Front and back cover of Jews for Jesus magazine
Tom Holland's Eye-Opening Interview on Christianity
In a fascinating interview with Bari Weiss, historian Tom Holland, author of Dominion: How the Christian Revolution Remade the World , sheds light on the radical nature of Christianity—especially how it presents the life and sacrifice of Jesus. During their conversation, Holland makes a profound observation:
"What is radical is that the man Christians believe was divine was someone who had ended up suffering the worst fate imaginable—death by crucifixion—which, in the opinion of the Romans, was the fate visited on a slave."
This statement is not just historically significant; it’s a theological game-changer. Holland’s insight is eye-opening because it challenges many of our modern assumptions about power, glory, and heroism. The idea that the divine, the eternal, would take on such a humiliating and painful death is, as Holland points out, a radical departure from the norms of the ancient world.
For the Romans, crucifixion was a brutal and degrading punishment reserved for the lowest of society—the slaves, the rebels, and the criminals. It was the ultimate display of power, asserting that even life itself could be taken away in the most humiliating manner. But in Christian teaching, this is exactly what the divine chose to endure. Jesus, who Christians believe was the Son of God, accepted this fate and, in doing so, turned the world’s understanding of power upside down.
The Call to Take Up Our Cross
But the radical nature of Christianity doesn’t stop at Jesus' suffering. It extends to the very essence of what it means to follow Him. In Matthew 16:24-26, Jesus challenges His followers to take up their own cross:
"Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?’”
This passage presents a daunting and paradoxical challenge: if we want to truly follow Jesus, we must embrace the cross. We must deny ourselves, surrender our desires for power, comfort, and worldly success, and instead adopt a life of sacrifice. This isn't just being "nice" it is doing whatever Jesus commands. It requires obedience to what Jesus has told us. Christianity, at its core, is not about seeking pleasure or success on our own terms. It’s about dying to self and living for something far greater-- that is to please Jesus by having faith and trust in Him alone.
Christianity—Not Fun, But Fulfilling
At first glance, this may seem like a grim or even unappealing proposition. After all, the idea of suffering and self-denial doesn’t exactly sound fun, right? However, there’s a deeper truth in these words: the promise of life.
When Jesus speaks of losing our life for His sake, He’s not suggesting that life is over; He’s offering a paradox. It’s only through this act of surrender, this willingness to carry our own crosses, that we discover what true life really is. To truly live is to live for something beyond ourselves—something eternal.
As Jesus says, “For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” In other words, it’s when we stop clinging to our temporary, self-centered desires and align ourselves with the eternal purpose of Christ that we truly find fulfillment.
A Life Worth Living
So, while Christianity might not be about “fun” in the conventional sense, it promises a much deeper and more lasting kind of joy. It’s a joy that comes not from avoiding suffering but from finding meaning in it. It’s a joy that comes not from pursuing the world’s definition of success, but from following the example of Jesus—who showed that even in the most painful and humiliating circumstances, there is a deeper, more eternal victory.
When we carry our own crosses—when we endure hardship for the sake of something greater than ourselves—we discover a life that is not just about surviving but truly thriving. As Tom Holland’s interview reveals, Christianity offers a radical, revolutionary view of life, one that turns our world’s values upside down and offers us something far more enduring: a life that is found in sacrifice, not in self-preservation.
In the end, it’s this deeper life that is truly fun. It’s the life that brings meaning and fulfillment, even in the face of hardship. And it’s the life that, as Jesus promised, will never be taken away from us.
Hebrews 11:6 And without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him.
