One of the most potent sources of the
Jewish-Christian divide is the historic charge that "the Jews killed
Jesus." That's why in writing my new book, Jesus Uncensored: Restoring the Authentic Jew, I wanted to know more about this
puzzling accusation. How could the Jews have killed Jesus when all of his
followers were Jewish? It was clear to me that there would be no Christianity
if not for Jews who embraced Jesus and his teachings. Yet, as I discovered, belief in the guilt of all Jews for
the death of Jesus still lingers--often beneath the surface, now that it is no
longer politically correct.
I was reminded of that by a friend who
described her first encounter with her college roommate, a young woman from
rural upstate New York where she had little contact with Jews. When she learned
that my friend was Jewish, she half jokingly blurted out: "Oh, you killed
our lord."
That accusation was no joke for the
untold numbers of Jews throughout history who were slaughtered based on that
indictment. How did the bizarre conclusion blaming all Jews come about, I
wondered? Even if one Jewish disciple, Judas Iscariot, was a turncoat (although
the recently deciphered Gospel of Judas says otherwise ), why did that
make all Jews responsible for Jesus' death? Would anyone claim that the
Americans killed Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, or John F. Kennedy? Yes,
those murders were committed by Americans. But Americans in general were never
accused--or worse, punished. Yet only Jews have been indicted and persecuted
for the death of Jesus--with the charge making its way to upstate New York two
thousand years later. More puzzling and disturbing, I discovered that in modern
times opinion has been divided among biblical experts and pundits about who was
primarily responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus. But even these mixed
opinions have had little impact on general perceptions. The Jews are always the
perpetrators.
The lineup is composed of the usual
cast of suspects: Judas Iscariot, the Sanhedrin (the ruling body of Judaism),
Caiaphas (the head of the Sanhedrin), Pontius Pilate (the Roman Prefect)--and
by extension all Jews and all Romans. The preponderance of biblical experts blame the Romans (the only ones
who could order and carry out the execution)--but there is, to my knowledge, no
historical evidence of even a single incidence of marauders storming a village
crying, "Execute those Roman killers of our Lord." Only Jews have
suffered the brutal consequences of that charge.
In my search for answers, I pored over
the New Testament. Maybe there's something I missed in my previous readings, I
thought. And indeed, I discovered revelations that were even more puzzling and
shocking.
Let's begin with Judas Iscariot
receiving 30 pieces of silver. I asked myself, Why did the Jewish authorities
have to pay someone to locate and identify Jesus? Remember, the Sanhedrin was
out to get this famous rabbi because he was a thorn in their side -- a
relentless outspoken critic of the Jewish leaders for not representing the
spiritual core of Judaism and the Torah. More bothersome to them was that Jesus
was gaining in popularity. "Multitudes" were coming to him for his
teachings and healings. They arrived from all over the Jewish world -- Syria,
and beyond Jordan (Matthew 4:24-25). Jesus was so famous and loved by his
Jewish followers that the authorities were hesitant to arrest him at one of his
open-field gatherings for fear of a riot (Mark 14:1-2). (Jews protecting Jesus?
And the Jews Killed Jesus?).
That's why they sought Jesus at a
private meeting with his disciples in Gethsemane Garden. And it was so urgent
for the authorities to capture this famous rabbi that they were willing to
pursue him at one of the holiest times for Jews -- during the Passover
celebration. Is it likely then that not one of the Jewish Temple guards, Temple
priests, and other Jewish officials who came to arrest Jesus could identify the
celebrated rabbi who headed their most wanted list (Luke 22:52; Matthew 26:47;
Mark 14:43)? Is it plausible that they needed Judas Iscariot to point him out
with the famous "kiss" (Luke 22:47-48; Matthew 26:48-49; Mark
14:44-45)? That this makes no sense whatsoever is punctuated by the Gospel of
John, in which Jesus identifies himself and there is no kiss: "... then as
he had said unto them, I am he..." And "Jesus answered, I have told
you that I am he" (John 18:1, 4, 5, 7, 8). Yet this brief illogical
narrative launched centuries of persecution of Jews.
There's more. As I read further, I was
stunned to realize that the Gospels tell exactly who killed Jesus, that they in
fact leave no room for argument. How is it possible that the debates about who
killed Jesus have left out the actual perpetrator?
The Gospels -- and several other passages of the New Testament -- state explicitly that God killed Jesus. God sacrificed his only son for the redemption of man according to Scripture:
For God so loved the
world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in
him should not perish, but have everlasting life. (John 3:16) ...but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our
sins. (1 John 4:10) Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this
present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:
(Galatians 1:4) He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us...
(Romans 8:32)
And with his earthly work finished, didn't Jesus know that he had to leave and return to God?
I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the
work which thou gavest me to do. (John 17:4) Now before the feast of the Passover, when Jesus knew that his hour was come
that he should depart out of this world unto the Father... Jesus knowing
that the Father had given all things into his hands, and that he was come
from God, and went to God (John 13:1, 3).
And didn't Jesus willingly give his life for the redemption of mankind, according to Christian doctrine? Surely God, or Jesus, could have stopped the unfolding sadistic torture. Jesus confirms that:
Thinkest thou that I
cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than
twelve legions of angels? But how then shall the scriptures be fulfilled, that
thus it must be? (Matthew 26: 53-54)
Jesus adds:
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