Anno Domini

What does Anno Domini mean?

The terms Anno Domini (AD) and Before Christ (BC) are used to label or number years in the Julian and Gregorian calendars. The term Anno Domini is Medieval Latin and means "in the year of the Lord", but is often presented using "our Lord" instead of "the Lord", taken from the full original phrase "anno Domini nostri Jesu Christi", which translates to "in the year of our Lord Jesus Christ".

Source: Wikipedia

Jesus lived in a very interesting moment in history. The Middle East was a hotbed of political and religious forces. There were many other revolutionaries in his time, but Jesus was not the typical leader. His movement was not a hostile, political one attempting to regain power for the nation of Israel.

Watch movie 'The Life of Jesus'
A wonderful movie about the life of Jesus Christ, following the gospel of John verse by verse. Watch the movie for free.

His message is even for today totally different. You may have heard the expressions 'Love your enemies' or 'turn the other cheek', those are saying from Jesus himself. You can imagine the world will be quite different if we were all able to follow these simple, yet hard teachings.

Often Jesus didn't speak just speak a truth plainly. He favoured using stories to illustrate what the kingdom of God is like. He used parables to demonstrate the difference between God's kingdom and the world's kingdoms. Time and again hinting at the striking contrast between what is and what will be, when all things are restored according to the purposes of God.

Love is the message. Love is the way. Gods love for you. Your love for God. Your love for the others.

Love is the way
In 2018 bishop Michael Curry preached at the royal wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. 'There's power in love, don't underestimate it!' Millions of people listened. Watch it too!

Jesus' message was focused on God's love. So why did people kill Jesus? Not everybody liked him, his message of forgiveness and hope. Not everybody did like his actions either. Some the religious leaders of his time didn't like that he was 'a friend of sinners'. In the end, he was falsely convicted as a criminal. Blasphemy was charged to him. The religious elite saw a great resignation in the message of Jesus.

Jesus is crucified
Even during his suffering on the cross Jesus choose love. He forgave the criminal who was convicted and executed at the same time. He prayed for the people who crucified him.

The Bible tells an extraordinary story. Jesus, rose from the stone grave they put him in. The story didn't end with his death. He is alive. Hundreds of people witnessed that he is alive. Christians believe he still is!

There were often uprisings in history. Also in the Biblical times. In the centuries around year zero, there were several rebellious groups in Israel, trying to regain power. After a leader of these groups was arrested and killed, the groups appointed a new leader or the revolution died out.

But after the death of Jesus, this didn't happen. People believed Jesus was alive, they didn't need another leader. This is the main reason why there is until today still a vibrant church living out the same conviction: Jesus lives!

Suffering because of faith
From the beginning being a follower of Jesus wasn't without risks. Many believers had to suffer because of their faith or were even martyred.

Father Frans van der Lugt was a Jesuit priest, who was born and raised in the Netherlands and who lived and worked in Syria for several decades. He was killed there on April 7, 2014, in the city of Homs, aged 75. In his life, he established a community centre and farm near the city of Homs, Syria, where he worked for the betterment of people with disabilities and for harmony among Christian and Muslim people. Mid 2011 he left the estate because of the Syrian civil war and he established himself in the Jesuit monastery in the Christian district Bustan al-Diwan in Homs.