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Who Killed Jesus of Nazareth?

© John L. Hoh, Jr.

On Ash Wednesday, February 25, 2004, the film The Passion of the Christ released in theaters. This movie was written, produced, and directed by Mel Gibson as his vision of the suffering and crucifixion of Christ. In replicating these events to the accounts of the Gospel writers, Mr. Gibson has been accused of producing a work that is "anti-Semitic." At issue is whether the Jews are to blame for the death of Christ-a charge that historically has been leveled at Jews with the term "Christ killers."

Meanwhile, several television programs exploring the crucifixion explored this very topic. Several experts without hesitation stated that the Romans were to blame for the death of one Jesus of Nazareth.

Is the Jewish race to blame for the death of Christ? Can we place the blame squarely at the feet of the Roman government? Is someone else to blame for the events of that original Good Friday? Let's look at Scripture and see what answer we come up with.

Can the Jews be blamed?

Historically the Jews were blamed for the killing of Christ. The term "Christ killer" has resonated through history. It is one of the reasons that adherents to Islam give for their hatred of Jews, that the Jews killed the prophet Jesus.

Matthew writes about Jesus' trial before Pilate and the response of the people gathered:

All the people answered, "Let his blood be on us and on our children!" (Matthew 27:25)

Can we place this curse on the entire race of people? Did every Jew agree to this condition? A look at context is quite revealing. The trial before Pilate was early in the morning. No doubt only the rabid leaders who had orchestrated the illegal trial at Caiaphas' home the night before were present. These leaders would have been appointed by the Roman government, not elected by the people. So this one passage is only a curse uttered by a leadership out to preserve power, not the opinion of a unified people. Just five days previously, out in public, the people spoke with great "Hosannas" when Jesus entered Jerusalem.

John records for us an exchange among the Jewish leaders and Caiaphas' pronouncement (by divine inspiration, unbeknownst to Caiaphas):

Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, "You know nothing at all! You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish." He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. So from that day on they plotted to take his life. They kept looking for Jesus, and as they stood in the temple area they asked one another, "What do you think? Isn't he coming to the Feast at all?" But the chief priests and Pharisees had given orders that if anyone found out where Jesus was, he should report it so that they might arrest him. (John 11:47-53; 56-57)