Who crucified Jesus, the Jews or the Romans?
Introduction. Sometimes this question is asked from a perspective of prejudice, as if to say those who claim to be Jews today should be blamed or persecuted for what was done to Jesus 2000 years ago.
The way to address religious differences. We read of numerous doctrinal differences in the New Testament (Mk. 7: 1-13, Matt. 19: 3-12, Acts 15: 1, 2, 6-29). Truth is essential; hence these differences were not ignored (Ibid.). In these cases, Jesus and the apostles appealed to scripture as their authority. So should we.
The Jews crucified Jesus through the Romans. At the time of Jesus' crucifixion, the Romans had conquered all the area in which Jesus lived and taught. The Romans allowed the Jews to continue with their Sanhedrin (their government), but the Romans took away capital punishment from the Jews. In order to have Jesus crucified, the Jewish leaders had to manipulate Rome into doing it. First, the Jewish leaders had to lie by making up charges (Luke 23: 2-3). The Jewish leaders persisted in their demands for crucifixion (vss. 5-19). New Testament writers charged the Jews with having crucified Jesus (Acts 2: 36, 3: 13-17).
Should "Jews" today be punished? No. In the first place, how do we go about establishing a pure Jew (all the records were destroyed in AD 70). Further, all are sinners, Jews and Gentiles, and all are in need of God's grace (Rom. 2, 3, Eph. 2: 8 ff). So, in a sense, each of us, including both you and I, are responsible for Jesus' crucifixion (as an atoning sacrifice for our sins).
The way to address religious differences. We read of numerous doctrinal differences in the New Testament (Mk. 7: 1-13, Matt. 19: 3-12, Acts 15: 1, 2, 6-29). Truth is essential; hence these differences were not ignored (Ibid.). In these cases, Jesus and the apostles appealed to scripture as their authority. So should we.
The Jews crucified Jesus through the Romans. At the time of Jesus' crucifixion, the Romans had conquered all the area in which Jesus lived and taught. The Romans allowed the Jews to continue with their Sanhedrin (their government), but the Romans took away capital punishment from the Jews. In order to have Jesus crucified, the Jewish leaders had to manipulate Rome into doing it. First, the Jewish leaders had to lie by making up charges (Luke 23: 2-3). The Jewish leaders persisted in their demands for crucifixion (vss. 5-19). New Testament writers charged the Jews with having crucified Jesus (Acts 2: 36, 3: 13-17).
Should "Jews" today be punished? No. In the first place, how do we go about establishing a pure Jew (all the records were destroyed in AD 70). Further, all are sinners, Jews and Gentiles, and all are in need of God's grace (Rom. 2, 3, Eph. 2: 8 ff). So, in a sense, each of us, including both you and I, are responsible for Jesus' crucifixion (as an atoning sacrifice for our sins).