Pope Benedict XVI has made a sweeping exoneration of the Jewish people for the death of Jesus, tackling one of the most controversial issues in Christianity in a new book.
- In excerpts from "Jesus of Nazareth-Part II" released Wed. Mar. 9, 2011
In it Benedict explains biblically and theologically why there is no basis in Scripture for the argument that the Jewish people as a whole were responsible for Jesus' death.
Wow, the Catholic Church moving from millennia of anti-Semitism, to all out Jew haters of WWII, to exonerating the Jews from any blame in the conspiracy to kill Jesus. Now that’s phenomenal.
Yedioth News Tel Aviv Israel 03.03.11
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thanked Pope Benedict XVI on Thursday for his exoneration of the Jews for the death of Jesus Christ.
- So Who Did Kill Jesus?
- The first words from the Cross
Lk 23:34
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. .....
- Forgiveness implies guilt
- Jesus goes on to say “they (the crucifiers) did not know what they were doing. •
- Trials try to determine who committed the crime
- Is the defendant responsible?
- Or is someone else really guilty
1. Is Satan Behind It All?
- From the beginning
- Right to the very end
Ge 3:15
15 And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.
Ge 3:15 NIV
And I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between our offspring and hers; he will crush your head, and you will strike his heel.”
Lk 22:3
Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve.
Re 20:8
8 And (Satan) shall go out to deceive the nations which are in the four quarters of the earth, Gog and Magog, to gather them together to battle: the number of whom is as the sand of the sea.
2. Was It Judas The Betrayer?
Lk 22:3-6
3 Then entered Satan into Judas surnamed Iscariot, being of the number of the twelve. 4 And he went his way, and communed with the chief priests and captains, how he might betray him unto them. 5 And they were glad, and covenanted to give him money. 6 And he promised, and sought opportunity to betray him unto them in the absence of the multitude.
- Judas may have been the only Judean among the twelve disciples
- Failure of Jesus to establish a political kingdom & its gains
- Love for wealth
3. Could the Disciples Have Helped Prevent this Evil
- Jn 18:10, Lk 22:51 - Attempt by Peter cutting off
Malchus ear
Mk 14:50
50 And they (disciples} all forsook him, and fled.
Mk 14:71-72
71 But he (Peter) began to curse and to swear, saying, I know not this man of whom ye speak. 72 And the second time the cock crew. And Peter called to mind the word that Jesus said unto him, Before the cock crow twice, thou shalt deny me thrice. And when he thought thereon, he wept.
4. Should The Religious Leaders Be Responsible?
- Early in His ministry
- Healing the withered hand on the Sabbath
Mk 3:6
And the Pharisees went forth, and straightway took counsel with the Herodians against him, how they might destroy him.
Mk 14:1
1 After two days was the feast of the passover, and of unleavened bread: and the chief priests and the scribes sought how they might take him by craft, and put him to death.
Mt 26:59
Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
5. Maybe the People Who Were Turned Into A Mob Killed Jesus
- They Cried out Crucify Him, Crucify Him
Mk 15:11-14
But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them. 12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews? 13 And they cried out again, Crucify him. 14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
- Peters sermon on the day of Pentecost
Ac 2:22-23
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:
6. Pilate Held Jurisdiction Over Life & Death
Jn 19:10
Then saith Pilate unto him, Speakest thou not unto me? knowest thou not that I have power to crucify thee, and have power to release thee?
Jn 19:16
16 Then delivered he (Pilate) him therefore unto them to be crucified. And they took Jesus, and led him away.
7. Roman Soldiers Carried Out the Deed
Mt. 27:27-35
- v.27 Soldiers took Jesus
- v.28 Stripped Him
- v.29 Planted a Crown of thrones on Him
- v. 29 Mocked Him
- v.30 spit upon Him
Mt 27:35
35 And they crucified him, and parted his garments, casting lots: that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, They parted my garments among them, and upon my vesture did they cast lots.
8. It Was For My Sin That Jesus Died
- I am the reason for the death of Jesus
- First I am a sinner
Ro 3:23
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
- Second the penalty for sin is death
Ro 6:23
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
- My sin fingerprints are all over the crown of
thorns
- My sin is on the whips used on Jesus
- My sin is on the nails that pierced His Hand
- My sin is on the handle of the hammer that
pounded them through
- My sin is on the cross that held Him
- If my soul was not stained with sin, Jesus would not have had to suffer at the hands of his tormentors for my salvation
Col 2:13-14
And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; 14 Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross;
Col 2:13-14 TLB
13You were dead in sins, and your sinful desires were not yet cut away. Then he gave you a share in the very life of Christ, for he forgave all your sins, 14and blotted out the charges proved against you, the list of his commandments which you had not obeyed. He took this list of sins and destroyed it by nailing it to Christ’s cross.
- The more pressing question should be "Who is
killing Jesus?"...
a. Those who refuse to accept God's grace still
bear the guilt of their sins that caused Jesus' death
b. Those who once accepted God's grace but turn
away to unrepentant sin crucify Him once again
- Let’s make sure that we do not receive the
grace of God in vain
Ps 77:11-13 ESV
11 I will remember the deeds of the Lord;
yes, I will remember your wonders of old.
12 I will ponder all your work,
and meditate on your mighty deeds.
13 Your way, O God, is holy.
What god is great like our God?
