Since his death, Jesus has played a continual role
throughout history. The legalization of Christianity by the Roman Empire, in
A.D. 313, soon led to its expansion into every part of the Western world. Not
until the Prophet Muhammad began the Islamic religion in 610 did Christianity
have any meaningful competition in terms of numbers of followers. Muhammad
considered Jesus a prophet and is quoted in the Quran as saying, “When Jesus
came with clear signs, he said: ‘Now I have come to you with wisdom, and in
order to make clear to you some of the points on which you dispute. Therefore,
fear God and obey me.’”
In the United States, George Washington used Christianity
as a rallying point for his colonial army, saying in his First General Order to
his troops, “Every officer and man will endeavor to live and act as becomes a
Christian soldier defending the dearest rights and liberties of his county.”
Abraham Lincoln also referred to Jesus in a wartime
setting: “When I went to Gettysburg and looked upon the graves of our dead
heroes who had fallen in defense of their country, I then and there consecrated
myself to Christ.”
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. of course based his entire
ministry and civil rights struggle on the teachings of Jesus. Also, his
nonviolent philosophy was adapted in part from the ordeal Jesus experienced.
About enemies, Dr. King said the following: “Just keep loving them. And by the
power of your love they will break down under the load. That’s love, you see.
It is redemptive and this is why Jesus says love. There’s something about love
that builds up and is creative. There is something about hate that tears down
and is destructive. So, love your enemies.”
President Ronald Reagan picked up on that theme: “He
promised there will never be a dark night that does not end. And by dying for
us, Jesus showed how far our love should be ready to go- all the way.”
Reference~ Killing Jesus by Bill O’Reilly & Martin Dugard
