THE
TRUTH IN PRINT
March 2004, Vol. 10: Issue 2
A Publication of the Valley church of Christ
2375 W. 8th Street, Yuma, AZ 85364
(928) 539-7089
A Jewish Claim Refuted
By Bob Lovelace
I submitted the following brief article to our local newspaper in
response to a claim that the Jews did not crucify Jesus, the Son of God.
Editor, The Sun. With
regard to the controversial film about Christ (Jan. 28, 2004). I cannot see how anyone
who strives to live a life in Christ, being a Christian, would harbor hatred
towards Jews as a race. Considering all of the circumstances connected with the
death of Jesus who is called Christ (Messiah is translated "Christ"
in the scriptures), still there is just no place for such a hatred. The reason being that I accept Peter's recorded statement that
"God exhalted Jesus to His right hand to be
Prince and Savior, to give repentance to Israel and forgiveness of
sins." Peter spoke these caring words to the Jewish council having
been brought before them for questioning. How can any true Christian hate
anyone since they believe man's only hope of salvation is umbilically
connected with the sacrifice of the Messiah, whose blood was shed for the
remission of sins? He is the propitiation for our sins,
and not for ours only but also for the whole world, John said. The two (hating
any race and desiring any man's salvation) just don't go together. The death of Christ for one who truly believes in and follow Him
precludes such a hatred. Thus, it appears to me that the fears expressed are
unfounded and tend to be more of a promotional aspect than anything. With some
candor may I say, perhaps Jesus is getting more billing than other Jews desire
that he gets?
Mr. _______presses on and states concerning the movie that they
"fear that it may foster images of the Jews being responsible for the
death of Jesus, which Vatican II laid to rest years ago." It is at
this point that I have serious disagreement based upon what the Bible says. In
the same context while speaking to the Jewish council Peter preceded the above
important statement on salvation with, "The God our fathers raised up
Jesus whom you murdered by hanging on a tree." The obvious reason that the
"you" in Peter's statement refers to Jews is that he was speaking to
the Jewish council. Moreover, he was speaking to the very Jewish leaders
who earlier had plotted to put Jesus to death. It is abundantly clear to any
person capable of reading these scriptures that the hatred was the other way
around. For upon hearing Peter's confirmation as a witness of the crucifixion,
resurrection and ascension the Jewish leaders were furious and plotted to kill
the apostles! (This information may be found in Acts 5.)
Mr. _____desires that those who see the movie keep these words in
mind: "The Jewish people reject the notion that we are responsible for
deicide at any time -- ever. And if this movie is going to portray something
different than that, then it's certainly something we're going to
address." Of course Jewish people from his viewpoint do not even believe
Jesus was the Son of God, the Messiah. So folks keep these words in mind: Other
Jews and people of all nationalities, based upon the viewpoint of the
Scriptures, do believe He is the Messiah and that He has died for our sins!
Does the Bible teach that the Jews were held responsible for Jesus murder? Hear
Peter who was a Jew and an apostle: "Therefore let all the house of Israel
know assuredly that God has made this Jesus whom you crucified, both
Lord and Christ." Again, the audience and context is Jewish!
Additional Material
"Deicide" is defined in Webster's dictionary as: 1. the
act of killing a divine being or a symbolic substitute of such a being 2: the
killer or destroyer of a god. You will notice that "god" appears with
a small "g". Although the body of Christ died upon the cross, His
eternal spirit continues as always since He was God in the flesh (John 1:1-4,
14). Could Mr. ____' foregoing statement on "deicide" (see prior
article) simply be a polite way of stating that the
Jewish people, from his viewpoint, reject the notion that they killed the Son
of God? Well, did they? Hear Peter's declaration in his sermon on
Pentecost, the beginning of the church of Christ, as recorded in Acts 2,
"Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made
that same Jesus, whom YE have crucified, both Lord and Christ" (Acts
2:36). Friends, Peter was addressing a Jewish
audience, thus the pronoun "you" ("ye," emphasis mine,
B.L.) refers to Jews! Not only is he speaking to Jews (see Acts 2:5, 14, 22),
but verse 36 addresses particularly "all the house of Israel."
It would be impossible not to connect Jews with Peter's statement regardless of
how the Vatican
stated things on behalf of the Jews, seeking not to offend them of course. In
close sequence Peter says in Acts 2:23,
"Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God,
YE have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain." There's that
"you" (ye) again! Although Jesus death was predetermined according to
the eternal plan of God, this did not at all excuse those who were involved in
it, nor did it exempt them from punishment.
Allow me to go back to the Jewish plot to kill Jesus prior to His arrest
in Gethsemane. While not excluding Judas' own
accountability, Luke tells us about the evil plan of the chief priests and the
scribes as they sought how they might kill Jesus. Hear Luke, "...And the
chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the
people." They were glad when Judas, being led by Satan, communed with them
(the chief priests and captains), and agreed to give him money if he would
betray the Lord to them. Read Lk. 22:1-6.
Let's fast forward now to Judas' betrayal in the garden of Gethsemane.
Note the "from" (emphasis mine, B.L.) in Matthew's statement about
those who came with Judas, "...and with him a great multitude with swords
and staves, FROM the chief priests and elders of the people" (Matthew
26:47). It was the same Jewish leaders Judas had made the prior evil pact with
that sent him and others to arrest Jesus. When the disciples fled out of fear,
Jesus was taken by those who laid him to these Jewish leaders. Note the word
"to" (emphasis mine, B.L.) in Matthew's account, "And they that
had laid hold on Jesus led him away TO Caiaphas the high priest, where the
scribes and the elders were assembled" (Matthew 26:57). The ensuing trial
(a mockery of the ninth commandment, Ex. 20:16)
took place in the high priest's courtyard. Upon Jesus' confession that He was
indeed the Son of God the high priest said, "...what further need have we
of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
What think ye?" They answered and said, He is
guilty of death." Then they abused Jesus. When morning came, all the chief
priests and elders plotting to put Him to death, bind
Jesus and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor so that he would be put
to death! (Matt. 26:65-7:10;
see John 18:31). Their motive of envy, as the reason for their desiring and
getting his death, is clearly brought out in the next sequence as he is tried
by Pilate. The governor's wife tried to warn him not to condemn Christ,
"But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they
should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus" (Matt. 27:15-25). Yes, the
Jewish leaders persuaded the multitudes therefore they are guilty! "They
all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!" And
all the people answered and said, "His blood be
on us and on our children." Pilate scourged Jesus and delivered him to the
soldiers of the governor to be crucified. And they abused him and crucified
Him. All of this helps us to properly understand Peter's statement in Acts
2:23.
Make This Comparison:
1. Acts 2:22 - Men of
Israel are the ones spoken to.
2. Acts 2:23 - YOU - They did what they
intended to do.
3. Acts 2:36 - YOU again.
4. Acts 3:13 - YOU
delivered up! (Note Pilate's determination here.)
5. Acts 3:14 - YOU denied
and asked for a murderer.
6. Acts 3:15 - YOU is
implied.
7. Also read I Th. 2:14-15.
Conclusion: The
church is established on Pentecost when Peter preached that they crucified the
Son of God (Acts 2). They were commanded to repent and be baptized for the
remission of their sins (Acts 2:38,
40, 41). Later, the high priests and others arrest the apostles and put them in
prison but they are freed by an angel. (Acts 5:17-25) Now read Acts 5:26-31
(there's that YOU again!). We must always remember the reason stated in Acts
5:31. There is no hatred, only the desire that all men might be saved through
Him. Friend, He died for you. Why don't you submit to Peter's command in Acts
2:38?
______________________________________________
NOTE: Concerned reader, to learn more
about scriptural baptism why not read a study of the cases of conversion
recorded in Acts. Click this link for Fundamental
Lessons On The Church, Lesson Three. This article
may also be accessed from our Article Index. Simply scroll down until you find
Fundamental Lessons on the Church, Lesson Three.
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