Chariot Race
This Roman racer tried to intimidate JBH by attaching deadly metal spikes to his chariot
Messala
JBH witnesses this miracle that changes his understanding of mercy
Jesus healing the lepers
JBH & Messala were besties as kids, but this major event changes Messala's loyalty
Living in Rome for 5 years / returning from Rome
Pride costs this guy everything he has
Messala
Judah's mother and sister live here after contracting leprosy
The leper colony / the valley of the lepers
Messala used this unfair tactic on JBH during the race
Whipped his horses
Judah learns at the cross that _______ is stronger than hate.
mercy
Messala's refusal to do this when JBH is falsely accused proves the friendship is over.
Help him / stand up for him / vouch for him
JBH spends years driven by this emotion, believing it will restore what he lost
Revenge
This Roman leader tries to convert JBH to Roman thinking while he's enslaved
Who is Arrius?
Why did Messala bribe a Roman official to announce JBH as "a Jew?"
He hoped to turn the crowd against him
What does Judah see that reinforces the idea that hate doesn't fix anything, mercy does?
His mother and sister are healed
This act of betrayal sends JBH to the galleys without a trial
Allowing him to be arrested
Judah's heart begins to soften when he discovers the suffering of these two family members
mom & sis
What's the excuse the Roman governor uses to punish JBH's entire family?
The accidental falling roof tile
Sheik Ilderim was enthusiastic about providing horses for JBH to use. What was the catch about the horses?
They were rookies (they'd never raced before)
JBH's transformation at the end mirrors this major theme of the book
Spiritual rebirth / redemption
JBH's crushing victory in this event leaves Messala permanently injured
The chariot race
This moment at the cross teaches Judah that mercy is stronger than hate
Jesus forgiving his enemies
Seeing the lepers' suffering teaches JBH that this pursuit isn't worth destroying himself over
What's the decisive moment in the race?
When Messala crashes and is crushed and paralyzed
True freedom doesn't come from revenge, the fall of Rome, etc., but from what?
Christ's mercy / forgiveness
The corrupting influence of Roman pride / Roman superiority
Judah's final transformation shows that revenge cannot heal, but this can.
Mercy
The Roman justice system exposes this flaw, punishing entire families for the supposed crimes of one person
Guilt by association / collective punishment