What Jesus Changed in Society

I know I have done a few blogs, recently.  Normally, I would go a few days, before doing my next blog post.  But, as with my playlists, I do them when I am moved to understand or share something, and I have another to share.

What do you think changed with Jesus in the world?  I don't think we think enough about that, because we are born into a world and project that understanding backwards at times.  However, I think a good way of understanding it is to also understand Irish History.  I took a course in it, as I am a third Irish with my McKinney lineage and more.  

In Ireland, prior to St Patrick, the island was made up of a thousand warring groups... literally.  After St Patrick, they unified.  What changed?  St Patrick introduced the concept of setting your own passions aside and control of self for a higher purpose.. for God.  It took greater power to control yourself than to control another.

Similary, Jesus was born into a world that had only known wars.. kill or be killed, conquest, rule, power, authority, control.  That was what they knew.  Jesus came on the scene, and the world by its own nature expected Him to be a conquoring leader, much like many of this current age expect and seek, as well.  But, instead, Jesus spoke of love, forgiveness, grace, unity.  The people of that age found that unsatisfying, again similar to the people of this age.  But, as Nepoleon  would note....

“I know men, and I tell you Jesus Christ was not a man.

'Superficial minds see a resemblance between Christ and the founders of empires and the gods of other religions. That resemblance does not exist.

"There is between Christianity and other religions the distance of infinity.

"Alexander, Cæsar, Charlemagne and myself founded empires. But on what did we rest the creations of our genius? Upon sheer force. Jesus Christ alone founded His empire upon love; and at this hour millions of men will die for Him. In every other existence but that of Christ how many imperfections!

"From the first day to the last He is the same; majestic and simple; infinitely firm and infinitely gentle."

And, gradually.. century by century, society turned from conquest and power to care and responsibility for the people.  

What did Jesus change in society?  He added a heart to it.  May we ever retain it and pledge our own self control to that end.