Ruins of a water pipe in Caesarea

Herodion

Model of the Second Temple rebuilt by Herod

37

– Herod the Great, who was of Edom’s origin and served the Romans gladly, overmastered Judaea, and ruled until his death in 4 BCE. As an enthusiastic supporter of Hellenism, he built theatres all over the country and organized plays. He built the fortress of Caesarea, Masada and the Herodion, and revived Samaria. He rebuilt the Temple in Jerusalem – which became the most beautiful building of the era, and he built a palace and fortress (Antonia fortress). In spite of this, with his Hellenism and lifestyle he angered the faithful Jewish people. At the end of his life he suffered from insanity, and due to his paranoid attacks, he executed many of his family.

Meanwhile, in Jerusalem

there was an active spiritual life besides the rivalry of the different religious movements. Four-hundred-and-eighty synagogues and eighty schools operated in Jerusalem. The Jews pilgrimaged here three times a year, to celebrate according to the Mosaic Law. Different rabbis interpreted the Law in the Temple. The sinners’ pilgrimage to ask for forgiveness from God through sacrifices. Those who were successful showed peace offerings and they organized house gatherings all over the city. At the same time, among the leaders – priests, Sanhedrin, judges – corruption, intimidation, hate and moral depravity spread.

8/7 BCE

– Into this atmosphere of confusion, fear and hope for the coming of the Messiah, Jesus of Nazareth was born. About thirty years later he started a new movement full of healings, resurrections, and financial miracles. His main purpose was to show guidance to the people about keeping the Mosaic Law in order to live a happy, prosperous, creative life and how to love one another with true, active love. His works were followed by hateful reaction from many Jewish movements.

32/33 CE

– After three years of dynamic and powerful service, Jesus was arrested with charge of blasphemy, then the Roman leadership sentenced him to crucifixion. Three days after his crucifixion he was physically raised from the dead.

Fifty days after the death of Jesus,

again something supernatural happened. Fire, winds and ecstatic euphoria followed the visit of the Holy Spirit on Earth, the third person of the Holy Trinity. He came with the purpose of carving the Law of God into people’s hearts and to make them willingly obedient to the Law and a whole new people. In the following days, thousands of people accepted Jesus as their Messiah, many of the priests also repented. The numbers of Jesus’ followers grew through the works of the apostles in Israel and the Jewish diaspora and later among other nations as well. The members of the new movement were called Messiah-believers due to their lifestyle and mindset that was similar to Jesus’ – in Greek like Christ, i.e., Christians.

 

Model of the fortress of Masada

Reconstruction drawing of Herod’s construction of Sebastias (Samaria)

Forum at Sebastias (Samaria)