I would like to dedicate this post to exploring the bigotry that played a crucial role in the persecution of Christ nearly two millennia ago. Many people overlook the clear indications of ethnic intolerance displayed by the Pharisees and Sadducees of that age, and argue that Christ was treated poorly simply because of His beliefs. I will instead make a case based on Biblical passages that Christ faced significant and pervasive prejudice comparable to the racism which minorities experience in the modern world, and that it was central to His rejection by the Israeli elites.
It was no secret that Christ, though born in Bethlehem, traced His heritage to Galilee, the border region spanning between northern Israel and southern Lebanon, which was at the furthest reaches of the Kingdom of Israel. Nearly all of His disciples were Galilean as well. And the infamous reputations of Galileans, and in particular the city of Nazareth, long preceded His birth. That region of the Levant was known as a hotbed of treachery and villainy, rife with corruption and crime. It was the ancient world's equivalent to modern vice-ridden cities like Chicago and Detroit. When Christ was first introduced to His disciples, one of them asked: "Can anything good come from Nazareth?" to which another replied "See for yourself!" (John 1:46). Later, even Christ Himself spoke out against His own people, for they tried to kill Him in retribution for performing a great many miracles before them (Luke 4:29, Matthew 11:24).
Throughout Christ's ministry, the Pharisees made no secret of their disdain for Northern Israelis, and thereby for Him. "No prophet can come from Galilee!" they proclaimed and then reiterated, citing their own interpretation of Mosaic scripture (John 7:41, John 7:52). The Bible makes it very plain to the reader that Christ's unique ethnic background played a central role in their hatred towards Him, and motivated them to try everything possible to disprove His powers of righteousness.
I can only conclude from the above scriptures that Christ was persecuted in large part because of His heritage and upbringing, which many in ancient Israel saw as precluding Him from being a prophet, despite ample evidence of His heavenly powers. There were certainly other factors involved, but the role of ethnic intolerance cannot be denied either.
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