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WHY did they KILL JESUS ? ( A letter responding to a question my GRANDSON asked me -- when he was nine years-old. How would you answer this inquisitive youngster? ) A tablet from the on-going INTERNET BOOK, "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets" ( http://www.terrific-tabs.com ) by John N. Todd III, M. D. (link)
This "tablet" interrelates with Why God came into the world... as JESUS (link) AND: WHY do JEWS vote the way they do? (link) AND: Rigid Doctrinism (link); AND: CIRCUMVENTING and restricting GOD (link); AND: "ISRAELITES"... by God's promise (link) 7/01; 8/01; 12/01; 2/02; 8/02; 9/02; 12/02; 3/03; 2/04; 3/04; 4/04; 5/04; 8/04; 7/06; 12/06; 1/16/07 CLICK HERE to go to the "FRONT PAGE" of "The Doctor's Terrific Tablets" CLICK HERE for ALPHABETICAL INDEX of this entire WEBSITE CLICK HERE to EMAIL your thoughts to the author Author's note: I realize that there are many "reasons" and explanations.... from various "religions", and from innumerable individuals.... as to who killed Jesus.... and "Why they killed Jesus". In this letter to my grandson, I am offering my heartfelt understanding -- my personal beliefs -- to a young person who is very dear to me, and very important to my family and me. As I have stated in several other places, in this Internet book.... I have no interest in "proselytizing" on any religious subject.... and I am not attempting to persuade anyone to accept this "explanation" -- my response to my (then) 9-year-old grandson's fascinating question. To the reader.... if what I say in this letter is at variance with your beliefs.... or with the teachings of your particular "church".... then someone else (perhaps God) will have to decide which of us is correct.... in God's eyes. There is no human-being on this earth -- and no church or "doctrine", in this world -- that is qualified or divinely "authorized" to judge or to decide which of us, individually, is "right".... and who is "wrong".... in his or her spiritual understanding. James 4: 12 (NRSV) There is one Lawgiver and Judge -- who is able to save, and to destroy. So then.... who are you to judge your neighbor? So, what do you say, in response to the question: "Why did they kill Jesus?". Dear Tandy, Not very long ago,
one night, when you were nine years old, you and I were
returning home after a college basketball game, riding along
in my car. We happened to hear a "gospel" song on the
radio.... "When He was on the cross, I was on His mind". You
and I started talking about that song, and about the
crucifixion of Jesus -- and then we began to think-out-loud
about God, and "the church", and "spiritual" matters. You
then asked me this very important question: "Why did they
kill Jesus?".
What Jesus meant by saying, "Now is the time for the Kingdom of God" was that the "religion" of the Jews -- the man-mandated "religion" of laws, rules and regulations -- prescribed by the Scribes and Pharisees.... need no longer be accepted as what God wanted and expected His people to believe, and to understand, and to practice. Jesus explained and taught and "preached" that the religion of the "Scribes and Pharisees" was mainly a list of man-made religious "laws". Note the following reference:
(See link "SALVATION" is God's decision.) Or, stating it in a slightly different way, when Jesus began His "ministry", He said, "Now is the time for the Kingdom of God", meaning that from now on (paraphrasing) -- "I will make it a point to teach and show and state, that the Kingdom of God is not just the Jew's "kingdom", and not just for those who are born Jewish, or for those who have been "circumcised".... but for all those who are "called" by God -- those who are chosen (link), and accepted; and included by God.... those whom God considers His "sons", His "sheep", the children of God (link).... those who "hear" God's voice.... those who understand His "language". (See link The Language of God.) In the next few paragraphs, I want to show Biblical quotations which reveal the build-up of animosity between Jesus, and the "Scribes and Pharisees". These references indicate Jesus's disdain of the Jewish authorities, and His scorn for their "religious" claims -- claims that the Scribes and Pharisees attributed to God -- but which, Jesus said, were only man-made laws, rules, and regulations.... which the Jewish leaders wanted to impose on their Jewish followers, and others. The Jewish leaders maintained "political" power and prestige, as well as "religious" dominance.... and they did not want to yield their position of authority and prominence, to anyone. So, when Jesus came, preaching a "spiritual" understanding which was distinctly different than the traditional Jewish "views".... an understanding which was inimical to the Scribes and Pharisees, and to their beliefs.... they obviously wanted to stop Jesus, and to quieten Him.... and to repudiate Jesus's message about what God Himself wants God's people to believe, and to follow. Jesus became more and more determined in His teaching, and more antagonistic toward the Jewish leaders.... to the point that they finally decided to try to have Jesus KILLED.... by Roman authorities. Note the following quotations from God's Bible, pointing out the progressive antagonism between Jesus, and the Jewish leaders: John 5: 16-18 (NRSV) Therefore the Jews started persecuting Jesus, because He was doing such things on the sabbath. But Jesus answered them, "My Father is still working, and I also am working." For this reason the Jews were seeking all the more to KILL Him.... because He was not only breaking the sabbath, but was also calling God His own Father.... thereby making Himself equal to God. John 5: 40-44 (NRSV) (Jesus speaking) Yet you (Jews) refuse to come to me to have life. I do not accept glory from human-beings. But I know that you do not have the love of God in you. I have come in my Father's name, and you do not accept me.... How can you believe, when you accept glory from one another.... and do not seek the glory that comes from the ONE who ALONE is GOD? John 6: 41-42 (NRSV) Then the Jews began to complain about Him, because He said, "I am the bread that came down from heaven." They were saying, "Is not this Jesus, the son of Joseph, whose father and mother we know? How can He now say, 'I have come down from heaven'?" John 7: 12-18 (NRSV) And there was considerable complaining about Him (Jesus) among the crowds. While some were saying, "He is a good man," others were saying, "No, He is deceiving the crowd." Yet no one would speak openly about Him, for FEAR of the JEWS. About the middle of the festival, Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. The Jews were astonished at it, saying, "How does this man have such learning, when He has never been taught?" Then Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine, but His who SENT me. Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God.... or whether I am speaking on my own. Those who speak on their own, SEEK THEIR OWN GLORY. John 7: 31-32 Yet many in the crowd believed in Him, and were saying, "When the Messiah comes, will He do more signs than this man has done?" The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering such things about Him.... and the chief priests and the Pharisees sent TEMPLE POLICE to ARREST Him. John 8: 37 Jesus speaking: I know that you are descendants of Abraham; yet you look for an opportunity to KILL ME.... because there is NO place in you for MY WORD. John 8: 40-44 (NRSV) Jesus speaking to Scribes and Pharisees: But now you are trying to KILL ME.... a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God.... 42 Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God, and now I am here. I did not come on my own.... but HE SENT ME. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot accept my word. You are from YOUR FATHER -- the DEVIL..... and you choose to do your father's desires. John 8: 47 (NRSV) Jesus speaking to Scribes and Pharisees -- "Whoever is from God hears the words of God. The reason you do not hear them is that YOU are not from God." John 9: 18 (NRSV) The Jews did not believe that he had been blind, and had received his sight, until they called the parents of the man who had received his sight 19 and asked them, "Is this your son, who you say was born blind? How then does he now see?" 20 His parents answered, "We know that this is our son, and that he was born blind; 21 but we do not know how it is that now he sees, nor do we know who opened his eyes. Ask him; he is of age. He will speak for himself." 22 His parents said this because they were AFRAID of the JEWS; for the Jews had already agreed that anyone who confessed Jesus to be the Messiah would be PUT OUT of the synagogue. John 10: 26-31 (NRSV) Jesus speaking to Pharisees. But you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my Father has given me is greater than all else -- and no one can snatch it out of the Father's hand. The Father and I are one." The Jews took up stones again -- to STONE HIM. John 12: 42-45 (NRSV) Nevertheless many, even of the authorities, believed in Him. But because of the PHARISEES, they did not confess it, for FEAR that they would be put out of the synagogue.... for THEY LOVED HUMAN GLORY more than the GLORY that comes from GOD. John 19: 12 From then on Pilate tried to release him, but the Jews cried out, "If you release this man, you are no friend of the EMPEROR. Everyone who claims to be a king, sets himself against the emperor." Luke 11:43-48 (NRSV) Jesus speaking: Woe to you Pharisees! For you love to have the seat of honor in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces. Woe to you! For you are like unmarked graves, and people walk over them without realizing it." One of the lawyers answered him, "Teacher, when you say these things, you insult us too." And He (Jesus) said, "Woe also to you lawyers! For you load people with burdens hard to bear -- and you yourselves do not lift a finger to ease them. Luke 11: 52-54 (NRSV) Jesus speaking: Woe to you lawyers! For you have taken away the key of knowledge. You did not enter yourselves, and you hindered those who were entering." When He (Jesus) went outside, the Scribes and the Pharisees began to be VERY HOSTILE toward Him, and to cross-examine Him about many things.... LYING IN WAIT for Him.... to CATCH HIM in something He might say. Matthew 15: 6 (NRSV) Jesus speaking: So, for the sake of your tradition, you make VOID the word of God. 7 You hypocrites.... Isaiah prophesied rightly about you, when he said: 8 'This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 9 In vain do they worship me -- teaching HUMAN PRECEPTS as doctrines.' Luke 16: 15 (NRSV) So He (Jesus) said to them (the Parisees), "You are those who JUSTIFY yourselves in the sight of others; but God knows your hearts -- for what is prized by human beings is an abomination in the sight of God. AND SEE: ALL of Matthew 23, to see more Jesus remarks, viciously attacking "Scribes and Pharisees", the "hypocrits". Tandy, there are many other Biblical references about "why 'they' killed Jesus". By studying the Biblical quotations, above, you can readily see "why" the Jewish "authorities" became eager to eliminate Jesus.... for Jesus was contradicting the age-old doctrine of the JEWS.... and Jesus was revealing God's Truth (link) -- the "Gospel of God" to ALL the people.... Jews and non-Jews alike. What Jesus told both the Gentiles and the Jews "made sense" to many of them.... and led some of them to abandon the restrictive doctrine, and the exclusionary religious mandates, and cabalistic notions of the Jews.... who were in political and "religious" authority and control in Israel. Thus, many "hearers" of Jesus's words "accepted" the message from Jesus about God, and about the Kingdom of God (link).... and many abandoned the Jewish "religion" -- and became "Christians". Now, Tandy, beyond "why" Jesus was "sent", and why the JEWS "killed" Jesus, there are other questions, like "why did God permit Jesus to be crucified" and "why did God allow Jesus to die". And, of course, all of us must ponder, and try to learn -- to our own spiritual satisfaction -- why God chose to ordain and allow the resurrection of Jesus. Also, in a later part of our discussion, I want to discuss and emphasize that the Jewish authorities were responsible for not only the crucifixion of Jesus.... but also for the execution of 10 of the 12 disciples of Jesus. And, of course, the Jews condemned Paul ("Saul of Tarsus"; the "apostle to the Gentiles"), and put him on trial, and imprisoned him.... then (in AD 67) executed (beheaded) him.... because he had abandoned the traditional Jewish religious beliefs, and had become a follower of the faith of Jesus (link). (Before his "conversion" to Christianity, on "the road to Damascus".... Paul had persecuted "Christians". Paul was born a Jew.... and, before his conversion, had felt that Christians were heretics.... and that their beliefs dishonored God.... and that Christians should therefore be exterminated.) (Tandy.... it is interesting to review, and to recall, how the Jews have traditionally dealt with those who diasgree with them.... those who resist them. One might even consider the actions of the Jews, today.... in "modern" history.) Tandy, I will discuss my understanding of these other "spiritual" subjects with you, in a later "tablet" in this Internet book. Then, you and I can talk-about all of these fascinating matters.... and both of us will grow in our knowledge and understanding of God-the-Father. and God-Incarnate, and God-the-Holy-Spirit (link). 12/20/02 --- Parenthetically, Tandy, there is another fascinating point that I would like to suggest to you, and others -- and I will say more about this, later. That "point" is best portrayed in my "tablet" ISRAELITES, by God' promise (linked). Read that essay.... and try to grasp what I am saying about the question of whether-or-not all so-called Israelites are indeed Jews -- and, contrariwise, whether all Jews are "spiritual" Israelites. I consider the term "Israelite" to be another of many metaphoric terms for God's people (see link). Consider here, now.... two Biblical references from my chapter on "Israelites" (linked above). These Biblical words indicate the basis of my question.... and my assertion. I hope you will see and read the entire "tablet" about "Israelites". Romans 2: 28 (NRSV) For a person is not a Jew who is one outwardly -- nor is true circumcision something external and physical. Rather, a person is a Jew who is one INWARDLY.... and real circumcision is a matter of the HEART. It is SPIRITUAL.... and NOT LITERAL. (NIV says "not by the written code"). Such a person receives praise not from others.... but from God. Galatians 3: 29 "If you belong to Christ, you are Abraham's offspring, and heirs.... according to the promise." Now, again, to you, the reader: What do you say? "Why did they kill Jesus?" 12/22/06; 1/16/07 |