Over the holidays, my son came home from college. Although he was supposed to be on a break, he also signed up for a “mini-mester” class that is only a few weeks long and runs over the break. It was on the history of Christianity.
At one point, I saw him reading the book around which the class is based and I asked him how it was going.
“Great,” he said. “Lots of reading. I’m up to the reformation.”
We talked about this subject or that subject having to do with the history of Christianity. I was impressed. He’s a smart kid.
At one point, the conversation turned to the recent attack on Israel and the latent anti-semitism that has started to rise all over the world. We agreed that this isn’t a new thing and it has been going on pretty much since the time of the Israeli captivity in Egypt.
Eventually, the conversation turned to why some Christians seem to hate Jews as well. For a long period, Jews in “Christian” Europe were also persecuted, eventually leading to the Nazi Holocaust.
“In a lot of places,” my son said, “the Christians blamed the Jews for the death of Jesus.”
I just nodded my head. “Yep, you’re right, but it always boggles my mind that Christians could take that position.”
Here’s why that’s just crazy.
Firstly, the Jews didn’t actually crucify Jesus. The Romans, the occupying force in Israel during the time of Jesus, did not allow the Jews to exact capital punishment (see John 18:31). That’s why the Jews had a trial for Jesus and found him guilty of blasphemy, but then had to take him to Pilate to demand his crucifixion.
The Romans drove the nails.
Yes, they did it at the demand of the Jews because they feared a Jewish uprising, but it was the Romans.
It’s also important to remember that Jesus came to earth to die for the sins of the world. That was the mission. It was all part of God’s plan and nobody could thwart that. And Hallelujah for that! Without Jesus’s innocent death, neither you nor I would be saved, and we’d have to pay the penalty for our sin with our own deaths.
So, rather than argue about who drove the nails, maybe we should step back and realize that, in a sense, we all drove the nails into his hands.
Yes, the Romans.
Yes, the Jews.
And yes, you, me, and sinners everywhere and across time.
Today’s Prayer
Holy Father, maker of heaven and earth, who rules without beginning or end, thank you for all your great and mighty works. Thank you that even when we were ignorant in our sin, you had a plan to ransom us from Satan and death. We gratefully accept your free gift of forgiveness and life, paid for by the blood of your Son. Help us to carry your Kingdom to the ends of the earth and share the Good News with those around us who are still in bondage and captivity to their own sins. Amen.
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Hello David, I would like your opinion on who the "Synagogue of Satan" is, and there were also the Judaizers mentioned by Paul who tried to derail others who walked in The Way. I have struggled with these questions for a while and am interested in other's opinions on it. I myself do not believe that an entire group of people are evil, but I do believe there are certain factions in all religions that are evil. A book I would recommend that all Christians should read is "Foxe's Book of Martyrs", it gives the background stories of all the Christian martyrs including the Apostles/disciples. I hope that it is one of the books included in your son's Christian education program, it is very eye opening.
After having your mind boggled, you could pause to notice and reflect upon what you saw that you didn't particularly want to see (I've read plenty of Christian history and I have a similar reaction). The boggle wasn't about who drove the nails. It was about "that Christians could take that position". What else does that imply?