Two-thousand and twelve years ago, an event took place which shaped the history of the western world ever since, most of it good but some of it bad. Can anyone think of any historical figure who has had that much positive influence on the lives of so many for so long? I doubt it.
In our time, people and companies spend millions of dollars every year touting products and services and to establish a brand. None have ever come close to converting as many people to their product as that one man with a voice and a message who roamed ancient Israel and delivered the modern day version of soap-box speeches.
When we consider the odds of one, simple person achieving such renown using just his voice, no army, no books, you have to be curious about what made him a giant among men. It's not as though, like a superb athlete, there was an intense training period. Besides whatever he had learned at the temples, there was no formal, university education. How did such a person achieve so much? He had to be someone "special".
His message was really quite simple but it resonated in the hearts of weary, downtrodden people everywhere. The message was an assurance that they would be delivered from the misery and agony of life on Earth if they lived their lives with love. That hope, revived their spirits. Besides instilling hope, following those teachings made life on Earth more bearable.
The popularity and influence of this man among the people aroused the curiosity of others, who were more highly placed in society, and many of them found the teachings consoling and inspiring. And so the message was spread until today, and it will never die.
In our time, people and companies spend millions of dollars every year touting products and services and to establish a brand. None have ever come close to converting as many people to their product as that one man with a voice and a message who roamed ancient Israel and delivered the modern day version of soap-box speeches.
When we consider the odds of one, simple person achieving such renown using just his voice, no army, no books, you have to be curious about what made him a giant among men. It's not as though, like a superb athlete, there was an intense training period. Besides whatever he had learned at the temples, there was no formal, university education. How did such a person achieve so much? He had to be someone "special".
His message was really quite simple but it resonated in the hearts of weary, downtrodden people everywhere. The message was an assurance that they would be delivered from the misery and agony of life on Earth if they lived their lives with love. That hope, revived their spirits. Besides instilling hope, following those teachings made life on Earth more bearable.
The popularity and influence of this man among the people aroused the curiosity of others, who were more highly placed in society, and many of them found the teachings consoling and inspiring. And so the message was spread until today, and it will never die.
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