Posted on 02/13/2004 11:51:10 AM PST by Mr. Silverback
The cover of the latest NEWSWEEK magazine asks the right question: "Who killed Jesus?" This has been a raging debate for a year, since Mel Gibson started his remarkable film project THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST. He immediately ran into a buzz saw of opposition from the liberal media and Jewish groups who were afraid the film would rekindle anti-Semitism.
Now, Jews have a legitimate concern about this. During the Middle Ages, Christians treated Jews terribly. In Russia there were pogroms against the Jews. And of course some of the maniacs around Hitler professed that they were killing Jews to purify the Christian race.
But is this sensitivity today well-founded? If we would look at history alone, we would have to say that Pontius Pilate certainly was guilty. Legend has it that years after the crucifixion he was frantically washing his hands trying to cleanse himself from the blood of Christ. And, of course, Caiphus the High Priest certainly bears his share of responsibility. So do the crowds who yelled, "Crucify him." So was it the Romans or the Jews, the venality of Pontius Pilate or the passion of the mob?
It was both and neither. The Jews didn't cause the death of Jesus, nor did the Romans. They were merely instruments carrying out what God had decreed. He sent His only begotten Son to die on the cross so that the sins of mankind might be forgiven. And those who take Scripture seriously have always known who killed Jesus: You and I and all other sinful human beings did so.
Mel Gibson understands this. In his movie, THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST, the hand holding the spike being nailed through Christ's wrist is Gibson's. Who killed Jesus? Mel Gibson knows. And he made the very point with his own hand that he was responsible, not the Jews.
Similarly the Dutch painter, Rembrandt painted THE RAISING OF THE CROSS as a self-portrait. As Christ hangs on the cross while it is being lifted into place, the soldier pulling it up is Rembrandt. Who killed Jesus? Rembrandt knew. He did. And I did. And you did. We're the ones who sent Jesus to the cross loaded down with our sins.
So enough of this foolish controversy. My advice to Christians is that you make it abundantly clear to your friends and neighbors that we are the ones responsible and then take them to see the film. Let them experience the passion and explain to them why it was necessary for Jesus to go to the cross. And be ready with a biblical answer for your Jewish friends who hear all of this propaganda, most of it stirred up by professional activists.
Albert Mohler, president of the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, says that it is not who is to blame that really has everybody up in arms. The media elite know that if people see this film, the right answer to the haunting question "Who Killed Jesus?" will be clear. What strikes terror into the hearts of the media elite is that people might once again be convicted of sin, repent, and come to faith in Christ.
So, three cheers for Mel Gibson. And thanks to NEWSWEEK for asking the right question, even if it does not have the right answer. But now it is up to us Christians to do our job to educate our neighbors and flood the movie theaters.
Let's see, on one side we have a people who constitute about 1/4 of 1% of the world's population. They are disbursed in a multitude of countries and have political control in only 1 small nation - the size of New Jersey - and even that is challenged by about 1/4 of humanity (most of whom would like to see all members of this tiny minority exterminated or forcibly converted).
On the other side you have about 1/4 of humanity who've been taught since they were very young that this tiny little minority of people that is alive today is responsible for the death/murder of their deity over 2,000 years ago. And this is a different 1/4 than the 1/4 mentioned above, so now it is really 1/2 who "have it in for" this tiny minority. This group holds power in a large number of the most advanced countries on Earth, including the most powerful and most of its close allies.
100:1 (or, perhaps, 200:1) odds, nearly 2,000 years of vilification, a bloody and senseless massacre of 1/3 of this small minority group within living memory, which followed massacres, expulsions, asset seizures and demonizations stretching back over more than 1,500 years, rising and ever more open anti-Semitism in many countries throughout the world (now that the world's collective guilt for the Holocaust seems to be disappearing...Gee, what is it with these Jews, what are they worried about?
Jews aren't worried about being blamed for anything in a purely verbal manner - because, first of all, there is some question as to the validity of the claim that their VERY distant ancestors did "X;" second, because even if the charge is true, Jews don't accept blame for what happened perhaps 80 generations before they were born; third because, after all, "sticks and stones can break my bones...." What they are worried about is the fact that history shows that the anger felt by many Christians is not limited to a civilized debate, but often degenerates into senseless violence and murder.
Your statement might have just a tiny bit more credibility if you could put yourself in the shoes of a Jew for just a few moments - to understand what it means to be part of a tiny minority that has been vilified, expelled, forcibly converted and murdered for much of recorded history, and with ominous signs that the respite of the past 2 generations is rapidly becoming part of the past.
Thank you for pointing this out. Let others ponder this: G-d promised Abraham, Isaac, Jacob and a host of others that He would protect and preserve their descendants for all of time. What would it say about G-d if He went back on His word?
It was clear from your first message that you understand this; my question was directed at others who just don't understand this simple and most basic of truths.
Just as it is your BELIEF that Jesus even existed? Please; spare me. The same documents upon which you predicate your belief in the earthly existence of Jesus inform me that certain Jews agitated for his death. It's not scandalous that they should have done so; indeed; it was quite understandable. Jesus was obviously a very popular individual whose presence could incite other Jews to insurrection. The leading Jews feared Roman retaliation, and indeed they had good cause to fear it, as witnessed by the events of 66-70 A.D., fully outlined by the historian Josephus. It wouldn't necessarily have been out of malice or ill will that they acted against him; simply a fear that everything they had would be destroyed by Roman retaliation.
You know, a lot of people say this, but I think it's only partially true, and I think it leaves the work of the Holy Spirit out. I think only those who are truly apostate--not merely wrong, or misguided, but people who know what God's word says and have chosen to distort it--would be His enemies. Teachers like Nicodemus and Joseph of Arimethea respected and welcomed Him, while others had Him killed.
Take Jerry Falwell and Pat Robertson, for example. Maybe you didn't mean them, but those two are just the sort of folks who most people mean when they say, "If Jesus came by, the religous leaders would crucify Him again." Now I have some differences of opinion with those two gentlemen, but I've seen the way that they treat "sinners" and those who disagree with them, and it's nothing like the attitude that the Pharisees had toward sinners and those who disagreed with them. Now, the folks on the Religious Left...the minute He said, "Um, where did you guys get the impression I wanted gay bishops?" Gene Robinson and all his supporters would want Him on a cross post haste. They would see him as a major gay-basher, and not "loving" at all. Same with Fred "God Hates Fags" Phelps, who would say, "No, the real Jesus would hate fags. Crucify this guy."
So no, if by religious leaders we mean everybody or even just the famous ones, I don't see it, but some of these folks are so invested in their doctrinal divergences that they wouldn't even brook disagreement from Christ Himself. But he isn't getting crucified the next time He shows up, so they'd better repent while there's still time.
What year do the Gospels claim that the Jews did this? If you cannot come up the year it happened, then stop making this accusation.
The accusation was that certain Jews "agitated" for the death of Jesus.
Prove it. Present some evidence that would hold up in court.
I think they said 32 a.d. :-)
It's not an accusation. I don't know where you're getting this idea that somehow I'm "accusing" anyone of some kind of crime. People didn't have the same attitudes in 32 a.d. that they do nowadays--they didn't have our exquisite sensibilities. The bigwigs of Judaea were scared shitless of the Romans and were willing to part with a single human life to save the millions that would have been lost if the Romans had decided to put down a sedition militarily. Whether they calculated right or not is immaterial.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.