Sowing and Reaping in 70 AD

History is rarely a straight line of "bad things happening to good people." More often, it is a circle—a harvest. The events surrounding the destruction of Jerusalem in 70 AD serve as a profound masterclass in a foundational biblical law:

"Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap." (Galatians 6:7)

In the decades leading up to the Roman siege, two distinct groups were sowing very different seeds within the same city. The results of their "harvest" would change the course of history.

1. Sowing the Wind: The Path of Rebellion

The political and religious leaders of the day, alongside the militant Zealots, adopted a posture of defiance. They believed that because they held the "truth" and were the "chosen," they were exempt from the moral consequences of their actions.

• The Seeds of Discord: They rejected the direct command of Christ to submit to civil obligations.
  "And He said to them, 'Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s.'" (Matthew 22:21)
  By refusing civic duty and sowing tax rebellion, they invited the very Roman scrutiny they feared.

• The Biting and Devouring: They ignored the warning that internal strife eventually consumes the community.
  "But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!" (Galatians 5:15)
  History records that inside the city walls, rival Jewish factions burned each other’s food stores out of greed and pride. They sowed anarchy and reaped starvation.

• The Harvest: Because they sowed violence as the solution to their problems, they reaped total destruction. They looked for a physical kingdom to save them, but they had rejected the "ministers of justice" God had allowed to be in power.

2. Sowing the Spirit: The Path of Non-Retaliation

While the city grew more chaotic, the early Christians lived by a different geometry. They suffered immensely—not only from the Roman occupiers but also from their own countrymen who persecuted them for their faith. Yet, they did not sow seeds of retaliation.

• The Seeds of Submission: They took the teachings of Jesus and the Apostles literally, even when it was difficult.
  "Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and the authorities that exist are appointed by God." (Romans 13:1)
  They sowed peace in the face of Roman rule, believing in God’s sovereignty over the throne of Caesar.

• The Window of Opportunity: Because they sowed trust in Jesus’ prophetic warnings rather than trust in their own strength, they were given a "window" of escape.
  "But when you see Jerusalem surrounded by armies, then know that its desolation is near. Then let those who are in Judea flee to the mountains, let those who are in the midst of her depart, and let not those who are in the country enter her." (Luke 21:20-21)

• The Harvest: In 66 AD, Roman forces inexplicably withdrew after an initial siege. The rebels sowed pride by chasing the Romans; the Christians sowed obedience by fleeing the city. They moved to the city of Pella and were spared the horrific massacre of 70 AD.

3. The Sovereign Lesson

The contrast is stark. One group sowed militant certainty and reaped a harvest of fire. The other sowed humble obedience and reaped a harvest of life. Paul’s warning in Romans was not just a suggestion; it was a description of how the world is governed:

"Therefore whoever resists the authority resists the ordinance of God, and those who resist will bring judgment on themselves. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to evil... for he is God’s minister to you for good. But if you do evil, be afraid; for he does not bear the sword in vain; for he is God’s minister, an avenger to execute wrath on him who practices evil." (Romans 13:2-4)

The rebels believed they were fighting for God, but because they sowed lawlessness and rejected the "Peace that passes understanding," they reaped the "sword" of the very authority they tried to bypass.

The Reflection

"What goes around comes around" isn't just a catchy phrase; it is a description of the systemic nature of God’s world. * If we sow suspicion, we reap isolation.

• If we sow rebellion, we reap chaos.

• But if we sow peace and submission to God’s sovereignty, we find that God provides "windows" of escape even in the darkest times.

The early Christians didn't survive because they had secret maps or insider political knowledge. They survived because they sowed the right seeds. As we look at our own lives today, we must ask: Are we building walls of pride that will eventually trap us, or are we sowing seeds of truth that will open windows of deliverance?

Key Takeaways:

1. God uses "The Other": He is sovereign over all systems, using even secular authorities to accomplish His justice.

2. Fruit Over Knowledge: Knowing the "truth" didn't save the Zealots. Only the fruit of obedience saved the followers of Christ.

3. The Circularity of Justice: Every action eventually returns to the sender. This is the "round" nature of the moral universe.