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WHO KILLED CHRIST?
(Or, rewriting history)
Haven’t seen the movie “The Passion of Christ.” Don’t intend to see it. You can see it if you want to spend the money. However, I am amused at the responses of people to the movie, especially those who want to re-write history. From what I hear, it seems that the movie is very graphic and fairly close to the scripture’s text, in a presentation of the crucifixion of Christ.
Who killed Christ? “Certainly, not the Jews,” the Rabbi says. Who killed Christ? “We must interpret the events so as not to arouse anti-Semitism,” the politically correct, protestant preacher says. So, let’s blame the Romans – there aren’t any of them around now.
Who Killed Christ? “…ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain…Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ,” so Peter said to Jews at Jerusalem (Acts 2:23, 36). Later, Peter addressed another group of Jews at the temple and said, “…whom he delivered up and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let him go. But ye denied the Holy One…And killed the Prince of life…” (Acts 3:13-15). Then, when the apostles were called in question before the leading council of the Jews about their preaching, he said, “…whom ye crucified…” (3:10). Peter was not alone in his statement of facts. Speaking about Jesus, Stephen said to the same Sanhedrin Court, “…of whom ye have been now the betrayers and murders…” (Acts 7:52).
A few years later, Peter claimed to have witnessed the death of Jesus as he preached the same message to the house of Cornelius. He could not change history – “…whom they (the Jews) slew and hanged on a tree,” (Acts 20:39). In Paul’s preaching, he always laid the ultimate blame for the crucifixion at the feet of the Jews (Acts 13:27-29).
But, pray tell me, what that has to do with blaming the Jews in our time? Are they responsible for what their fathers did? Absolutely not. Is there any justification for anti-Semitism? Absolutely not.
Attempts to rewrite history come from those who don’t really believe the historical accuracy of the New Testament scriptures. By comparison, as unjust as the treatment of the Indians was by the hands of our settling forefathers, our generation is not to blame nor can we rewrite history in order to excuse that treatment. As cruel and inhuman as the treatment was to blacks in our country, the present generation cannot change that nor are they responsible for those actions. Slavery was degrading and that caused a certain kind of survival response on the part of slaves in their culture but it is unfair to arouse anger and retaliate against the present generation. Hate and prejudice against any race of people is unjust. We are responsible for our own actions.
Politically correct and/or noble efforts to alter what happened in Jerusalem will not change what actually took place during the trial and crucifixion of Christ nor can blame be shifted away from the Jews present there who cried for the blood of Christ. Let the inspired record speak for itself. All other answers are mere superfluous subterfuge. -- Jim R. Everett
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