In the decades leading up to Jesus’ birth, just as during his lifetime, momentous events were unfolding. In the Roman Republic there was a major slave revolt led by Spartacus; Pompey the Great besieged Jerusalem, killing twelve thousand Jews; civil war broke out in Rome. Julius Caesar emerged the victor in the civil war and was appointed dictator, but shortly after he was assassinated. Eventually Augustus became head of the new Roman Empire. 

While there was no news media then as we know it today, Jesus and his followers were likely aware of important events taking place during their time. But when we search the Gospels, what references to world events and politics do we find?

Jesus’ teachings center on our relation to God and on the fact that Christ, God’s spiritual idea, is always with us, always here to help and heal. One place in which Jesus did address news of the world, though, is this statement to his disciples: “Ye shall hear of wars and rumours of wars: see that ye be not troubled” (Matthew 24:6).