Christ Was Never a Christian but He Was Tortured by Occupying Forces

Words copied and pasted from another site which explains it best for me: ” I would like to demonstrate that it was the Jews, and NOT the Romans, who were totally and completely responsible for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, the Son of God.

Through the medium of artistic image we have been accustomed to the perception that The Romans crucified Jesus Christ. This is even assumed from the words of The Apostles Creed, “He was crucified under Pontius Pilate.”

However, we have a much surer, and accurate, eye witness account, in the Gospel of St. John.
An attentive reading of Chapters 18 and 19, of St. John’s Gospel, will show clearly that it was in very fact, the Jews, and NOT The Romans, who actually were the animate actors in Jesus’ crucifixion.
It is an assumption to think that The Romans were the only power in Judea that had men at arms capable of carrying out the act of crucifying Christ.

There were in very fact two other military bands, with delegated authority, in Jerusalem.
The first, are the soldiers of King Herod. The second are the soldiers of The Temple, under the High Priest and Sanhedrin.

We read of the latter in this passage of St. John, from the 18th chapter, concerning Jesus’ arrest.
“These things having said, Jesus went forth with his disciples beyond the brook of Kedron, where was a garden, into which he entered, himself and his disciples, and Judas also, who delivered him up, had known the place, because many times did Jesus assemble there with his disciples. Judas, therefore, having taken the band and officers out of the chief priests and Pharisees, doth come thither with torches and lamps, and weapons;” John 18: 1-3

The emphatic description here, of those who are apprehending Jesus Christ is, “the band and officers out of the chief priests and Pharisees”. These are the officers and soldiers of The Temple. These are Jews.
In the particulars of Jesus’ arrest we also read, “The band, therefore, and the captain, and the officers of the Jews, took hold on Jesus, and bound him, and they led him away to Annas first, for he was father-in-law of Caiaphas, who was chief priest of that year,” John 18: 12-13.

This band, and captain, designates a military guard. They are soldiers, with a captain and officers. “Mobs” do not have captains and officers. These are Temple Soldiers, and they are Jews.
It is important to note the interaction between Pontius Pilate and The Jews throughout the passion narrative.

In chapter 18 and the 31st verse Pilate addresses the Jews, saying, ” ‘Take ye him — ye — and according to your law judge him;’ the Jews, therefore, said to him, `It is not lawful to us to put any one to death;’” John 18: 31

“After talking with Jesus, Pilate again addresses the Jews, saying, ‘I do find no fault in him; and ye have a custom that I shall release to you one in the Passover; will ye, therefore, that I shall release to you the king of the Jews?’ therefore they all cried out again, saying, `Not this one — but Barabbas;’ and Barabbas was a robber”. John 18:38 – 40

To pacify the spastic Jews, Pilate then scourges Christ, hoping this will defuse the situation. “Then, therefore, did Pilate take Jesus and scourge him, and the soldiers having plaited a crown of thorns, did place it on his head, and a purple garment they put around him, and said, `Hail! the king of the Jews;` and they were giving him slaps.” John 19: 1 – 3

This humiliation of Christ was ordered by Pilate; therefore, it would be Roman Soldiers who administered the punishments in this particular instance. However, as I shall show, this would be the last interaction between Christ and Roman Soldiers.

Again, after the scourging, Pilate presents Jesus to the Jews, and declares Jesus’ innocence. “Pilate, therefore, again went forth without, and saith to them, `Lo, I do bring him to you without, that ye may know that in him I find no fault;`Jesus, therefore, came forth without, bearing the thorny crown and the purple garment; and he saith to them, `Lo, the man!” John 19: 4 -5

Here the Jews clamor again for Christ’s death. At this, Pilate again proclaims Jesus’ innocence; and, refuses to execute Him.

Pilate then tells the Jews, that if they want Him crucified, they themselves, must do it! “When, therefore, the chief priests and the officers did see him, they cried out, saying, ‘Crucify, crucify;’ Pilate saith to them, `Take ye him — ye, and crucify; for I find no fault in him;” John 19:6

Again Pilate talks with Christ, and again seeks to free Him. “Pilate, therefore, saith to him, ‘To me dost thou not speak? hast thou not known that I have authority to crucify thee, and I have authority to release thee?’ Jesus answered, ‘Thou wouldst have no authority against me, if it were not having been given thee from above; because of this, he who is delivering me up to thee hath greater sin.

“From this time was Pilate seeking to release him, and the Jews were crying out, saying, ‘If this one thou mayest release, thou art not a friend of Caesar; every one making himself a king, doth speak against Caesar.’” John 19 10 – 12

Pilate once more presents Christ to the Jews. “Pilate, therefore, having heard this word, brought Jesus without — and he sat down upon the tribunal — to a place called, ‘Pavement,’ and in Hebrew, Gabbatha; and it was the preparation of the Passover, and as it were the sixth hour, and he saith to the Jews, ‘Lo, your king!’ and they cried out, ‘Take away, take away, crucify him;’ Pilate saith to them, `Your king shall I crucify?` the chief priests answered, `We have no king except Caesar.` John 19: 13 – 15

It is at this place in the narrative when Pilate capitulates to the Jews.

It is of the greatest importance to understand what is to take place next.

Pilate has already proclaimed that Jesus is innocent. He has also proclaimed that if The Jews wanted Christ crucified, that THEY would have to do it THEMSELVES!

That the Jews DID do it THEMSELVES is clearly stated in the next passage!

“Then, therefore, he (Pilate) delivered him (Christ) up to them (The Jews), that he may be crucified, and they (The Jews) took Jesus and led him away, and bearing his cross, he went forth to the place called Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew Golgotha; where they (The Jews) crucified him, and with him two others, on this side, and on that side, and Jesus in the midst.

Further proof that “The Soldiers” who carried out the crucifixion of Jesus Christ, The Son of God, were Jews and not Romans comes from the more remote contexts, that are referenced as being the fulfillment of prophecies, concerning The Messiah’s suffering AT THE HANDS OF THE JEWS!

They are found in the 22nd Psalm. These ‘prophecies’ of Christ’s suffering at the hands of His Own were written by David ‘The Prophet’ and were all fulfilled it Golgotha!

“My God, my God, why hast Thou forsaken me? ” Psalm 22:1

“And I am a worm, and no man, A reproach of man, and despised of the people (The Jews). Psalm 22:6
All (The Jews) beholding me do mock at me, They (The Jews) make free with the lip — shake the head,” Psalm 22:7

“They (The Jews) have opened against me their mouth, A lion tearing and roaring.” Psalm 22:13

“And to the dust of death thou appointest me, For surrounded me have dogs, A company of evil doers have compassed me, (The Jews) Piercing my hands and my feet.” Psalm 22: 16

“I count all my bones — they (The Jews) look expectantly, They (The Jews) look upon me,They (The Jews) apportion my garments to themselves (The Jews) And for my clothing they (The Jews) cause a lot to fall.” Psalm 22: 17 -18

These prophecies being fulfilled by The Jews, upon their Messiah, we can accordingly conclude by the rules of language, and logic; that, the verses here speak emphatically of Jew Temple Soldiers
.
“The (Jew Temple) soldiers, therefore, when they (The Jew Temple Soldiers) did crucify Jesus, took his garments, and made four parts, to each (Jew Temple) soldier a part, also the coat, and the coat was seamless, from the top woven throughout, they (The Jew Temple Soldiers) said, therefore, to one another, `We may not rend it, but cast a lot for it, whose it shall be;` that the Writing might be fulfilled, that is saying, `They (The Jews) divided my garments to themselves, and upon my raiment they (The Jews) did cast a lot;` the (Jew Temple) soldiers, therefore, indeed, did these things” John 19: 23 – 24

There also remains one very solid understanding that declares, The Jews, and they alone killed Christ!
This understanding is that of the governmental structure in place at the time.

Rome was the supreme head. Pilate was Rome’s representative, and authority. Under “The Pax Romana,” the subjected country also had a “puppet king.”

This was King Herod, who also commanded his own soldiers. The pacification of Judea by the Romans also allowed for them to retain their customary religious structure. This included animal sacrifices, their ‘days and Sabbaths,’ their priesthood, and their temple; which retained it’s “guard” of Jew soldiers.
The points of affirmation are; that Pilate had refused to crucify Christ. As the voice of Rome’s authority his decision must stand.

That Pilate knew that the Jews had soldiers capable of the task, and so declared, “I find no guilt in Him. If you want Him crucified, you take Him, and do it yourselves.”

That Pilate delivered Christ over to THEM, and that THEY took and crucified Him is clearly stated.
To think that any Roman Soldier would countermand Pilate’s decision, and as such, engage Rome in this “unlawful execution” where in Rome (Pilate) had found Him Innocent; would be unthinkable mutiny.

To think that any Roman Soldier would countermand Pilate’s ruling, and then submit to the authority of the Jew’s Temple rather than Ceasar, would be betrayal, desertion, and mutiny.

We must conclude, in the light of these facts, that NO Roman soldiers could have participated in Christ’s death.

Therefore the “soldiers” spoken of in all the Gospel Narratives of Christ’s Crucifixion, were Jews, of either Herod’s cohort, or, The Temple Guard.

Further testimony, from Scripture, that it was the Jews who killed Christ can be found from St. Peter.
“Men, Israelites! hear these words, Jesus the Nazarene, a man approved of God among you by mighty works, and wonders, and signs, that God did through him in the midst of you, according as also ye yourselves have known; this one, by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, being given out, having taken by lawless hands, having crucified — ye (The Jews) did slay;” Acts 2: 22-23
“`The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of Jacob, the God of our fathers, did glorify His child Jesus, whom ye delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, he having given judgment to release him, and ye the Holy and Righteous One did deny, and desired a man — a murderer — to be granted to you, and the Prince of the life ye (The Jews) did kill, whom God did raise out of the dead, of which we are witnesses;” Acts 3: 13-15
Further testimony comes from scripture by way of St. Paul.
“For ye became imitators, brethren, of the assemblies of God that are in Judea in Christ Jesus, because such things ye suffered, even ye, from your own countrymen, as also they from the Jews, who did both put to death the Lord Jesus and their own prophets, and did persecute us, and God they are not pleasing, and to all men are contrary,” 1 Thessalonians 2: 14-15″

So there you have it. A step by step account of the crucifixion of Lord Jesus Christ.

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