VV#59 - "Flee to the Mountains!" - "Woe to Jerusalem!" - Jesus, Son of Ananias
The warnings from two separate Jesus's.
The above audio is a narration of the story of Jesus, Son of Ananias, as recounted by Jewish historian, Josephus. Narrated by Jonathan E.
“When you see Jerusalem being surrounded by armies, you will know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those in the city get out, and let those in the country not enter the city. For this is the time of punishment in fulfillment of all that has been written. How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.”
-Luke 21:20-24
Jesus of Nazareth knew very well the history of Israel. He could see clearly the patterns throughout time that had characterized his own people and their struggle with the Divine. It’s not that he wanted them to stop carrying out all the duties and customs that were commanded them so long ago (and that they had become exceedingly good at), but he wanted them also to remember the most important things:
“…you have neglected the more important matters of the law—justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.” (Matthew 23:23)
Jesus had never condemned the religious elites for simply following their own laws. Contrary to what some modern “spiritual” people may claim, there is indeed high value in regular customs and ritual and practise. Those things did indeed help Israel set themselves apart as a people (and if they hadn’t done them at all, that would have created a whole new problem). Indeed, this same Jesus, far from condemning Judaism in general, had proclaimed to the Samaritan woman:
“You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews.” (John 4:22)
The issue for this Jesus was just simply that they had become so proud of themselves for faithfully executing one part of their law and prophets, and entirely neglecting the other.
Without this other (and more weightier) part, the nation and people could not be sustained in the long term. Yahweh’s protection could no longer be counted on.
Jesus, Son of Ananias
About 40 years before the destruction of the temple and the entire city of Jerusalem, Jesus of Nazareth had warned of it’s destruction (“Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles”). To his disciples hearing him say that at the time, it must have seemed inconceivable. They had previously marvelled at the glorious temple architecture that was the pride and joy of the Israelites, and couldn’t believe that a time would soon come when “not one stone would be left on top of another”.
But in light of the politically comfortable but antagonizing relationship that the religious leaders kept pushing into with their Roman overlords (while disregarding “the more important matters of [their own] law”), Jesus saw a conflagration as inevitable.
But as it turns out, it wasn’t just this Jesus who could sense impending doom, but also another Jesus… that is, the son of Ananias (a plebeian farmer), as recounted by the Jewish historian, Josephus.
Maybe unlike like Jesus of Nazareth, Jesus son of Ananias could be characterized as slightly more, let us say… unhinged. There is definitely a greater sense of manic urgency with this Jesus, son of Ananias, as compared to the very level-headed (and much more comprehensive) Jesus of Nazareth that we encounter in the gospels (and admittedly, the son of Ananias had good cause for panic being much closer to the actual events). But regardless of how they may have come across differently to their respective audiences, both of these men named Jesus were warning very clearly about the exact same impending doom.
Josephus recounts the dramatic events that commenced sometime between 63 and 66 AD:
“Four years before the war, when the city was enjoying profound peace and prosperity, there came to the feast at which it is the custom of all Jews to erect tabernacles to God, one Jesus, son of Ananias, a rude peasant, who suddenly began to cry out, "A voice from the east, a voice from the west, a voice from the four winds, a voice against Jerusalem and the sanctuary, a voice against the bridegroom and the bride, a voice against all the people." Day and night he went about all the alleys with this cry on his lips.” (Book 6, Chapter 5, Section 3 of the historian Flavius Josephus' The Wars of the Jews or History of the Destruction of Jerusalem)
What were the “four winds” that was mentioned here by this “rude peasant”?
This phrase would have been known well by the Israelites. It was considered the place where Yahweh would reveal himself in power and in judgment. When this happened, miracles were known to occur, but would often signify a great and terrible reckoning, as we discussed about “the Day of the Lord”. The prophet Zechariah had used this imagery of the four winds:
“These are the four spirits of heaven, going out from standing in the presence of the Lord of the whole world.” (Zechariah 6:5)
And Jesus of Nazareth had warned of the same thing when he said that at that time He would be “coming on the clouds of heaven”:
“And [the Son of Man] will send his angels with a loud trumpet call, and they will gather his elect from the four winds, from one end of the heavens to the other.” (Matthew 24:31)
This “voice” from the “four winds” portended what many people throughout Rome were already able to feel, like this Jesus could feel so viscerally. No doubt to many, the lyrics of Bob Marley’s song, “Natural Mystic” would have resonated:
There's a natural mystic blowing through the air
If you listen carefully now you will hear
This could be the first trumpet, might as well be the last
Many more will have to suffer
Many more will have to die
Don't ask me why(Bob Marley and the Wailers, Exodus, “Natural Mystic”)
You see, although for quite a long time Rome and Jerusalem had been enjoying great peace and prosperity, the next four years would indeed end up being the worst imaginable, as St Paul had warned ahead of time:
“While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape.” (1 Thessalonians 5:3)
So stark would the contrast end up being, no one ahead of time would have been able to guess the true extent of the incoming carnage.
Indeed, Jesus of Nazareth had warned almost 40 years prior that this great peace and prosperity that so characterized this time would actually turn into the most horrific that has ever been and ever will be, and thus he warned about not being caught off guard, and especially the dangers of starting a family at this time:
“How dreadful it will be in those days for pregnant women and nursing mothers! Pray that this will not take place in winter, because those will be days of distress unequaled from the beginning, when God created the world, until now—and never to be equaled again.” (Mark 13:17-19)
And this other Jesus, almost 40 years later, could feel this very threat about to materialize. Josephus continues his recounting of the story of the panicked son of Ananias:
“Some of the leading citizens, incensed at these ill-omened words, arrested the fellow and severely chastised him. But he, without a word on his own behalf or for the private ear of those who smote him, only continued his cries as before. Thereupon, the magistrates, supposing, as was indeed the case, that the man was under some supernatural impulse, brought him before the Roman governor; there, although flayed to the bone with scourges, he neither sued for mercy nor shed a tear, but, merely introducing the most mournful of variations into his utterances, responded to each lashing with "Woe to Jerusalem!" When Albinus, the governor, asked him who and whence he was and why he uttered these cries, he answered him never a word, but unceasingly reiterated his dirge over the city, until Albinus pronounced him a maniac and let him go.” (ibid)
So possessed of this foreboding spirit, this rude peasant could not even notice the beatings and scourges that were inflicted upon him. The impending judgment of the Divine was just simply felt too heavy in his very bones:
“During the whole period up to the outbreak of war he neither approached nor was seen talking to any of the citizens, but daily, like a prayer that he had conned, repeated his lament, "Woe to Jerusalem!" He neither cursed any of those who beat him from day to day, nor blessed those who offered him food: to all men that melancholy presage was his one reply. His cries were loudest at the festivals. So for seven years and five months he continued his wail, his voice never flagging nor his strength exhausted, until in the siege, having seen his presage verified, he found his rest.” (ibid)
And this very presage that had so possessed him would ultimately bring him also to his own ruin:
“For, while going his round and shouting in piercing tones from the wall, "Woe once more to the city and to the people and to the temple," as he added a last word, "and woe to me also," a stone hurled from the ballista struck and killed him on the spot. So with those ominous words still upon his lips he passed away.” (ibid)
As he had lived for the past many years wholly absorbed in his own warning, so also he died. No doubt a unsettling mystery to many up until the very moment when everyone could see the armies of Rome surrounding the holy city of Jerusalem, he ultimately found his own true (but dark) vindication. Just as the first Jesus had faced death for warning others of what he saw coming, so also had this Jesus found his demise.
But unlike the first Jesus from Nazareth, this son of Ananias would not be soon seen “coming on the clouds of heaven”.
I've been meaning to comment on your last few posts but have fallen behind. Sorry about that. So much to say, but let me start with this...
When Luke writes, "There will be great distress in the land and wrath against this people. They will fall by the sword and will be taken as prisoners to all the nations. Jerusalem will be trampled on by the Gentiles until the times of the Gentiles are fulfilled.” >> ... how should a Christian today read those words? Is this describing what already happened... or what will happen -- or is happening -- right now?
Sarah's "fault"? Nah. A necessary plot point for the glory of the story.
Which nation(s) do you think is/are the black sheep?