Pilate

[JB_Brother_4446]

In popular culture the media just likes to bash on Christianity, Catholicism especially. In the case of who was to blame for Jesus’ death they say Christians just shifted the blame from Pilate to the Jewish authorities when the Gospels are pretty clear that both sides were party to guilt and then accuse us of antisemitism. Any thoughts on this?

 

[Lily_Bernans]

Anyone who sins is to blame for Jesus’ death. We did it to him.

The Jews had no power to order Jesus’ death. Only Pilate had that authority.

 

[e_c]

“Let his blood be upon us and our children!”

Usually this is held against Jews… Perhaps it could have been, in the plain sense, against those who were there that day, and rightly so (and yet, “Father, forgive them, they know not what they do.”)…

On the other hand, how many hours would it take to go through the Old Testament and find all the images such a statement refers to? It’s a tour through the entirety of Jewish worship. “Let his blood be upon us and our children…” His blood is upon us now as a blessing, not a curse.

Many of the Fathers did, however, see the Jews as a cursed people, cast out by God for not accepting His Messiah. You’ll have to read them for yourself.

The MSM just looks at Mel Gibson and maybe the old Good Friday prayers and calls it a day. They do homework like a 9 year old in the summertime.

 

[steve53]

I would recommend reading Josephus for background

Josephus attributed the fall of Jerusalem to the general wickedness of the Jews of that time. Of course, the Christians blame the fall of Jerusalem and the dispersal of the Jews by Titus due to their crucifixion of Jesus several decades earlier. But Josephus does not mention this.

 

[Lily_Bernans]

Judas returned the 30 pieces of silver and hung himself. The Jews absolved themselves with their self-righteousness. Pilate really didn’t want to condemn Jesus. Herod was disappointed. We deny our sins, at least some of them, some of the time. No one wanted, or wants, to take responsibility for the death of the Son on God, but everyone who refuses to take responsibility is guilty.