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Teen edition: Did Jews really kill Jesus Christ?

David Diamond
Middle Park High School senior
Granby, Colorado

For the past 2,000 years, people of the Jewish faith have been accused of killing Jesus Christ, and have often been referred to as “Christ-Killers”. This accusation has been used as an excuse for the torturing and murdering of many Jews. While this is a touchy and controversial subject, it must be confronted and answered properly.

The big question in this topic is this: Did the Jews, the Romans or both kill Jesus Christ? Also, who is to blame?

The answer is neither. It is stereotypical and oversimplified, not to mention false, to blame an entire religion and race of people for the death of a man over 2,000 years ago. However, it is safe to assume that a handful of individuals made the decision in that time period. The only historical source for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ is the New Testament. Men wrote this historical document 60 to 200 years after the death of Christ.



Jesus Christ was arrested for causing riots against the Roman Empire. Barabbas, a robber and a murderer was also arrested. The Romans gave the decision to the Jewish High Priest Caiaphas to execute one of these men, and set the other free in honor of the Jewish Festival, called Passover.

Jesus had been speaking around the empire, even going so far as to call himself a king, which is evident in Luke 23:2, “And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.”



The Roman Empire at that time was mercilessly squashing any rebellion or riot.

Jesus was showing signs of rebelling against the Roman Empire ” John 19:12: “every one who makes himself a king sets himself against Caesar.”

Because Jesus was speaking out against the Roman Empire and contradicting leading Rabbis, Caiaphas decided that Jesus was the one who needed to be executed. Caiaphas was also afraid that Jesus, who was popular with the public, would take over his position as High Priest and strip him of his authority as a high political leader. The Romans were also agitated that Jesus was testing the power of their empire and thus, the Romans agreed and the Romans put Christ on the cross and crucified him.

Of course, no one knows for sure exactly what occurred to have Jesus Christ crucified, but this is the most widely accepted version by scholars and the one most evident in the New Testament. The crucifixion of Jesus was merely a political decision made by a handful of individuals 2,000 years ago. The Jews should not be blamed for it, and neither the Romans.

Sources:

The New Testament

http://www.straightdope.com/columns/read/2011/who-killed-jesus

http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/history/whokilledjesus_1.shtml


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