About Those Christ-Killers... Before you blame the Jews, think twice

American Thinker ^ | 01/14/2024 | Cherie Zaslawsky

[Honorary Serb]

......Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a man attested to you by God with mighty works and wonders and signs that God did through him in your midst, as you yourselves know— this Jesus, delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God, you crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.”

Acts 2:22-23........

And what became of these Jews?

....Acts 2:40 And with many other words [Peter] testified and exhorted them, saying, “Be saved from this [l]perverse generation.” 41 Then those who [m]gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. 42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ [n]doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.....

[EEGator]

Okay.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Jewish_American_businesspeople_in_finance

[sauropod]

Bkmk

[QBFimi]

At a funeral yesterday one of the priest’s readings was from St. John’s gospel. And there it was - “The Jews”, of which there were more than a few in attendance. )-: Nice.

There are four categories to “The Jews” in that gospel:
1/ People whom we would refer to today as “Judeans”, e.g. 11.8, 19, 31, 33, 36; 12.9, 19.20, etc.
2/ Casual references to the Jewish people, e.g. 2.6, 13, 3.1, 4.9, 8.31, 18.12, etc.
3/ Authorities in Jerusalem (Sadducees in particular), e.g. 1.19, 2,18, 13,33, 18.14, etc.
.... AND, the big one:
4/ Jews openly hostile to Jesus (a small but influential minority), e.g. 6.41, 52, 8.48, 52, 57, 18.20, 38, etc.

I’ve taken my study bible and color coded all the references - Green for #s 1 and 2; yellow for #3, and red for #4.

The full article, written by Robert G. Bratcher, is contained in an October 1975 issue of The Bible Translator, but unfortunately it’s behind a paywall. (Note: If you’d like a summary copy of the references, please message me.)

[cowboyusa]

Our sins did it.

[Olog-hai]

No, He did not. Read it again.

[af_vet_1981]

My own starting point for thinking about this issue is, what does Scripture say?

What brand of faith community do you indentify with ?

Acts 2:

22. Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know:
23. Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

1. God planned for Jesus to die by His own "determinate counsel and foreknowledge."
2. The Romans were the wicked hands who crucified yet another Jew, but not just another Jew, but the King of the Jews.
3. What would have happened had more Jews risen up and fought like the Apostle Peter, saving Jesus from the crucifixion ?
4. Our crime was betraying an innocent Jew to the wicked Gentiles. We all should have stood up for him, and for that and our own wicked deeds, we are guilty.

Something important follows the third quote.


Acts 3:

16. And his name through faith in his name hath made this man strong, whom ye see and know: yea, the faith which is by him hath given him this perfect soundness in the presence of you all.
17. And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
18. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.
19. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;
20. And he shall send Jesus Christ, which before was preached unto you:
21. Whom the heaven must receive until the times of restitution of all things, which God hath spoken by the mouth of all his holy prophets since the world began.
22. For Moses truly said unto the fathers, A prophet shall the Lord your God raise up unto you of your brethren, like unto me; him shall ye hear in all things whatsoever he shall say unto you.
23. And it shall come to pass, that every soul, which will not hear that prophet, shall be destroyed from among the people.
24. Yea, and all the prophets from Samuel and those that follow after, as many as have spoken, have likewise foretold of these days.
25. Ye are the children of the prophets, and of the covenant which God made with our fathers, saying unto Abraham, And in thy seed shall all the kindreds of the earth be blessed.
26. Unto you first God, having raised up his Son Jesus, sent him to bless you, in turning away every one of you from his iniquities.

[Olog-hai]

Thanks. All context must be included.

[metmom]

All of humanity is guilty of the Messiah’s blood.

Exactly. My sin put Him there.

[lightman]

From the Second Tone Praises of Orthros:

Praise God in His saints; praise Him in the firmament of His power.

Let the Jewish leaders explain it. How did the soldiers lose the King, whom they were guarding? Why couldn't the stone secure the rock of life? Either produce Him who was buried, or else worship Him as risen from the dead, then join us and say, "Glory to the abundance of Your tender mercies, our Savior, glory to You!"

I will give thanks to You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your wondrous things.

Villains that you truly are, since you sealed the stone, you unwittingly entitled us to claim a greater miracle. The guards know about this. He came forth from the tomb today. But you told them to say, "His disciples came and stole Him away while we were asleep." Who steals a dead man, and a naked one at that? This one rose, by His own authority as God, and He left the grave clothes in the sepulcher. O Jews, come and see it, how He did not break the seals, yes, He who trampled death and grants to the human race never-ending life and the great mercy.

[lightman]

Who was the guilty?
Who put this upon Thee?
Alas, my treason, Jesus hath undone Thee.
'Twas I, Lord Jesus,
I and none beside me.
I crucified Thee.

Author: Johann Heermann (1630);
Translator: Robert Bridges (1897)
Tune: HERZLIEBSTER JESU

[af_vet_1981]

Let the Jewish leaders explain it.

They already did; read with understanding and for effect.

Matthew 16:

16. And Simon Peter answered and said, Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.
17. And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but my Father which is in heaven.
18. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
19. And I will give unto thee the keys of the kingdom of heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.
20. Then charged he his disciples that they should tell no man that he was Jesus the Christ.

Acts 3:

17. And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
18. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled.

[HamiltonJay]

Pontius Pilat could have cared less about Jesus, in fact, he stated, I can find no crime to kill him for. it was indeed the Jewish leadership that wanted Jesus killed, and much of the crowd that demanded his death were also Jews.

However, those that focus on WHO killed Christ, rather than the why Christ died, and fact Christ knew and willfully accepted his fate, miss the entire point of their own theology.

Christ died for all of humanity, if you believe in the Christian faith at all. His death was ordained before his birth, he was never going to live out his life and die an old man in his sleep.. in fact had that happened, its likely none of us would likely even know his name today.

IF you want to play those sorts of games, like hating the jews because they “killed Jesus”... well then, you might as well be a Muslim for all it will matter, because you completely missed the point of it all.

[af_vet_1981]

Pontius Pilat could have cared less about Jesus, in fact, he stated, I can find no crime to kill him for. it was indeed the Jewish leadership that wanted Jesus killed, and much of the crowd that demanded his death were also Jews.

There is a little more history to him, but unfortunately no historical record, other than the Gospels, to support the custom of releasing a prisoner at Passover. In that account, once there was an appeal to not supporting a king other than Caesar, there was no remedy; it was all God's plan and sadly there was no alternative.
One of the earliest—and most scathing—accounts of Pilate comes from the Jewish philosopher Philo of Alexandria. Writing around A.D. 50, he castigated the prefect for his “briberies, insults, robberies, outrages and wanton injuries, executions without trial, constantly repeated, ceaseless and supremely grievous cruelty.”

John 19:

7. The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.
8. When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid;
9. And went again into the judgment hall, and saith unto Jesus, Whence art thou? But Jesus gave him no answer.
10. Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
11. Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin.
12. And from thenceforth Pilate sought to release him: but the Jews cried out, saying, If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend: whosoever maketh himself a king speaketh against Caesar.

[Mr Rogers]

Nope. He gave up his life. They could not take what God had not decided to give. And He gave it for US, not just the Romans.

[Olog-hai]

Jesus was not naked in the tomb. (John 19:38-42)