Jesus Crucifixion, Legal or Illegal?
Posted: Monday, December 08, 2008
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
Those who would find contradictory statements in the Holy Scriptures often grab verses which actually say something which sounds contradictory but has underlying explanations if examined.
Our effort in this article is easily recognized by those who are believers in biblical inerrancy but it has to be shown to those who believe otherwise.
But in in John 28:31 we find this statement from the those same Jews. "Then said Pilate unto them, Take ye him, and judge him according to your law. The Jews therefore said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death."
Under the Law of Moses, which was still in effect as far as the Jews were concerned, blasphemy was an offense worthy of death. And certainly, if some ordinary person were to claim divinity equal with God and claim to literally be His Son, he would be guilty of blasphemy of the worst kind. Had this occurred during the time Israel was free and under a king or judge as they had been and assuming they felt the same way about someone then, he would surely have been stoned to death.
But due to the Israelites disobedience towards God, they were overrun and taken into captivity by the Babylonians who were then overrun by the Medo-Persian empire, then the Grecian empire and finally the Roman empire. Jesus was born and lived under the law of Moses but also under Roman rule.
The Roman empire, in order to have a little peace of their own, tried to pacify the Jews to keep them as content as possible but nevertheless had them under strict rules. You can see this shown in the actions of Pilate. First, the Jews convinced the Roman leaders to arrest Jesus and when Pilate had examined Him, even had Him scourged, he could find nothing worthy of death in Him. So his decision and desire was to allow Jesus to go free, but after trying to convince the Jews of that matter, they continued to rave and call for his crucifixion. So, for no reason but to keep peace among the Jews, he had Jesus crucified.
So when they first approached Pilate concerning Jesus, he told them to judge him by their law, (John 19:7 above) which they were allowed to do under the Roman regulations. But that was not their aim, to merely judge and put some meager punishment upon Him. They wanted Him dead. Pilate, having no knowledge of what He actually may have done, had his soldiers take Him and bring Him to the judgment seat.
Then, when he found no reason for the death penalty in Jesus, he again told the Jews to take Him and judge Him by their law, they told him that it was unlawful for them to put any man to death. The differing statements were, it was lawful under the Mosaical law to put a blasphemer to death. But on the other hand, it was unlawful for them to put any man to death under Roman law.
Therefore, their only route to accomplish their wish to have Jesus killed, was to convince the Romans to perform the job under their law.
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Top-level comments on this article: (3 total)Joel interesting but quite literally there was no sin or fault in Jesus so He could not be legally put to death under any law. He did not blaspheme since He was God. Yet Jesus Had to die to save the elect. He died at the hands of sinners, who killed Him for political and religious expedency. I find it so symbolic that the same, the very same perspectives and attitudes live on in the world today and even in those who "profess". I believe another sign which many overlook. Robert.Hi Robert...Yes I knew all of that but I was only comparing the two scriptures and trying to show that they were not in any way contradicting one another.As far as signs of His coming, there will be no signs. He will come as a thief in the night when we are least expecting. We are to be ready at all times. (1 Thessalonians 5:2) (2 Peter 3:10)Joel that is in reference to unbelievers and when God the father comes, read further and you will note that he speaks to believers " even at the door" 1st Chapter 5 so thatw e are not caught unawares."...live on in the world today and even in those who "profess". I believe another sign which many overlook. "Yes, Robert. And interesting that the man of sin will come "from us" but not be "one of us"
Yes, definitely Joel. i knew this too. This is the reason why the Jews brought Jesus to Pontious Pilate, because they could not crucify, and they wanted Jesus to be crucified. As you know, the Jews thought that Jesus had blasphemed, because they did not believe him when they told them that he was God. It is interesting that neither Pontious Pilate nor Herod were willing to condemn him. I think that the Jews resented Jesus for bringing salvation to the Gentiles. This, they did not expect. As well, they expected the Messiah to be a new King David. They were thinking in terms of earthly laws, and not spiritual.Hi Jennifer, you are right. They are still waiting for a literal king to conquer all their enemies. It ain't gonna happen. They rejected their king.Yes, I know. And I think it so strange when Jesus had fulfilled all of the prophecies in the Scripture. Sometimes I wonder if they will be confused by the man of sin who will come and sit on the throne in the temple and profess himself to be God. For there is no other as such until the return of Christ.However, God knew that these things would happen.And right again that we should be ready at all times. I remember reading that in the Scripture, in 2 Thessalonians.Oh, or perhaps in 1 Thessalonians.. I just remembered that 2 Thessalonians was written to clarify the assertions that people had in those days that the second coming was already at hand.The key Peace and Security or Safety and all the other signs that are now lined up and coming to be.Robert, the temple has not yet been rebuilt. You're skipping a part. And even if it were..would you not be glad that Christ would return sometime in our lifetime?
Hi Joel, very well laid out and biblically explained. Interesting that they thought they were being sneaky in pulling this off when in reality it was appointed for Jesus to die this way. I love how God uses the flaw of man to accomplish his will at times. No wonder the word says He sits in the heavens and laughs.I love what Robert pointed out. Thessalonians talks about believers being aware of the times and seasons because we are in the light but the non-believer won't even know what hit them. May the Lord reveal himself to all who are still in darkness. Blessings to you.Thanks Teresa,I appreciate your comments. They are helpful to me.
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