There was a Man
T. H. White wrote
“There was just such a man when I was young—an Austrian who invented a new way of life and convinced himself that he was the chap to make it work. He tried to impose his reformation by the sword, and plunged the civilized world into misery and chaos. But the thing which this fellow had overlooked, my friend, was that he had a predecessor in the reformation business, called Jesus Christ. Perhaps we may assume that Jesus knew as much as the Austrian did about saving people. But the odd thing is that Jesus did not turn the disciples into storm troopers, burn down the Temple at Jerusalem, and fix the blame on Pontius Pilate. On the contrary, he made it clear that the business of the philosopher was to make ideas available, and not to impose them on people.” T. H. White, The Once and Future King.
As I look around the world at terrorist groups seeking to convert people to their faith by force of arms. I think of that misguided Austrian that caused the death of in excess of fifty-six million plus people, military and civilian.
He did not succeed nor did anyone who has ever tried to conquer the world by force. All such people are but footnotes in history.
The glory that was Rome is simple ruins. There are no followers of the Roman caesars to day. Nero who persecuted Christians mercilessly is no more. While the followers of Jesus Christ the very group of people he tried to destroy numbers in the Billions.
A group that grew to be that way, not by force of arms, but through showing the Love of God.
Should our Lord tarry the terrorist groups of our day and age will be also footnotes in history very soon.
Jesus speaking to Peter said,
“... Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Matthew 26:52b.
Napoleon said
"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
“I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel. Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.” Napoleon Bonaparte,
Jesus truly is extraordinary. He is extraordinary because He is the Son of God, God incarnate.
His call to the world is,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
No dictator, no terrorist has ever said those words to the world. Yet they are words that have truly transformed individuals since the day Jesus spoke them.
Please think about it.
T. H. White wrote
“There was just such a man when I was young—an Austrian who invented a new way of life and convinced himself that he was the chap to make it work. He tried to impose his reformation by the sword, and plunged the civilized world into misery and chaos. But the thing which this fellow had overlooked, my friend, was that he had a predecessor in the reformation business, called Jesus Christ. Perhaps we may assume that Jesus knew as much as the Austrian did about saving people. But the odd thing is that Jesus did not turn the disciples into storm troopers, burn down the Temple at Jerusalem, and fix the blame on Pontius Pilate. On the contrary, he made it clear that the business of the philosopher was to make ideas available, and not to impose them on people.” T. H. White, The Once and Future King.
As I look around the world at terrorist groups seeking to convert people to their faith by force of arms. I think of that misguided Austrian that caused the death of in excess of fifty-six million plus people, military and civilian.
He did not succeed nor did anyone who has ever tried to conquer the world by force. All such people are but footnotes in history.
The glory that was Rome is simple ruins. There are no followers of the Roman caesars to day. Nero who persecuted Christians mercilessly is no more. While the followers of Jesus Christ the very group of people he tried to destroy numbers in the Billions.
A group that grew to be that way, not by force of arms, but through showing the Love of God.
Should our Lord tarry the terrorist groups of our day and age will be also footnotes in history very soon.
Jesus speaking to Peter said,
“... Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. Matthew 26:52b.
Napoleon said
"You speak of Caesar, of Alexander, of their conquests and of the enthusiasm which they enkindled in the hearts of their soldiers; but can you conceive of a dead man making conquests, with an army faithful and entirely devoted to his memory? My armies have forgotten me even while living, as the Carthaginian army forgot Hannibal. Such is our power.”
“I know men and I tell you, Jesus Christ is no mere man. Between him and every other person in the world there is no possible term of comparison. Alexander, Caesar, Charlemagne, and I have founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon force. Jesus Christ founded his empire upon love; and at this hour, millions would die for him.”
“I search in vain history to find similar to Jesus Christ, or anything which can approach the gospel. Neither history nor humanity, nor ages, nor nature, offer me anything with which I am able to compare it or to explain it. Here everything is extraordinary.” Napoleon Bonaparte,
Jesus truly is extraordinary. He is extraordinary because He is the Son of God, God incarnate.
His call to the world is,
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30.
No dictator, no terrorist has ever said those words to the world. Yet they are words that have truly transformed individuals since the day Jesus spoke them.
Please think about it.
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