Charles L. Feinberg, Th.D.,Ph.D.*
not complete yet. For, in the third place, we must recognize that Pilate Had His Part Vacillating and cowardly Pilate de clared Christ innocent, yet he delivered Jesus to be crucified. The Scripture states: (Matt. 27:24,26 R.V.) “ So when Pilate saw that he prevailed nothing, but rather that a tumult was arising, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this righteous man; see ye to it . . . Then released he unto them Barabbas; but Jesus he scourged and delivered to be crucified.” Pilate is guilty, just as the Romans and Jews were. Notice the list given in Acts 4:27 R.V.: “ For of a truth in this city against thy holy Servant Jesus,' whom thou didst anoint, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, were gathered together.” No view of the crucifixion of Jesus that does not take this Scripture into account can be the true one. And the passage indicates clearly enough that all are equally responsible. Thus far we have been viewing the subject from the human and earthly viewpoint, but we dare not neglect the divine and heavenly aspect of the matter. For, in the next place, it can be shown that The Son Had His Part If we restrict the question to those already mentioned, it would appear as though the Messiah was a martyr to a worthy cause, but could not help Him self. The Word indicates that Jesus the Redeemer had a real part in the cruci fixion transaction. Again and again in the account by the Apostle John we read that Jesus’ hour was not come, in spite of the many plottings of His enemies. They were powerless to take His life from Him one moment before He willed it. He gave His life voluntarily out of love for a world sunk in sin. Hear His own words (John 10:11,17,18 R.V.): “I am the good shepherd: the good shep herd layeth down his life for the sheep. Page Seventeen
T HIS is not a mere academic ques tion, but a matter of vital concern to every believer who calls Jesus the Messiah both Lord and Saviour. It is a question for which Jews have been persecuted bitterly through many cen turies, and wrongly too. One Jewish writer, in speaking of the crucifixion story in the New Testament, says, “ It has caused more persecution and po groms than all the anti-Semitic books since the rise of Christianity in the reign of the crafty Constantine, the first Christian emperor of Rome. If you place the story of the crucifixion on one scale and all the anti-Semitic books on the other, the former will outweigh the latter.” It is not the fault of the Scrip ture record that wicked men have mis used it and abused it to make of it a cudgel with which to persecute God’s beloved people Israel. The subject is one of tremendous importance to Jew, Gentile, Christian, and to God Himself. This is a many-sided problem and is not susceptible to an answer in a few words. It covers vast areas of truth. First of all, we must see that The Romans Had Their Part The Jews, we must remember, did not put Jesus of Nazareth to death with their own hands. They had at that time no political authority to mete out capital punishment. In the Gospel ac count we read (John 18:31,32 R .V .): “ Pilate therefore said unto them, Take him yourselves, and judge him according ^Director; Professor of Semitics & O.T., Talbot Theological Seminary, affili ated with The Bible Institute of Los Angeles, Inc.
to your law. The Jews said unto him, It is not lawful for us to put any man to death.” Too, crucifixion was not a Jewish method of execution: The four methods mentioned by the rabbis are stoning, burning, killing, and strangling. It was Roman soldiers who nailed Him to a Roman cross, and it was a Roman spear that pierced His blessed side. Roman soldiers cast lots for His gar ments, and it was a Roman centurion that watched the details of the execu tion. Doubtless, the Romans had their part. But this is not all of the story. We must realize, too, that in the second place, The Jews Had Their Part We do not imply by what we have already stated that the Jews are blame less in this matter. They had their part too. The Jews did bear false witness against Him, thus breaking the ninth commandment. Matthew’s Gospel states (26:59,60 R .V .): “ Now the chief priests and the whole council sought false wit ness against Jesus, that they might put him to death; and they found it not, though many false witnesses came.” They insisted that Jesus should be cru cified, though the Roman governor Pilate (who was as guilty as any) had declared the Nazarene innocent of any crime. We read: (Luke 23:4 R.V.) “ And Pilate said unto the chief priests and the multi tudes, I find no fault in this man” (John 19:1-22). They mocked and ridi culed Him on the cross (Matthew 27:41- 43). They laughed Him to scorn for trusting the God of Israel and the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. Yes, the Jews had their part. But the list of blameworthy ones is
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