Five Rivers Church
Palms and Progeny
When Jesus came riding into Jerusalem on the back of a borrowed donkey, he was doing much more than fulfilling an Old Testament prophecy. He was sending a clear message about the nature of his kingdom and his kingship within it ...
Locations & Times
Five Rivers Church
1450 E Dorothy Ln, Dayton, OH 45429, USA
Sunday 11:00 AM
Sonship and Salvation
The following statements are found in the Bible in reference to Jesus as the source of salvation and the Son of God ...
I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:10-11
... for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
"I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Acts 7:56
Jesus calls himself the Son of God
John 5:18
These statements were in circulation prior to Jesus' birth in reference to a man named Caesar Augustus ...
"Augustus would be a divine king, the one the world had been waiting for, the one who would bring salvation to all the earth, freeing the people from fear and establishing a universal empire of peace." The Poet, Virgil
"salvation is to be found in none other save Augustus, and there is no other name given to men in which they can be saved". Proclamation from Augustus and Roman senate
“We saw the son of God, aka Julius Caesar, ascending to the right hand of God the father Zeus.” Common Roman response to Caesar's Comet
Caesar Augustus, Divi Filius (Son of God)
Inscription from coin minted by Caesar Augustus
The following statements are found in the Bible in reference to Jesus as the source of salvation and the Son of God ...
I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. 11 Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. Luke 2:10-11
... for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” Acts 4:12
"I see heaven open and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”
Acts 7:56
Jesus calls himself the Son of God
John 5:18
These statements were in circulation prior to Jesus' birth in reference to a man named Caesar Augustus ...
"Augustus would be a divine king, the one the world had been waiting for, the one who would bring salvation to all the earth, freeing the people from fear and establishing a universal empire of peace." The Poet, Virgil
"salvation is to be found in none other save Augustus, and there is no other name given to men in which they can be saved". Proclamation from Augustus and Roman senate
“We saw the son of God, aka Julius Caesar, ascending to the right hand of God the father Zeus.” Common Roman response to Caesar's Comet
Caesar Augustus, Divi Filius (Son of God)
Inscription from coin minted by Caesar Augustus
Minted Coin Showing Caesar As Son of God
Who was Caesar Augustus?
- Born Gaius Octavius to a niece of Julius Caesar
- Adopted as legal son and rightful heir of Julius Caesar
- Victor in the Roman Civil War after Julius Caesar's death
- First "declared" emperor of Rome
Because Julis Caesar was "deified" as a god, Caesar Augustus claimed that he was the "Son of God"
His claim to be the "Son of God" positioned him to be seen not only as a "deity" but also as a "savior" to mankind who would bring peace to the earth.
His institution of "Pax Romana" (Roman Peace) helped to validate his claims of "savior" and bringer of "peace" to the world.
- Born Gaius Octavius to a niece of Julius Caesar
- Adopted as legal son and rightful heir of Julius Caesar
- Victor in the Roman Civil War after Julius Caesar's death
- First "declared" emperor of Rome
Because Julis Caesar was "deified" as a god, Caesar Augustus claimed that he was the "Son of God"
His claim to be the "Son of God" positioned him to be seen not only as a "deity" but also as a "savior" to mankind who would bring peace to the earth.
His institution of "Pax Romana" (Roman Peace) helped to validate his claims of "savior" and bringer of "peace" to the world.
Pax Romana
At the time of Augustus, Roman thought did not consider peace as the absence of war. Rather, they believed peace existed when all of their opponents were beaten down so severely that they could no longer resist Roman occupation and rule.
To combat this line of thinking and create a philosophical shift, Augustus created a masterful campaign of propaganda in an attempt to convince the people that Rome would experience greater prosperity in the absence of war.
Rather than invest in expensive wars, Augustus made massive investments in infrastructure in Rome and the occupied territories creating incredible wealth and prosperity for the empire. The creation of solid roads, working aqueducts and bridges allowed the empire to create easy movement of people, commodities and troops within territories under the control of Rome.
Propaganda including writings, inscriptions and minted coins circulated easily throughout the empire spreading the news of wealth and prosperity to the people.
Growth and "peace" within the empire became the greatest priority for Augustus, and as such, it was the greatest priority of the governors placed in control of the territories under Roman rule.
At the time of Augustus, Roman thought did not consider peace as the absence of war. Rather, they believed peace existed when all of their opponents were beaten down so severely that they could no longer resist Roman occupation and rule.
To combat this line of thinking and create a philosophical shift, Augustus created a masterful campaign of propaganda in an attempt to convince the people that Rome would experience greater prosperity in the absence of war.
Rather than invest in expensive wars, Augustus made massive investments in infrastructure in Rome and the occupied territories creating incredible wealth and prosperity for the empire. The creation of solid roads, working aqueducts and bridges allowed the empire to create easy movement of people, commodities and troops within territories under the control of Rome.
Propaganda including writings, inscriptions and minted coins circulated easily throughout the empire spreading the news of wealth and prosperity to the people.
Growth and "peace" within the empire became the greatest priority for Augustus, and as such, it was the greatest priority of the governors placed in control of the territories under Roman rule.
Peace and Passover
Pontius Pilate was the governor in Judea when Jesus carried out his ministry, and like other Roman governors, his greatest priority was peace in the region. While he did not live in Jerusalem, he would occasionally come to Jerusalem when situations warranted.
One of those situations was the annual Passover observance. During this time, hundreds of thousands of Jews would descend on the city to celebrate their release from captivity to a world superpower at the time, Egypt.
With so many people in the city celebrating such an event, Roman authorities worried that an uprising could occur. So, they would send the governor in a display of great power and authority to remind the people that Rome was in charge, and they simply needed remain compliant and enjoy the benefits that the emperor provided.
Pontius Pilate was the governor in Judea when Jesus carried out his ministry, and like other Roman governors, his greatest priority was peace in the region. While he did not live in Jerusalem, he would occasionally come to Jerusalem when situations warranted.
One of those situations was the annual Passover observance. During this time, hundreds of thousands of Jews would descend on the city to celebrate their release from captivity to a world superpower at the time, Egypt.
With so many people in the city celebrating such an event, Roman authorities worried that an uprising could occur. So, they would send the governor in a display of great power and authority to remind the people that Rome was in charge, and they simply needed remain compliant and enjoy the benefits that the emperor provided.
Jesus' entry to Jerusalem presents a clear distinction between his kingdom and the "kingdom" of Rome.
The Roman emperor declared himself as Son of God and savior to the world. His empire would bring salvation and peace to the people through Pax Romana, and though his emissaries, he displayed the majesty and authority of Rome. Military-style parades featuring troops, war horses, chariots, trumpets and weaponry left little doubt to those in the empire that Rome would simply crush them if they failed to comply and acknowledge the emperor as savior and lord.
Jesus declared himself as Son of God and savior to the world. His kingdom would bring salvation to the world through his death and peace to the world through individual lives fully surrendered to God and the lifestyle of God's kingdom. He chose to display the power of his kingdom through servant leadership and humility. No troops, no war-horses or chariots, no trumpets and no weapons. Just a borrowed donkey and some palm branches.
Progeny = descendants; offspring
The choice for the people at the time of Jesus was simple: which progeny will they accept as true? Who is the real "Son of God"? Which of these men will bring salvation to the world? Which kingdom will they choose? Which parade will they march behind?
The choice remains the same for us today. Which parade will you march behind???
The Roman emperor declared himself as Son of God and savior to the world. His empire would bring salvation and peace to the people through Pax Romana, and though his emissaries, he displayed the majesty and authority of Rome. Military-style parades featuring troops, war horses, chariots, trumpets and weaponry left little doubt to those in the empire that Rome would simply crush them if they failed to comply and acknowledge the emperor as savior and lord.
Jesus declared himself as Son of God and savior to the world. His kingdom would bring salvation to the world through his death and peace to the world through individual lives fully surrendered to God and the lifestyle of God's kingdom. He chose to display the power of his kingdom through servant leadership and humility. No troops, no war-horses or chariots, no trumpets and no weapons. Just a borrowed donkey and some palm branches.
Progeny = descendants; offspring
The choice for the people at the time of Jesus was simple: which progeny will they accept as true? Who is the real "Son of God"? Which of these men will bring salvation to the world? Which kingdom will they choose? Which parade will they march behind?
The choice remains the same for us today. Which parade will you march behind???