For what human reason was Christ crucified?
score:7
I'm assuming you mean the "political" or "social" reasons Jesus was killed as opposed to the theological significance or motivation of his death.
Recall that the Judean state had been in tumult since the Maccabean period. The expectation of many Jews for a political "Messiah" (i.e. someone "anointed" to reclaim the throne of David) was at odds with the imperial power of Rome. When Jesus proclaimed the inbreaking of the "kingdom of God/Heaven" he was making a political statement over and against the "kingdom of Rome." This is why the disciples ask Jesus:
Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?" - Acts 1:6
They were expecting Jesus to destroy the Romans and reestablish the Davidic kingship. This is also why it was so confusing for the disciples that Jesus would be killedβespecially after, for example, the triumphal entry, which imitated (or mocked, depending on who you ask) a General returning to his city from a victorious campaign. The Qumran community had basically the same Messianic understanding, except they expected two messiahs, one a political leader, and the other a priestly figure. The two Jewish revolts after Jesus also provide nice examples. The first, Rome crushed in 70 CE with the destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem, and in 74 CE at Masada. The second, in 132-135 CE ended with the death of Simon bar Kokhba, the rebel leader.
As such, Jesus was arrested and killed essentially for for sedition--the Jewish leaders who were collaborating with Rome wished to keep the peace, and the best way to do that was to silence dissenting voices. The whole "claiming to be God" bit was really more of an excuse (or anyway, according to my understanding of the text).
I would also caution placing too much blame on "the Jews," that is, "the Jewish people," since the Jewish leadership was a very small and powerful group of elites. Parts of the NT (particularly GJohn) border on anti-Semitic at times, but we should be sure to consider the historical sitz of such writings and understand that it likely is a reflection of tension between Jewish and Christian groups in the late 1st/early 2nd centuries, and not necessarily perfectly historically accurate.
Upvote:1
For what human reason was Christ crucified?
Luke 22:2 And the chief priests and scribes sought how they might kill him; for they feared the people.
Essentially you have a ruling class of Jews who hated Jesus for political reasons. They saw him as rising in popularity and subsequently their own social and political positions were threatened.
They brought false accusations against him to the Romans as they were not legally allowed to put anyone to death.
Matthew 26:59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;
They thought they had the perfect charge to use against Jesus with what they saw as blasphemy.
Matthew 26:65 Then the high priest rent his clothes, saying, He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have we of witnesses? behold, now ye have heard his blasphemy.
They were politically astute enough to recognize that the Roman administrator would not consider blasphemy a serious offense so they sought to present Jesus to Pilate as a promoter of sedition and rebellion.
Luke 23:2 And they began to accuse him, saying, We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbidding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that he himself is Christ a King.
Pilate was not so easily misled.
Matthew 27:18 For he knew that for envy they had delivered him.
Pilate had himself been twice before forced to back down from a ruling he had made by the appeal of the Jewish leaders to Caesar. As a result, he understood the limits of what he could do. He attempted to get out of the corner the Jews had backed him into.
Matthew 27:21-22 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.
Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.
Pilate calculated that he did not have the political capital to force his will against the Jewish leaders who had twice before got him in trouble with his boss.
What human reasons? Envy, hatred, mob mentality, and cowardice.
Upvote:8
It was the chief priests and pharisees that wanted Jesus arrested. Matthew 26:47 :
While he was still speaking, Judas, one of the Twelve, arrived. With him was a large crowd armed with swords and clubs, sent from the chief priests and the elders of the people
"that only makes him insane, not worthy of the death penalty"
Torah, Leveticus 24:16 makes it clear that blasphemy carries a death sentence (although via stoning). More likely, though, he was simply seen as a rebel and a risk, potentially a flash-point for a more visible and popular uprising. That would be plenty of reason for the religious and political leaders to see... economy in a prompt but final action.
I don't know about a secular reason, but: perhaps a political reason that Pilate may have acquiesced to the demands of the Jewish priests; supposedly there is evidence to support some previous hoo-hah involving a row between Pilate and the locals relating to some pagan shields - Pilate refused to remove them, the locals complained to the emperor, the emperor expressed his anger at Pilate's approach. This could lead us to suspect that maybe Pilate didn't want a re-run that could put his position (and likely: life) in jeopardy, so was willing to yield a bit to the locals. Especially if it looked like a riot was likely otherwise.
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