It has never really been crystal clear to me what Jesus was actually charged with, and what the crime was that brought about His crucifixion.
Pilate found Him not guilty.
The thief on the cross said "this man did nothing wrong".
Blasphemy? Claiming to be God?
Forgiving sins?
In today's society, blasphemy isn't really a crime, especially one worthy of death.
Yes, I've read the accounts in the Bible, but it's still a bit unclear, to me, what the actual crime was.
@chaney3 saidSedition.
It has never really been crystal clear to me what Jesus was actually charged with, and what the crime was that brought about His crucifixion.
Pilate found Him not guilty.
The thief on the cross said "this man did nothing wrong".
Blasphemy? Claiming to be God?
Forgiving sins?
In today's society, blasphemy isn't really a crime, especially one worthy of death.
Yes, I've read the accounts in the Bible, but it's still a bit unclear, to me, what the actual crime was.
-Removed-If the Romans decided that Jesus was a troublemaker among the people they ruled, I don't see how a charge of sedition was "trumped-up". The Romans even attached a mocking 'title' to the cross. It was a message to the local people. It was a political message. Sedition is a political crime.
There is an interesting point that comes out of this thread. That is that the only people who were fair and just and on the side of Christ were the Romans. Pilate and his wife called Jesus a just man and did not want to have anything to do with his crucifiction. Being an outsider to the Jewish laws and customs Plate chose to step aside saying he is washing his hands of this matter.
I have come across many a Christian pastor who condemned Pilate and ignored the attitude of the Jewish leader who were supposed to be Gods people and therefore more just and fair in their deliberations. Those two Romans, Pilate and his wife will fare better in the day of judgment that all these Jews. Jesus said he does not forget those who helped him.
Christians now are the very same predicament. The church doctrine which they follow have caused them to make all kinds of derogatory remarks about Christ and His teachngs and commandments when they are supposed to be the ones supporting Christ and preaching Christ. Atheist and non Christians have commented openly that the teachings of Christ are good and expressed admiration for Christ and His ministry.
"Now, what do you think? There was once a man who had two sons. He went to the older one and said, 'Son, go and work in the vineyard today.' 'I don't want to,' he answered, but later he changed his mind and went. Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing. 'Yes, sir,' he answered, but he did not go. Which one of the two did what his father wanted?" "The older one," they answered. So Jesus said to them, "I tell you: the tax collectors and the prostitutes are going into the Kingdom of God ahead of you. (Matthew 21:28-31 GNB)
I guess it comes down to tradition at that time. Along with the fact that the Pharisees were more interested in their own power than actually considering who Jesus actually was. In one case, they witnessed Jesus heal someone, but instead of taking a moment to realize that enormity, they immediately started to plan a way to kill Him. It seems unbelievable how closed minded and selfish they were.
In one instance, Jesus "forgave" the sins of someone, in front of the Pharisees, which obviously caused an uproar because only God is supposed to be able to forgive sins.
Still, blasphemy being a cause for death is difficult to imagine, especially in this era.
I appreciate your posts.
@fmf saidThen Pilate would have surely found Jesus guilty of sedition, but he did not. He found Him guilty of nothing, as we know.
The Romans would have seen him as a threat as, to them, he was either ruffling the feathers of, and/or rabble-rousing, the local people to whom the crucifixion was a demonstration of raw power.