Jesus and Herod Antipas, Part Two

[Note - 2/9/08: A revised version of this two-part story will be posted soon, hopefully by March.]

John the Baptist died in early March of 31 AD. The Jewish people revered him as a Prophet and a Martyr. They resented Herod Antipas for killing John. And they gave their ears to Jesus, whom John predicted.

This made things hard for the Sanhedrin to get Jesus. But there was one other thing that protected the Lord…

Events in Rome made it impossible for Herod Antipas to execute Jesus.

To explain that, we have to back up a little bit.

In 6 BC, Tiberius Caesar retired early. He was only 35 years old, but he had to get away from Rome. Nine years later he was back, and next in line to be Emperor. But it was another ten years after THAT before he actually took power!

Tiberius Caesar was nearly 55 years old when Augustus died. On the day he “accepted” his power, he made a speech to the Senate, hoping they’d let an old man have some rest, before long. And he meant it. He was eager to “retire” again.

Unlike other men, Tiberius really didn’t want to rule the world.

In 26 AD, the old Army General finally found a way to step down – sort of. By that time, Tiberius had a strong right hand man, named Sejanus, the Prefect. Sejanus had been running things for Tiberius, like a manager runs a shop for an owner. It was going well. So Tiberius left Rome… forever.

The Emperor of Rome moved to the Island of Capri, and stayed there.

For five years, Sejanus managed Tiberius’ Empire. But the more time went by, the more Sejanus began to want power for himself. His official status rose quickly, up the ranks. He commanded the city guards, and controlled powerful senators. He was openly living with Livilla (the mother of Tiberius’ pre-teenage grandson).

Sejanus thought this connection to the Imperial bloodline would make him Emperor.

By late 30, AD, Sejanus had a plot underway to kill Tiberius and seize the Empire for himself. But Livilla’s mother (Antonia, Mark Antony’s daughter) told Tiberius about the plot. And the old Emperor (now 71) had Sejanus caught and executed by the Senate.

Now as horrible and dramatic as all that was – it’s not the main point. This is:

In early 31 AD, a new struggle began for control over Rome. It only lasted two years, and it wasn’t as much of a bloodbath, so it doesn’t make the same kind of headlines in History. But this power struggle is the important one.

This is what really tied Antipas’ hands, in Israel.

Tiberius stayed in Capri. Still Caesar, the old Emperor had no plans to change his method of ruling. Tiberius simply wanted to put in a new manager – one he could trust. So the Emperor put his trust in the hands of his new Prefect, Macro.

Officially, Macro was in charge. But practically, there was still doubt.

Macro’s biggest threat was a granddaughter of Augustus – Agrippina (“the elder”, widow of Germanicus, mother of Caligula, and Caligula’s older brothers). Basically, Agrippina was a mighty woman to have to deal with, and there were powerful Senators willing to support her, to get her son (named “Nero-Julius”) on the throne.

For over two years, the situation was unstable.

Now, Herod Antipas had been tight with Sejanus. With Sejanus dead, Antipas had to build new ties with whoever took control of Rome. But Antipas wasn’t sure who to court! Would it be Macro? Or would it be Agrippina & her son?

By late 33, things would be clear. Caligula teamed up with Macro against his own mother and brother! Macro held onto power. (In fact, Macro would later help Caligula in his first year as Emperor, in 37 AD.) But for the better part of three calendar years (31, 32, 33), things were hazy.

Herod Antipas didn’t know who would win out.

The Tetrarch did know he would need to earn his way into the winner’s good graces, whenever it was over. And that meant a lot of things… but mostly just one thing. Every overseas Governor or Tetrarch knew there was only one way to earn or keep the good favor of Rome.

He had to govern well.

That meant no riots. That meant no uprisings. That meant no chaos. That meant that Herod Antipas had to be very careful to run a clean, tight, tribute-paying region. He had to keep Galilee peaceful and profitable. He had to make sure he looked like an asset… to whomever came out of those hazy days in Rome with all the power.

But it was actually twice as bad as all that, for Antipas, in this case. In early 31 AD, when Antipas got the news about Sejanus… John had just died!

The timing is remarkable.

One day, Herod stirs up popular outrage, and short months later, he finds out it was absolutely the worst time he could possibly do so. Things may or may not have been building towards rebellion… but Antipas couldn’t risk anything that was anywhere close to an uprising.

So Antipas couldn’t risk getting involved with the Jesus drama in Judea.

So Jesus was finally able to go back into Judea, after 28 months away!

Remember, the Jews could arrest Jesus. But they needed Antipas to kill him. Rome’s Governors never let City Councils use the death penalty, but Antipas was technically independent, in his Tetrarchy. Without Antipas, the Sandedrin was going to need a perfect storm to accuse him before the Romans.

That storm took two years to develop. (Then it came to a head in one week!)

In Autumn 31 and May of 32, Jesus made trips to Judea. The first time, he stayed two months. The second time, about 11 months. Since John was a martyr, the people flocked to the Lord more than ever. For a long time, the Sanhedrin did their best to hold themselves back, for fear of the people. But that wasn’t the only reason…

If Antipas had been willing to help, the Sanhedrin could have given Jesus to Herod. The people would have been outraged, but at least Herod could have drug Jesus over to his fortress on the Dead Sea – Macherus, where John was beheaded. The people could be dealt with. It might just have worked…

If Antipas hadn’t been worried about Rome, Jesus could have been beheaded!

But that wasn’t how it was meant to be.

Shortly after dawn, very early on Friday, April 3rd, 33 AD, Jesus Christ stood before Herod Antipas. It was the only time the two men ever stood face to face. Herod asked all kinds of questions, but got no answers. He let the priests and lawyers threaten and accuse. He let his soldiers tease and make fun. But Herod knew he'd better not do anything. And Herod knew that Pilate felt the same way!

Pontius Pilate was in the same boat as Antipas. Neither one of them wanted to be held responsible if trouble broke out, over this. Both men were still being cautious, while the political drama was trying to work itself out in Rome. (Soon after, their shared problem actually drew Pilate & Herod into a friendship. But that’s another story.) Pilate tried to give up jurisdiction. But Herod basically said, “It happened here, man.”

Herod Antipas wanted nothing to do with the execution of Jesus. So Jesus was crucified.

If Sejanus had still been in power, protecting his ally Antipas, the Tetrarch might have done a quick favor for the Sanhderin. But then Jesus would have died much too soon.

If Macro & Agrippina weren’t at odds – that is, if Rome had been stable – then Jesus might have been beheaded. Or burned. But that wasn’t how it was meant to be.

If Tiberius had never retired to the Island of Capri, Jesus might not have died on a Roman Cross.

But that wasn’t what the Father wanted.

This stuff may not matter, but then again, it may.

History happens very slowly. Most big things usually take years. In Italy, Tiberius retired. Sejanus plotted and died. Macro & Caligula struggled against Agrippina and her son. Meanwhile, in Israel, a teenager danced for Antipas. The old Tetrarch beheaded the Baptizer. And Jesus got to spend the better part of two years in Judea, which had stayed closed to him for so long. But that’s far from all…

Because of all this, Jesus was not beheaded. Because of Sejanus and Macro, Antipas and Tiberius, Agrippina and Caligula, the Sanhedrin and Salome… the Lord Jesus Christ died on a Cross.

This is what the Father wanted.

When the timing was just right, Jesus went to Jerusalem and got executed, Roman style. He was not beheaded. He was crucified. It was not in a dungeon. It was public. People saw the sky go dark. They saw how unjust it all was. The World system AND Religious system worked together, to kill him. But that wasn’t all…

God got what he wanted.

The Son of Man was lifted up.

Jesus and Herod Antipas

[Note - 2/9/08: A revised version of this two-part story will be posted soon, hopefully by March.]

I'm trying to tie together the big picture of Volume II before I begin hammering out each individual year book. Here's a summary of what I'm working on. I'd LOVE to get feedback on it...
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If anyone other than Tiberius Caesar had been Emperor in those days, the Lord Jesus Christ might not have been crucified! He might have been beheaded.

Here’s why...

[We have to back up a bit first, to 4 years before the cross.]

In May of 29 AD, Jesus was in Judea, preaching and watching his disciples baptize people. At that same time, John the Baptizer was not too far away, in someplace with a lot of water, baptizing and preaching to others. John’s ministry was just over one year old. Jesus’ ministry had just begun. People were flocking to both men.

And the Jewish authorities were powerless to stop it.

In Judea, Pontius Pilate would not let the Sanhedrin execute anyone. They could have arrested Jesus, but what then? If they held him for no good reason, people might start to protest. They didn’t want to make him MORE popular. So they left him alone.

Until John popped off at the mouth.

John the Baptizer accused Herod Antipas of adultery – which was true. But Herod’s fling (his cousin, Herodias) had become Herod’s new wife, and she was furious! So Herodias got Herod to arrest John… which gave the Sanhedrin an idea!

Herod Antipas DID have the power to execute prisoners – in Galilee!

The Sanhedrin figured out that if they arrested Jesus, they could give him to Herod. And then (as long as there was a justifiable charge) Herod could kill him. The Romans wouldn’t know or care.

Jesus, of course, knew this was a danger. So he got out of Judea, fast.

From June of 29 AD until September of 31 AD, Jesus stayed around Lake Galilee. The Judean Jews couldn’t get him there. He became very popular with the Galileans. And somehow, Herod Antipas didn’t even know who he was!

Still – just to be safe – Jesus spent most of his time close to the border of Philip’s tetrarchy. It wasn’t just a safety/exit plan. Making lots of trips across the sea was one more way to stay beneath Herod’s notice.

In all that time, a few Pharisees came around. But mostly, the Sanhedrin was happy enough to see Jesus staying in Galilee. The Judean Jews were especially happy that Jesus skipped every Jerusalem festival for two whole years…

That is, until John died.

That night came in March, 31. Herod threw a party. His stepdaughter danced. And somehow, John got beheaded. Herodias had her revenge. And then, the news got out.

People everywhere were outraged.

Over the rest of spring and summer, that outrage spread. All of the common people thought John was a Prophet. Even in Judea, most Jews were upset with Herod Antipas for killing the Baptizer. And the Sanhedrin couldn’t say anything about it.

For Jesus, this was an opening.

John’s death was fresh on people’s minds. The Sanhderin didn’t want to give the people a second martyr in less than a year. So, Jesus waited until the Fall Festival of Tabernacles, in September. Then he finally got down to Jerusalem again.

Jesus stayed around Jerusalem until Chanukah, in early December. More than once, he was almost stoned or arrested. (John’s death made that less likely, but not impossible!) Still, each time, Jesus escaped. And when tempers died down, the arrest plans were cancelled again.

Jesus made one more trip to North Galilee, and then spent most of his time after that in Judea – from May 32 until April 33, when they crucified him.

But that cross was almost a beheading. The Jews first option SHOULD have been Herod Antipas. And that’s where we (finally) come back to Tiberius Caesar, again.

In 31 AD, things were happening in Italy that made it impossible for Antipas to execute Jesus...

(To be continued... when I post "Part Two" on Thursday!)

Patient observance

I just decided something.

Slowing down rarely hurts the quality of things. I still feel like the next dozen YB's are going to go quickly, once I start writing them. The question is - what events from the dozen YB's after that need to be set up by events from this dozen?

There may be a longer break before I'm posting Year Books again. It's just time to "cut more bait". But I'll be "fishing" again soon. And posting more here in the meantime.

Please stay tuned...

[Note (6/01/08): At the time of this posting, the bottom of my blog had a quote I liked: "If I have ever made any valuable discoveries, it has been owing more to patient observation than to any other reason." — Sir Isaac Newton]

Update: Disclaimer

I posted a new side blurb on Year-by-Year today, called Reconstruction. It needs editing, but so does everything else on the site! That post is a long overdue disclaimer of sorts and a general thank you to all History scholars.

I intend to spend the rest of my life writing about Year-by-Year, long after I've finished writing all 79 Year Books themselves. The solutions I've proposed to certain problems of history will eventually need to be presented to a more academic audience. The plausibility of the work will need (and deserves) a lifetime's worth of defending.

It's a long, long row to hoe. But I figure, somebody's gotta do it! ;)

Here's a bit more, for those curious, about the process of "proving" history...

Scientists test "theories" and prove "laws". Historians don't have it so easy.

We who study history don't have labratories or beakers. Instead, we study the facts (and the gaps in the facts). Then we consider what plausible scenarios might account for those facts (and thus fill in the gaps). Strong scenarios, once presented undergo examination and discussion. Various scholars join in, attempting to either disprove or defend these scenarios. Eventually, in some cases, consensus forms and one of three results occurs. Either: 1, scholars generally "accept" the scenario as the most plausible, barring new evidence; 2, scholars disprove the scenario soundly and condemn it roundly; or 3, scholars suspend judgment for lack of conclusive evidence, but add their personal opinions as to the relative plausibility of the scenario, barring new evidence. That's it. That's the whole process!

So there is no "proof" for much of history. When there simply is no evidence to bring down on a point, you either find new evidence or reconsider old evidence from a new perspecive that's been overlooked. In both cases, your best goal is to construct plausibility and acceptability. Assuming, of course, you don't get shot down!

I expect to get shot at. I don't think I'll get shot down.

My primary goal is to avoid being disproved. Honestly, I expect much of what I'm doing may eventually find full acceptance. But all 79 Year Books as a whole might have to settle for suspended judgment with positive scholarly regards.

Time will tell. After [if] I finish, it might still take a hundred years to gain complete respect.

"If the Lord comes not soon..."

Hang on, "Tyndale's Plow Boy". And pray.

We may yet get this done.

Speeding up... maybe?

I heard a joke about someone listening to an audio book who said it didn’t make any sense. Then the man’s kid said, “Dad, you had the CD player set on shuffle!”

In many ways, the New Testament is set on shuffle. I’m trying to unshuffle it.

I’m not the first to try, of course. Working out the timeline is called “New Testament Chronology”. There are plenty of NT chronologies out there. But I think they need much more than improving. I think they need completing.

When James Strong came out with his massive Bible Concordance in 1890, there had been other concordances. But Dr. Strong’s Concordance was the first “exhaustive” concordance of the King James Bible. Others made lists of bible words. He listed them ALL. That’s a lot like what I want to do with the history.

I have yet to see an exhaustive chronology of the New Testament. My goal is to write the first one ever. (Or at least, as close to exhaustive as possible!)

As far as I can tell, the main reason no one else has tried this is because most believe it cannot be done.

I believe it can.

Anyway, here’s my update tonight – for the few people who may find this and care, and because I’m desperate for encouragement. (Tonight, I’m wishing I had someone else to talk with about things I find hard to even put into words.) Maybe one person will read this who can help me out.
Here goes…

Volume One was long, slow, difficult labor – about two years’ worth. For many reasons, it needed to be. Lots of key events needed thorough study and careful treatment. Things the Bible barely mentions – Augustus, Tiberius, Herod, Archelaus, a census or two (tax-registrations), astrologers, Illyricum, Trachonitis, Arabia and Aretas the Nabatean. All of these are important and each one has it's own complex history which I had to blend together into one coherent progression of events... but it was the critical events that made it extra tough.

My dilemma these days is with Volume Two. The years from 14 to 27 don’t have too much that (as far as I can tell) just seems to NEED to be covered. Much of what went on in Volume One was critical (for various reasons) for laying out the chronology of later years in Jesus’ ministry and Paul’s travels. But events from 14 to John the Baptist seem pretty well self-contained.

I'd like to speed up now, but should I?

One problem I have is – how do I know there isn’t something critical that I’ll catch (that maybe no one else has before) that might really help explain something else later. Not to seem proud...

My Greek professor at LSU did some one-on-one Gospel readings with me one year – and in the course of it he said something very interesting. The interesting part is it had nothing to do with knowing Greek! He said, “The main advantage of doing this is that it forces you to look at every word.”

So far, I feel like doing things year-by-year has forced me to look at every detail. It forces me to keep remembering the immediate past context of events, as I get to focusing on them. Often, I have to go month by month - which nearly never happens in the books I've seen. Anyway, it feels like an advantage. I know I’m surely lacking the skills and training of professional scholars; yet I also think I’ve put together something nobody else had before. But that’s not my point.

My point is – I want to speed up through the next several Year Books, but I keep thinking, what if there’s some detail hiding there; something that only pops out when you look at things exhaustively year-by-year; something that will help answer questions I haven’t thought to ask yet. And… in a perfect world… I’d take the time to do Volume Two at least half as slowly and carefully as I did Volume One.

My problem is – I’m tired and lonely. I’m getting sick of Roman politics and I’m eager to get into the Gospels and Acts (which is why I started all this in the first place, which is what I worked on for years before I started “Volume One”).

So I wanted to blog this… in case it matters someday… to say I’m probably going to skim quickly through the next dozen years or so. Most likely. We’ll see…

The critical issues in Volume One, the real "hotspots" of chronological work based in those years - these things were already “out there” before I came along. I knew where my task was.

But I haven't heard of (and don't see, myself) any similarly critical issues to deal with or any complexly critical groundwork to lay out from the years 14 to 27. As far as that's true, then I probably should go ahead and speed up.

Partly, I'm 'percolating' and deciding about this. Partly, maybe I just need time to adjust.

This week I've been studying the Imperial Family. Most of the major Roman events in the 20’s are about raising kids and moving on from untimely deaths. In Palestine, Pontius Pilate shows up and causes a little bit of a stir. Meanwhile, Jesus is pounding on wood and John’s eating bugs in the yonder outlands. Herod Antipas has an affair in 27. Not much else matters, later on.

In other words, the next dozen years or so have no critical issues for chronology. On top of that, there are tons and tons of pages (in Tacitus & Dio) about political stuff that doesn't need covering anyway... and I'd rather read all that just once than pour over it repeatedly.

Yeah, I’m leaning heavily toward a much quicker job… relatively speaking.

Volume One took about 2 years of focused effort, for 23 Year Books. My goal today is to get the next 12 done by May (15 thru 26 AD). That’s about 4 times the speed. Doable? I hope so.

I really want to be in the gospels by summer vacation (28 thru 33 AD).

I really wish someone reading this felt like commenting...

Any help, anyone out there?

Update: YbY Intro

New Intro up last night, on YbY. It's a good short version of what I'm really up to. ;)

Check it out...

Volume One Summary

[1/21/08; NOTE: This is NOT the planned summary of Volume One, but it'll do for now. ;)]

The passing of time is part of how God works, but its easy to miss TIME when reading the Bible.

Jesus Christ was born in the days of Augustus Caesar and Herod the Great. About thirty years later - 34 to be exact - Jesus was baptized and began preaching all over Israel. Those decades in-between didn't just happen overnight! The opening chapters of the Gospels cover 37 years!

Here's a short survey of what happened in that time:

Gabriel appeared to Zechariah in the autumn of 9 BC. For a while, the doubting, pouting, mute old priest couldn't or wouldn't explain things to his wife... until her barren womb suddenly began menstruating! The miracle kicked them into action. Within weeks, Elizabeth was pregnant. John the Baptist was conceived around late February or early March of 8 BC. Over five months later, Gabriel made his next and final earthly appearance. That August, in 8 BC, the Holy Spirit entered Mary and she conceived a child.

Jesus was born in late May of 7 BC. These were the days of Augustus Caesar and Herod the Great. Herod was supposed to be an independent King who paid "tribute" to Rome once a year. (Only Roman Provinces were registered for "tax".) But Herod got into trouble with the Arabs of Nabatea (in 9 BC). As punishment, Caesar ordered a census of Herod's Kingdom. The Governor of Syria in 8 and 7 BC was a man named Saturninus. This Governor Saturninus organized the first Roman census of Israel, that happened when Jesus was born.

(As Luke's gospel originally said, this was "before" the famous census when Quirinius was Governor. We'll get to that one, in 6 AD. This one, the census of 7 BC, was almost forgotten to the pages of history. But Josephus wrote of Saturninus, and Tertullian said he made the census.)

Astrologers from Babylon saw signs in the heavens that drew them to Israel. They arrived in early December, 7 BC, looking for a King they thought was nearly a year old. King Herod heard this and ordered all young babies (in Bethlehem) killed. To be safe, Herod told his soldiers to double the age according to what the star gazers had said. He figured a divine messiah-baby might be walking at 7 months old - and might look like a 2 year old!

Joseph & Mary fled to Egypt and lived there until March of 4 BC, when King Herod finally died just a few days after a lunar eclipse. (The eclipse just happened to fall on the night of the Jewish holiday, Purim.) The night Herod died, an angel told Joseph it was safe to go back to Israel.

The new King of Israel was Herod's son, Archelaus. Barely three weeks into his new reign, Archelaus caused the death of 3,000 pilgrims at the Passover Festival in Jerusalem. At that time, Joseph & Mary were almost to Jerusalem themselves, having travelled for about three weeks from Alexandria, Egypt.

When Joseph heard the news about Archelaus and Passover, he was afraid to take Jesus back into Judea. Again, an angel appeared to Joseph and said, go to Galilee. They reached Nazareth safely, before May. A month or so before his third birthday, Jesus finally met his mother's parents.

Then war broke out all over Israel!

From April until September, the new Governor Varus used three Roman Legions to end four seperate rebellions in Judea and Galilee. By late summer, the worst rebels were being crucified outside Jerusalem. After several weeks of crucifixions, Varus had executed 2,000 Jews. Rocks and trees by the roadside were still blood stained as the pilgrims came up, early that Autumn, for the high holy season. This made an impression! (No major rebellion takes place in Judea for another 69 years!)

The year 4 BC was that busy! Then history reset to a more normal speed...

For ten years, Joseph kept Jesus out of Judea. Every year, Joseph took Mary down to Jerusalem for Passover, but as long as Archelaus was ruling Judea, they left Jesus at home with family.

There was drama elsewhere during this decade. Wars broke out everywhere. Macedonia and Galatia were threatened. An Arabian Princess married the tetrarch of Galilee. Caesar's oldest grandsons died, and his step-son Tiberius became heir to the Empire.

For this decade, from 4 BC to 6 AD, Archelaus ruled Judea both harshly and poorly. He hoarded their wealth, defied their religious laws and ignored their requests. The Pharisees, Saducees and Essenes were ALL upset with Archelaus. Even the Judeans and Samaritans were willing to work together to get rid of him! In 4, 5 and 6 AD, they worked on a plan... mainly, the plan was to tattle on Archelaus to Augustus in Rome!

Meanwhile, all these years, Jesus was just a little kid in Nazareth. He was getting to know his heavenly Father, bit by bit. Over time, he was finding out (remembering) who he really was.

Then, in May of 6 AD, Jesus turned twelve.

That summer, Augustus Caesar called Archelaus to Rome. When Archelaus left, the, the new Roman Governor of Syria - the famous one, Quirinius - came into Israel. Governor Quirinius held the second Roman census of Israel, but the first one to register property, not just men's names.

There was a major plot to revolt. The leader, Judas the Galilean, taught philosophies that didn't catch on at this time, in 6 AD. But Judas' teachings get remembered when his infant sons grow up - in the 40's and 50's AD this man's teachings will help found the Zealot party! But at this time, Judas was just a schemer, destined to fail.

The plot to rebel made a lot of progress, but Judas' plans were snuffed out. Somehow, Quirinius and others put an end to the rebellion before it began. This was one reason the Governor Quirinius was so famous in Israel - he kept perfect peace during the takeover. And of course, the takeover itself was the other reason for this Governor's fame.

Quirinius was the man who began direct Roman control over Judea.

That next spring, in 7 AD, Jesus was still 12 years old. Since Archelaus was gone, Joseph was no longer afraid to take Jesus into Judea. For the first time in a decade, Jesus wasn't going to get left at home during the Passover! And so, weeks away from his own bar-mitzvah, Jesus finally got to visit Jerusalem for the second time in his life.

What happened there, for two and a half weeks, is an amazing story!

After Jesus came home and turned 13, he was a man in the eyes of his people.

That was 7 AD. Seven years later, Tiberius Caesar was ruling the world as Emperor. Fourteen years after that, Jesus' cousin John began preaching in the desert. John had some new ideas about the (post-exilic) Jewish custom of Baptism. John was preparing a way for the Lord.

But in 7 AD, that was still 21 years away! Those 21 years were Jesus' chance to grow up. Yes, Jesus had to mature. But this time was for far more than that.

Most of all, those 21 years were Jesus' chance to LIVE! Year by year, the Father was more and more pleased! Year by year, His Son filled up all He expected - to the fullest degree! And Jesus not only lived up to the level of righteousness God desired... Jesus actually also lived WITH God. They lived together. They talked all the time. God lived inside of his Son! At last, God had a house on the earth!

Those 21 years were a chance for God the Father to have what he'd wanted since Eden. At last, there was a man on God's Earth, showing people what God was like, showing GOD what His Man could be like!!! Jesus was born to be King over all the earth - just not in a way people would understand. He wasn't ready to rule, and he wasn't ready to multiply, but he LIVED!

Now... those 21 years, while Jesus just lived unto God... those years were also filled with many other events... and those other events affect future events...

Most of the New Testament records events that happened from 28 to 70 AD. The passing of time is one part of that story.

God could have done things all in one weekend! But that isn't his way. That's not how he works.

There is much more to tell...