[classmuse500]

Yes - didn't Pilate declare that there was no cause to bring charges against Jesus? And the crowds, most likely spurred on by the chief priests and teachers of the law, shouted ,"Crucify! Crucify!".

[RobbyS]

The idea of a bloodthirty Jewish mob may be abhorrant to Jews, but it happened. Besides, except for Pilate there were few Romans involved. The "Roman"soldiers were probably Greek recruits, who had no love for Jews. The Roman armies that destroyed Jerusalem was mostly of the same background.

[xrp]

Yes - didn't Pilate declare that there was no cause to bring charges against Jesus? And the crowds, most likely spurred on by the chief priests and teachers of the law, shouted ,"Crucify! Crucify!".

Indeed. Fascinating isn't it? A 2,000 year old warning of the dangers of democracy versus the liberty of a republic.

[rmlew]

1. I hate to tell you, but Jesus did commit blasphemy.
2. As for the "Jewish leaders" these were puppets for the Romans. Had Jesus not been killed on Passover (against JUewish law), been a threat to the Romans and their puppets, you might have a case.

[MHT]

Jesus came to save the Jews, and the Jewish leaders of the day not only rejected him but realized that he presented not only a theological challenge to the way they interpreted God's laws but also a political challenge to their authority.

The "trials" they held were kangaroo courts in every sense and his conviction was no more than a wink-and-a-nod between buddies. When they presented Jesus to Pilot, they knew Pilot would go along with the program. He had political problems of his own. Even if Pilot knew that Jesus' conviction didn't measure up to the remedy required by law, he wasn't going to make trouble with the Jews, the ultimate special interest group of their day.

Worst of all, when given the chance repeatedly by Pilot to pick a criminal who would receive a reprieve, they didn't pick Jesus (though when read in certain tones, Pilot's words sound like an appeal to the Jews to let Jesus go).

Jesus was least successful in convincing those he came specifically to save. A select group of Jews followed him, as did many gentiles, and eventually, the remnants of the Roman Empire. The Romans were the executioners as Jesus was actually killed by their hands--but the Jews were the ones who condemned him to death, without the appearance of blood on their own hands.