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Are all Jews to blame for Jesus’ death? The church needs to drop this inaccurate statement “the Jews killed Christ.” This false accusation of ‘all’ being involved is being used as misinformation by today's anti-semitic movement under the guise of Christianity, and by many who are not Christian. The majority, if not all of the Jews at the time were religious, they were practicing Judaism along with the Pharisee's traditions in Jesus' day. The Jewish religious leadership are the ones who condemned Jesus by charging him with ‘blasphemy,’ and had him come before the Roman government to be condemned, because they had no jurisdiction to accomplish this themselves. First, the why? Because they, the Religious leaders were not teaching or practicing the Judaism of Moses. Jesus challenged the religious beliefs they added that were not of Moses. When Jesus corrected them on their man-made laws (called the tradition of the elders) they took it personally (acting like Cain did with Abel). Second, the reason they reacted: They feared losing their own prestige, power and position, as Jesus pointed out they loved attention and the praises of men. Here’s the proof. All of Christ’s original Disciples were…Jews, many of his people did not agree with the Sanhedrin’s charges against the one called Christ, who had Jesus crucified by the Roman authorities. The Bible's record is what counts not men’s opinions. God is not a liar, but men can be liars. The Logic missed! What continues today is calling all Jews “Christ-killers” (as the Roman Church did when it became a state religion during and after Constantine in the 300’s, which basically leavened it with false teaching slowly). They ironically blamed all ‘the Jews’ for Jesus’ substitutionary death for all sinners (human beings), which inadvertently means, that Gentile followers of Christ have the Jews to thank for their salvation! But … it was God’s plan from the foundation of the world (Rv.13:8;1 Pt.120; Eph.1:4). He would die by crucifixion on a Roman Cross on Passover. As the Lamb of God that allowed himself to be sacrificed, doing the will of the Father. So all the Jews are not to blame, the fact is we are all to blame, that includes YOU and Me. Because he went to the die willingly for our sins. The bible explicitly teaches that many of the common people of Israel did not reject Jesus. Jesus taught daily in the temple. The chief priests, the scribes, and the leaders of the people sought to destroy Him, but were unable “for all the people were very attentive to hear Him” (Luke 19:47-48). Luke 7:29-31 “when all the people heard Him, even the tax collectors justified God.” Mark 11:18-19 And the scribes and chief priests “feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching.” John 2:23-24 “when He was in Jerusalem at the Passover, during the feast, many believed in His name when they saw the signs which He did.” Many of HIS people believed, John 12:19 Pharisees said among themselves, “the world has gone after Him!” Meaning their brethren were listening to his words, not to their traditions. V.42-43 the people being taught by the Pharisees, many of them believed. Scripture also states “ even among the rulers many believed in Him, but because of the Pharisees they did not confess Him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue; for they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.” We find Nicodemus was a Pharisee, a ruler of the Jews who believed in him and came to him secretly at night (John 3:1). We later read of the believers among the Pharisees at the first Church council meeting in Jerusalem (Acts.15, who were not understanding the differences of grace and law).
John 5:16, 18: “For this reason the Jews were persecuting Jesus, because
He was doing these things on the Sabbath. . . .V.18:“For this
reason therefore the Jews were seeking all the more to kill Him.” These
Jews mentioned were specifically the Pharisees, and Sadducees.
From the beginning of his ministry, the religious leaders refused to acknowledge Jesus. Mark 3:6 “the Pharisees went out and immediately plotted with the Herodians against Him, how they might destroy Him.” Jesus reminded them who wanted him to submit to their own laws, their traditions, “Did not Moses give you the law, yet none of you keeps the law? Why do you seek to kill Me?” (Jn. 7:19). Mark 12:13 “Then they sent to Him some of the Pharisees and the Herodians, to catch Him in His words,” asking about taxes. At the Temple Jesus speaks two parables directly to the chief priests and elders. The second parable is of the vinedressers. God sent them servants, which they killed one by one. God decides to send his Son whom he anticipates they will respect, but they plot to kill him too and seize his inheritance. He then tells them “Therefore, when the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those vinedressers?" They ( the Pharisees) said to Him, "He will destroy those wicked men miserably, and lease his vineyard to other vinedressers who will render to him the fruits in their seasons." Jesus explains the kingdom will be taken from their hand and given to others for they rejected him who is the chief cornerstone. “The chief priests and Pharisees heard His parables, they perceived that He was speaking of them. But when they sought to lay hands on Him, they feared the multitudes, because they took Him for a prophet” (Matt. 21:45-46; Mk.12:7; and Luke 20:14). Matt. 12:14 “The Pharisees went out and plotted against Him, how they might destroy Him.” Matt. 22:15-16 They “plotted how they might entangle Him in His talk.” Matt 26:4 They,“plotted to take Jesus by trickery and kill Him.” Luke 22:2 the “chief priests and the scribes wanted to kill Him, but “they feared the people.” John 11:47-48 “ the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, "What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him.” This was their concern, losing their religious position, and influence. Not all the Pharisees were down with the opposition. Luke 13:31 “some Pharisees came, saying to Him, "Get out and depart from here, for Herod wants to kill You." Numerous times beforehand, “Jesus began to show to His disciples that He must go to Jerusalem, and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes , and be killed, and be raised the third day” (Matt. 16:21.) Jesus did not say all the people, but certain people would be involved, as we read that even many leaders believed on him. God had a day reserved for His final sacrifice for humanity's sin. Throughout John’s gospel, it is written, "My time has not yet come" (Jn. 7:6). "His hour had not yet come" (7:30, 820). At this last Passover Jesus states, "The hour has come that the Son of Man should be glorified” (John 12:23-24). God has control of the timing and events that were to transpire. John 13:1 “Jesus knew that His hour had come that He should depart from this world.” The day came and he announced, “The Son of Man is being betrayed into the hands of men, and they will kill Him.” “Deliver Him to the Gentiles” (Mark 9:31,10:33; Lk.18:33). This began to transpire when many Jews came to see Lazarus whom He had raised from the dead. Meanwhile, “the chief priests plotted to put Lazarus to death also, because on account of him many of the Jews went away and believed in Jesus” (Jn.12:9-13). We read in Mark 14:1 the chief priests and scribes conspired against Christ two days before the feast of the Passover. After his mock trial with the Sanhedrin overnight, it was at the Feast of Unleaven bread/ Passover when Jesus was brought out to Pilate. He said, "Behold the Man!" Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him" (John 19:5-6). The religious leaders were there among the people as the instigators for the crucifixion. Pilate asked those gathered before him, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas” (Barabbas Matt. 27:17, 21, who committed murder, Mark 15:7; Luke 23:18). Matt 27:19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him." This was not a dream from God, the Devil wanted Jesus gone but not on this day or this way. This was to prevent Jesus from the appointed time of his mission as The Lamb of God. But God was in control of the events. Peter later tells the people of Jesus, that he “being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God” (Acts 2:23; 1 Cor.2:7.) “Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!” When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, “I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.” And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified” (Matt. 27:17-26). Pilate tried what he could to not have this take place, but God's will overruled him. The religious Jews who wanted Jesus to be dealt with once and for all gathered others on their side to be there at 9 in the morning to back them up. This was a conspiracy among those who were the elite and were in the position of power to have influence in having him crucified. “the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus” (Matt. 27:20). The crowd was misled by their religious leaders who plotted his demise, the people chose Barabbas. Whose name means ‘son of the Father,’ they chose to release the wrong son. But this was God working, his plan was being accomplished through the actions of certain men who were doing evil. As Jesus came first as Joseph, the suffering servant we are reminded that Joseph said to his brothers “you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good” (Gen. 50:20); with Jesus, it was for the good of mankind. John 19:12 “Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews (meaning certain ones that were gathered) cried out, saying, "If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar's friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.” Pilate was in a bind, he did not want an insurrection. The religious Jews who wanted Jesus to be dealt with once and for all gathered others on their side to be there early in the morning to back them up. This was a conspiracy among those who were the elite and were in the position of power to have influence to have him crucified. Jesus explained that when a grain of wheat falls into the ground and dies, it produces much grain. V.33 he then explains he will be lifted up from the earth (Referring to Moses when he lifted up the serpent on a pole for people to be healed (Jn.3:14),“signifying by what death He would die.” He being the Lamb of God crucified but will be raised to life again. If you do not see yourself as the reason for Jesus dying for sin, then you do not understand the gospel. No one person or group of people is to blame for his death. He sacrificed himself out of love for all. Isa. 53:10 “it pleased the LORD to bruise Him,” “for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame” (Heb. 12:2.) Heb. 9:26 “He has appeared to put away sin by the sacrifice of Himself.” Heb. 10:12 “He had offered one sacrifice for sins forever. Lk.24:19 The disciples on the 3rd day discussing Jesus of Nazareth who was crucified, v. 20 “and how the chief priests and our rulers delivered Him to be condemned to death, and crucified Him.” The disciples did not say all the people or nation condemned him, but certain men; the religious leaders.Jesus himself said In John 10:15 Jesus said, “I lay down My life for the sheep.” V.18 “No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.” Which He did 3 days later. And we freely receive the benefits of his sacrifice by believing in the gospel.
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