SS Lesson # 2 - Second Sunday in Easter

The Spread of Christianity

I have always been fascinated by the first century after Christ’s death. This has always been a particularly important time 
to study because it is at this time that the Christian religion went from a sect of only a few to a major and dominant 
religion. There must have been something going on that was unique and extraordinary. What were those factors? What happened 
to cause so many to change their life?  For this lesson I would like to set the stage with a brief history lesson.

There were three ruling bodies in Jerusalem at the time of the crucifixion: 

1.) The Sadducees which consisted of a traditional ruling class of priests who rejected doctrines not in the Law (such as 
    resurrection, retribution in the future life, i.e. hell, and the existence of angels to name only a few); 

2.) The Pharisees were for the most part a wealthy and ruling elite who were noted for strict (and I might add somewhat 
    theatrical) observance of the written law and for insistence on the validity of their own oral traditions concerning the 
    law; 

3.) and of course, the Roman garrison at the Fortress Antonia. 

The Roman governor at this time held the title of Prefect which is something akin to being an overseer. This was changed to 
direct rule after the aborted revolution in 76-77 finally quelled by Titus the son of Vespasian, who was in the process of 
becoming the emperor. Jerusalem was a critical nexus for trade at this time and control of the warring elements in this 
fractious society was of paramount importance in keeping a peaceful trade route between the wheat of Egypt and the hungry 
mouths of Rome and her ever increasing citizenry. Needless to say, after the fall of Masada, the Romans decided that the 
easiest way to keep the peace was to simply kill everyone in sight and kick everyone left alive out of Jerusalem (called the 
Diaspora). I can not imagine a better recipe for the dispersal of the Christian religion. With the aid of the remarkable 
Roman road system, which connected every major city in the known world, the Jews dispersed in a radiating fashion over the 
entire Mediterranean world. The city of Alexandria, already having a thriving Jewish population, welcomed many into its 
Greek culture. This became, for nearly a thousand years, a second Jerusalem. Those Jews dispersing into northern Africa 
became known as the Sephardic tradition and those dispersing into the Turkish and European routes were called Hassidic 
(famous for their banking and trading skills). The Sephardic Jewry (also famous for their banking and trading skills) 
drifted ever westward and finally ended their travels in Spain; where, in the 1500’s after many battles, their migration was 
halted and they settled into an uneasy alliance with the king and queen, Ferdinand and Isabella. In order to remain, they 
were stripped of their wealth (which, in large part, allowed the Columbus expedition). Thinking that the Jews could no 
longer practice their trade in banking, the Spanish felt that they had cut the head of the snake so to speak.

Meanwhile, back in Rome, the triumph granted Titus was nothing less than spectacular. The gate of Titus is essentially a 
record of the loot that they brought back from Jerusalem after its fall. The Romans, who had no compunctions whatsoever in 
stealing everything they could get their hands on, brought back to Rome enough wealth to build the Coliseum in addition to 
purchasing an emperorship for Titus. Recent archeological discoveries at the coliseum have indicated that the original 
Coliseum was dedicated to its builder, Titus, son of Vespasian; not to Claudius, who had his name mounted in gold letters 
over Titus’ name. Titus still had enough left over to bribe the Praetorian Guard!

Those Jews, that traveled north, went to Turkey and then into Europe by way of the Bosporus. A large portion went to Poland 
and Germany where their administrative skills were much in demand by the local rulers; who, for the most part, were Celts 
whose culture precluded too much interest in finances. Banking skills were always appreciated in societies where numbers 
were still counted on their fingers. 

The Christian religion spread like wildfire along with the wandering Jews. There has recently been discovered in Britain 
Early Christian relics dating to 44 A.D. This predates the Council of Jerusalem by 6 years! Peter and Paul were still alive 
and the majority of the letter by Paul had yet to be written. Christianity was alive and well and growing by leaps and 
bounds. 

There must have been something about the new religion to have made it so popular. The rise of Christianity is certainly 
unique in history. The religions of Rome were as much a pastime as they were a requirement. Even the priests of the temples 
were known to be jaded at best; and, at worst, simply businessmen out to make a buck. Religion in Rome was big business. It 
certainly was big business in Ephesus and most of the major near Eastern cities as well. By this time, Egypt had long ago 
merely added Rome’s gods to their own panoply of state supported gods and goddesses.  Religion was very big business. Anyone 
messing with their livelihoods was in equally big trouble. 

It is particularly appropriate that we study the Eucharist at this time and for this reason. The Eucharist is the center and 
heart of the Christian religion. It is what separated the Christians and the remaining religions of the world. This was not a 
religion that demanded something of earthly value. The Baal worshipers demanded children. Zeus demanded cash.  Mithraists 
demanded torture. Christ demands only our love. This is striking in its simplicity as well as its unique quality. It is not 
in the repetition of the words by the priest or the congregation but the words and acts of the Logos and the operation of the 
Holy Spirit which are the effective agents in the Eucharist. The Lima Document sums this up best when it says:

It is the Father who is the primary origin and final fulfillment of the Eucharist event. The incarnate Son of God, by and in 
whom it is accomplished, is its living center. The bond between the Eucharistic celebration and the mystery of the Triune God 
reveals the role of the Holy Spirit as that of the one who makes the historical words of Jesus present and alive. Being 
assured by Jesus’ promise in the words of institution that it will be answered, the Church prays to the Father for the gift 
of the Holy Spirit in order that the Eucharistic event may be a reality: the real presence of the crucified and risen Christ 
giving his life for all humanity. It is in virtue of the living word of Christ and by the power of the Holy Spirit that the 
bread and wine become the sacramental signs of Christ’s body and blood.  

It is this belief that makes Christianity unique and overpowering in its logic and simplicity; and, the reason that, I 
believe, the early church was invincible against the existing religions of the time. I do not know if the Apostles truly 
understood the whole theology of the Resurrection. Possibly by instinct, they, with their intimate knowledge of Christ, would 
have grasped the vast implications of the death and resurrection. But on that first Easter morning I think they would have 
deeply felt the loss of Christ whose presence must have filled their lives.  I think it is sometimes lost that the people who 
followed Christ didn’t have caterers. The apostles spoke to Christ before the feeding of the five thousand because the people 
had been following Christ for three days with nothing to eat and they were afraid that if they had to return home they would 
faint from hunger. Now that is what I call a hunger. This passion for the word is what drove the early Christian religion to 
explode into a faithless world and change the face of humanity forever.