Who really killed Jesus the Christ?

For two millennia, the Jewish people have suffered the defamation of being called the “Christ killers.” I first heard this ethno-religious slur during the 1940s—a racially-prejudiced townsperson wrongfully disparaged a local Jewish merchant, calling him a “Christ killer.” This term had its origin in the passion narratives of the gospels wherein the Jewish high priests brought Jesus before the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, charging Him with blasphemy and seeking His execution.

Pilate finds no fault with Jesus and insists He should be released, but the Jewish crowd wants Jesus crucified and shouts, “Let His blood be upon us and our children.” Not only did the mob accept the blame for Jesus’ death, but was willing to pass it along to future generations of Jews. Pilate, sensing the possibility of a riot if he didn’t act, declared, “I am innocent of this man’s blood.” He then allows Jesus to be led away for crucifixion.

For centuries, these incendiary words by the mob have been used by those harboring animosity toward the Jews to inflict retributive acts of violence. Martin Luther, the German theologian, was known for promoting anti-Jewish sentiment throughout Europe. In his book, “On the Jews and Their Lies,” Luther proposed, “getting rid of the Jews.” As a result, Jewish congregations were burned to death, locked inside their synagogues, while the perpetrators screamed, “You crucified Christ, you Christ killers!”

Luther set the stage for Germany’s pogroms against the Jews when he said, “We are at fault for not slaying them and avenging the death of Jesus Christ.” Taking Luther’s cue, Hitler rose to power during 1930-40s and vowed to wipe the Jewish race off the face of the earth. Hitler, a Catholic by faith, sent six million Jews to the gas chambers in Auschwitz. More recently, Mel Gibson’s negative portrayal of the Jews in his blockbuster film, “The Passion of the Christ,” did much to encourage anti-Semitism.

After a minister preached an Easter sermon, he invited the congregation to walk past a casket positioned down front to see the person responsible for crucifying the Lord. As the parishioners peered inside, they saw themselves reflected in a mirror. So, who killed the Lord? It was my sins and your sins (John 3: 16; 1 John 2:2). Jesus died on the cross for the sins of all mankind, not because of the charges leveled by the Jews, or the high priests, or Pontius Pilate, or even Judas Iscariot’s betrayal, but because it was foreordained by the “purpose and will of God”(Acts 2: 23). It is sheer folly to blame all Jews for the actions of a first-century Jerusalem crowd. Instead, it was my sins and your sins that crucified the Lord!

HHJ News