Who Killed Jesus?
by Daniel J. Harrington, S.J. Who killed Jesus? This simple question needs and deserves a careful answer. Throughout the centuries some have responded that the Jews killed Jesus, and therefore they are a “deicide” people. The word “deicide” means to kill God. Since Jesus is divine and since the Jews killed Jesus, therefore they must be a deicide people. This “logic” sometimes gave Christians a rationale and a motive for killing Jews. One result of this tradition was the Nazi Holocaust or Shoah. The hideous results of a careless answer to a simple question prove the need for taking the issue with utmost seriousness. The Sources The only ancient sources that we have for who killed Jesus are the passion narratives in the four Gospels: Mark 1415, Matthew 2627, Luke 2223, and John 1819. The four accounts agree on many basic points. They tell us that Jesus was arrested, underwent two hearings or trials, was sentenced to death by crucifixion, and died on the cross. Mark’s account seems to hav
If you’re a devout Christian, Jesus would tell you not to blame but to forgive. If Jesus hadn’t died on the cross, you’d have no route to salvation. So in a way you should be thanking those who executed him, not blaming them. Second, as you say, the question is politically sensitive, to say the least. The accusation of “Christ-killer” was used as justification for isolating, robbing, torturing, and murdering Jews. It’s only in recent times–the last fifty years, perhaps not that long–that leading Christian authorities have reviewed the circumstances and acknowledged the injustices of the past 2,000 years. Third, there is no historical record of the condemnation of Jesus other than the New Testament. The different books of the New Testament give five slightly different accounts. Although the versions agree on the main points, the emphasis and details vary. Each author had his own biases and agenda. The authors of the gospels weren’t writing objective history; they were trying to conver
No trial or execution in history has had such a momentous outcome as that of Jesus in Roman-occupied Jerusalem, 2000 years ago. But was it an execution or a judicial murder; and who was responsible? The story begins when the Galilean rebel Jesus rides into Jerusalem on a donkey, deliberately fulfilling a prophecy in the Hebrew Bible about the coming of the Messiah. He’s mobbed by an adoring crowd. The next day Jesus raids the Temple, the heart of the Jewish religion, and attacks money-changers for defiling a holy place. The leaders of the Jewish establishment realise that he threatens their power, and so do the Romans, who fear that Jesus has the charisma to lead a guerrilla uprising against Imperial Rome. Jesus is arrested in the Garden of Gethsemane, tried by Caiaphas and then by the Roman Governor. He’s sentenced to death and executed.
” INTRODUCTION 1. Movies depicting the death of Christ are often controversial… a. Especially “The Passion” produced by Mel Gibson b. Even “The Gospel Of John” has been criticized in this regard 2. The controversy is over the involvement of the Jews in the crucifixion… a. Many have used their involvement as the basis for anti-Semitism b. Seeking to place the entire blame for the death of Jesus on the Jews 3. Anti-Semitism with its hatred of Jews is certainly contrary to the scriptures… a. Such hatred of anyone is contrary to the teaching of Christ – cf. Mt 5:43-45 b. The Jews are not alone in bearing responsibility for the death of Jesus [Who killed Jesus, then? Let’s take a closer look by asking…] I. WAS IT THE ROMANS? A. INVOLVEMENT OF THE ROMAN AUTHORITIES… 1. The Jews had no power under Roman dominion to put one to death – Jn 18:28-31 2. It was the Romans (i.e., Pilate) who: a. Gave the orders for Christ to be crucified – Jn 19:16 b. Carried out the actual crucifixion – J
