stood for, was quite radical then, as it is now. The end of slavery, the end of colonialism, the imancipation of women, equal human rights, wars and even things like the covid vacinations have been dividing families and friends throughout human history... in the end it´s about people standing for freedom, and this is what Jesus stands for too, yet, he would never use violence to get freedom.
The Jews, as most religious people, especially the most fundamentalist ones, didn't really like to hear that they were wrong in their teachings about God and what God expects of those who follow, so the spread of these new teachings didn't please many of the Jews at that time and Jesus was simply warning his disciples of possible retaliation and violence against them.
Jesus will bring the sword, not for his disciples to use it against anyone, but the sword, or the violence, will come against them, not from them.
The pacifist message of Jesus was particularly disturbing at the time because people were already divided on their oppinions about the Romans and some were even preparing to resist it with violence, especially the political group called the Zealots, while others were not sure or totally against the idea of war. This is not unlike what we see in our days. So, for me, when Jesus said "I did not come to bring peace, but a sword", I think he is saying he is bringing division, because unfortunately many will not want to accept his pacifist way.
We also have to remember that among the Jews Jesus was already being spoken of as a potential Messiah, and in their view, this Messiah would be a military leader, a mighty warrior who would bring peace to Israel by force. As we know, this was not Jesus´ way, even though I do believe he did come to bring the so expected Peace, maybe just not the way people were expecting.
John realises this too and in his Gospel he quotes Jesus saying " - Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. "(John 14:27) , and later on he adds " - I have told you these things, so that you can have peace because of me. In this world you will have trouble. But be encouraged! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33). Obviously without war or swords !
In this world we will have trouble...we will have wars... we will have occupations... we will have guns pointed at our heads... we will have violence against us because we stand for freedom, for peace, for justice and for love... but Jesus will help us to overcome all of it without the use of violence, even if sometimes it can lead to our death. And that too Jesus overcomes.
When we use violence our soul looses and our spirit dies. Nobody can kill another human being and not be destroyed inwardly. The ones giving the commands are not the ones pulling the triggers. Where is the justice on this? And who wins?
Back to my initial thought. I just don´t understand why some christians still think we are to make justice with our own hands, on our own terms, and support wars and armies to end unjust regimes.
I´m also not agreeing or defending those regimes, especially any fundamentalism of any kind, but, in my opinion, evil always defeats itself eventually... Many people suffer and die in the process of resistance, that´s true, but maybe not more than those who suffer and die in a war trying to defeat the same evil. Or the chain of reaction that comes with it for so many generations. Can´t we see that a war based on hatred will only generate more hatred? Nobody wins in a war.
I agree that fundamentalists and extremists in all sides of these wars are wrong to use violence and terror for so many years. That should end for sure. I know that the majority of people (who don´t get their voices on the news) from the nations that are at war at the moment, do not support the fundamentalists who continue to instigate these wars demonizing and dehumanizing "the other".
Everyone, I believe, wants to live in peace and security. But is it a war that will bring peace?
Aren't we mature enough to come to dialogue and settle just agreements for all parts, when all parts are heard? Shouldn't this be the main investment and work of the so called christians? As well as Jews, Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and to be honest of all spiritualities if they are really following their paths. (Civil religions are the ones that instigate wars, divisions and all sorts of evil in the name of Nationalism, but that´s a whole other conversation.)
I know there is great work done by the "Menonites", "Quakers", "Catholic workers" and "Christian Peacemaker Teams", to name a few, but these are still minorities while the louder voices out there want people to believe that christians stand for war. The same way many christians have the wrong idea about Muslims thinking they only want war and they are all extremists. There are many Palestinian peacemakers, both Christian and Muslims, there are many Muslim and Jewish peacemakers, but somehow these voices are not loud enough or not welcomed enough even by their own communities.
Someone recently (a christian), trying to convince me that the war against Iran and Hezbollah is a good idea, mentioned the WW2 saying that it was good for Europe to get the help of the allies to defeat the Nazis in Germany. I understood what he was trying to say and where he comes from, but I´m still not convinced that was the best approach to end the atrocities of the Nazi movement in Germany...Was Nazism destroyed? Did all europeans really learned that there are no humans superior to others, that ultranationalism can lead to terrible ends and that fascism and far-right ideologies are not good to anyone? On the contrary, it seems to be rising, both in Europe and the US. Maybe those who were trying to kill a monster became monsters themselves, and we are not even able to see it.
Jesus´ message is not an easy one to follow, but his way was a non-violent way, it is a way that chooses to resist without violence or fear even when that means we might die. That´s the only way evil gets really destroyed.
Many christians were actually killed by Nazis while trying to save Jews or other persecuted people, trying to preach the real teachings of the Non-violent Christ, like Bonhoeffer did and many risked their lives standing for Jews among their families and friends. That was the act of resistance that more christians should have had in Nazi Germany instead of waiting for a war to end the regime, or doing nothing about it. We are speaking of a country that was 99% christian (catholic and protestant), with less than 1% Jewish and other religions. Hitler himself professed to be christian even though not that devoted, his plans were mostly to manipulate nationalist Christians more than following the teachings of Christ. Hitler would definitely aim a lot of his manipulative speeches to the christian population who were standing for him and agreeing with his words without even question. (here is an interesting article if you want to read more about this)
What can we say to this? Either Christianity is really not a good religion, especially when it defends nationalism or Jesus´ teachings have been totally misunderstood and misused. I believe in the later option, and it´s sad to see the repetition of the same mistakes over and over again.
I end with more words attibuted to Jesus :
"Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called the children of God.
Blessed are those who are persecuted because of Justice,
for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven"
(Mathew 5: 9,10)
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