The world into which Jesus was born was a harsh place. He was born in a stable because the inn had no room and people had no compassion. He grew up in poverty. He grew up in a world where the Roman government heavily taxed their people and crucified all who resisted. For entertainment, the Romans watched gladiators kill one another and animals dismember defenseless humans. The gothic tribes of Europe that eventually overran the Romans were not better. They practiced polygamy, blood sacrifices, and abandoning their children in the forest. They raped, killed, and burned everything and everyone they met. When Jesus came, the gospel message conquered Rome, conquered the barbaric tribes of Europe, and conquered the darkness of every culture it penetrated. Join us as we learn how the birth of Jesus brought civility to the world.
