The question of who killed Jesus Christ is important for those who want to devote themselves to Christianity or are interested in the history of religions. Jesus is a key figure in Christianity. This is the Messiah, whose appearance was foretold in the Old Testament. It is believed that he became a ransom sacrifice for all the sins of people. The main sources of information about the life and death of Christ are the Gospels and other books of the New Testament.
The Passion of Christ
The answer to the question of who killed Jesus Christ can be found on the pages of the Bible. According to the gospel, the last days and hours of his life brought him much suffering. In Christianity, this is called Holy Week. These are the last days before Easter, during which believers prepare for the holiday.
The list of the Passion of Christ theologians include:
- Entrance of the Lord into Jerusalem.
- Evening in Bethany.
- Washing the feet of students.
- Last Supper.
- The path to the Garden of Gethsemane.
- Prayer for the cup.
- The kiss of Judah and the subsequent arrest of Jesus.
- Appearance in the Sanhedrin.
- The abdication of the apostle Peter.
- The appearance of Jesus before Pontius Pilate.
- Flagellation of Christ.
- Scolding and crowning with a crown of thorns.
- The Way of the Cross.
- Tearing off clothes by soldiers and playing them in dice.
- Crucifixion.
- Death of Christ.
- The position in the coffin.
- Descent into Hell.
- The Resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Riding a donkey
The Passion of Christ begins its reckoning with the Lord's Entrance into Jerusalem. Today, believers celebrate Sunday exactly one week before Easter, a holiday that is better known in Russia as Palm Sunday.
The Gospel describes how Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, and the people met him, covering the way with clothes and palm branches (which is why this day is also called Palm Sunday).
Arriving at the Temple of Jerusalem, Christ began to overturn the tables of cattle sellers and money changers, causing discontent among the ministers, but they did not dare to argue with him, fearing popular anger. After this, Christ performed several famous miracles, healing the lame and blind, and then left Jerusalem after spending the next night in Bethany.
In Christian ideology, this holiday symbolizes two important points at once: it serves as a prototype of the entry of the Son of Man into Paradise and is considered the recognition of Jesus as the Messiah. The Messiah also awaited the Jews, who at that time were under the occupation of the Romans. They were waiting for a national liberator from foreign invaders.
So Jesus was solemnly met, because they already knew about his many miracles. The most impressive was the resurrection of Lazarus. Entering the city, Jesus deliberately chooses a donkey for himself, and not a horse, because in the East, a donkey is considered a symbol of peace, and a horse - a symbol of war.
The Last Supper
One of the most famous episodes of the New Testament is the Last Supper, which many artists captured in their paintings. Leonardo da Vinci's most famous work is in the convent of Santa Maria delle Grazie in Milan.
This is the last meal of Jesus Christ with his disciples, during which the sacrament of Communion was first established, the Savior himself preached sermons on Christian love and humility, predicting the betrayal of one of his disciples, as well as the future of the Christian church and the whole world.
The festive Easter meal was prepared by the disciples of Christ John and Peter, whom the teacher instructed. In the evening Jesus rested, and the twelve apostles with him.
Foot washing
This is a famous and very significant episode of the Last Supper. According to Eastern traditions, such a ritual has existed since ancient times, symbolizing hospitality.
The Gospel describes how Jesus took off his outer clothing, girded, and began to wash his disciples' feet, wiping them with a towel. When Peter asked if he should wash his feet, Jesus replied that the meaning of his actions would not be understood by the disciples until later.
It is believed that at that moment he already knew his traitor, therefore, he told his students that they were not all pure. Only after finishing the procedure, he explained that he had set an example of humility, and that now they should do the same.
The symbolic meaning of this action is the ritual ablution before participating in the ceremony. In this case, before the meal dedicated to Easter. When the participants came to the place of the sacred meal, their feet were defiled, so they should have been washed. By deliberately taking the position of a servant, not a master, Jesus changed the relationship between the estates. The fundamental idea of this episode of the New Testament is the thought of being a servant of your neighbor, regardless of your position in society.
Judas Kiss
Answering the question of who killed Jesus Christ, many agree that one of the key culprits was his disciple Judas Iscariot. He was the only Jew of all the apostles, the rest came from Galilee. According to legend, in their community he was the treasurer, was responsible for the donation box. Many researchers tend to believe that he was stealing.
Judas agreed to betray Jesus Christ for 30 pieces of silver. When the guard came to Gethsemane, Judas, to indicate the Savior, came up and kissed him in front of the guards. Since then, the winged expression “the kiss of Judah” is known, which means betrayal by the closest person.
When Jesus was sentenced to be crucified, Judas repented of his deed. He returned to the high priests 30 pieces of silver, stating that he had sinned by betraying an innocent man. He threw money on the floor of the temple, and then committed suicide.
Reasons for the Harassment of Christ
After the resurrection of Lazarus, many Jews believed in the power of Jesus. Then the Pharisees and high priests decided to get rid of him. Answering the question why they killed Jesus Christ, it should be noted that the priests were afraid that the whole people would believe in him, and the Romans who came finally took possession of the lands of Judea.
Then the high priest Caiaphas offered to kill Christ. Jesus was judged by two legal systems: the Jewish one, which was considered the most just (it was built on the principle of equal punishment), and the Roman one, which was based on the most perfect legal laws of that time.
With regard to Christ, Jewish law was violated, because arrest (according to them) was allowed only after the investigation. The only exception was an overnight arrest, when there was no time to conduct an investigation, and there was a danger that the offender could hide. But in this case, the trial should have begun the very next morning.
Immediately after the arrest of Christ, they brought to the house of the high priest Anna. The initial interrogation did not lead to anything. Jesus did not confess to the crimes, so the materials were transferred to the Sanhedrin for judicial investigation.
Judgment of Christ
The direct trial of Jesus began in the house of Caiaphas, where all the members of the Jewish court, who had the right to pronounce the death sentence, gathered. For this, the Sanhedrin gathered. It included 71 people. It was to this body that the control of Judea passed after the abolition of royal authority. For example, only with the consent of the Sanhedrin could war begin.
Several charges were brought against Jesus: violation of the word of the Lord, sacrilege, blasphemy. For the Sanhedrin, Christ became too strong and a dangerous rival. This explains why the Jews killed Jesus Christ. There were many perjury at the trial, to which the Savior did not answer in any way. The decisive question was Caiaphas, whether Jesus recognizes himself as the Son of God. He declared that they now see the Son of Man.
In response to this, the high priest tore his clothes on himself, stating that this was the main evidence of blasphemy. The Sanhedrin sentenced him to death, solely based on his words, violating one more rule of Jewish legal proceedings, according to which no one can be convicted on the basis of his own confession.
Also, according to Jewish law, after the death sentence was sentenced, the accused should be sent to prison, and the members of the court had to sit for another day, discussing the decision, the sentence and the weight of evidence. But the members of the Sanhedrin were in a hurry to execute the sentence, so they violated this rule as well. Now it should be obvious who killed Jesus Christ. The high priests were afraid to lose influence on the people, so it was important for them to stop the popular and beloved prophet. Here is the answer to the question why they killed Jesus Christ.
At the same time, the members of the Sanhedrin, having pronounced the verdict, could not bring it to execution themselves without confirming it with the Roman governor. Therefore, they went with Jesus to Pontius Pilate.
Pontius Pilate
Understanding the question of who killed Jesus Christ, you need to dwell on the episode of a meeting with Pontius Pilate. It was a Roman prefect who represented the interests of Rome in Judea from 26 to 36 years of our era. Unlike Jesus Christ, whose personality goes a lot of legends (there are still debates about whether he existed), Pilate is a historical character. In fact, he was the governor of Rome in Judea.
Historians who have explored that period note that Pilate was a cruel ruler. In those years, executions and mass violence were often carried out. Mass riots caused increased political oppression, rising taxes, provocations on the part of Pilate, who insulted the customs and religious beliefs of the Jews. All attempts to counter this, the Romans mercilessly suppressed.
Contemporaries often characterize Pilate as a venal and cruel tyrant who is guilty of numerous executions without investigation and trial. Addressing the emperor Caligula, the king of Judea Agrippa I claims that Pilate was engaged in violence, bribery, passed countless death sentences, was unbearably cruel.
At that time, the ruler in Judea was Herod Philip II. However, it cannot be argued that there was a Jewish king who killed Jesus Christ. The real power belonged to the Roman governors, who relied on local high priests.
Meeting with the prosecutor
At the trial, the procurator began to inquire from Christ whether he recognized himself as a Jewish king. The issue was important because claiming power as a Jewish ruler under Roman law qualified as a dangerous crime against the empire. In the answer of Jesus, Pilate did not see any guilt: "You say that I am the King. I was born for this and came to the world to testify to the truth."
Pilate sought to prevent unrest, so he turned to the crowd gathered near his house with a proposal to release Jesus. There was a custom according to which one of the criminals who was to be convicted was allowed to be released on Easter. But the crowd in response demanded the execution of Christ.
Pilate made another attempt, ordering him to start beating him in front of the crowd. He suggested that the people would be satisfied with the sight of the bloodied Jesus. But the Jews said that he must die. Therefore, it is believed that the Jews killed Jesus Christ.
Pilate, fearing popular unrest, issued a death sentence, confirming the sentence of the Sanhedrin. Jesus must have been crucified. After that, Pilate said that he washes his hands in front of the people, relieving himself of responsibility for the blood of this Righteous. In response, the people gathered in front of his house exclaimed that he was taking the blood of Jesus upon himself and his children. This is another answer to the question of who killed Jesus Christ. The secrets of the Bible on this issue seem to be finally resolved. But who issued the final verdict? Who ordered the slaughter of Jesus Christ? According to historical evidence, the last word was left to Pontius Pilate. This is the most accurate answer to the question of who killed Jesus Christ in fact, though not in fact, by any kind of weapon, but by giving an order.
According to the verdict, Jesus was to be crucified. According to the evangelists, the execution was attended by his mother Mary, John, who composed the Gospel, Mary Magdalene, Maria Kleopova, two robbers who were crucified with the Savior, Roman soldiers, led by a centurion, high priests, people and scribes taunting Jesus.
Execution of Christ
When was Jesus Christ killed? This happened on Friday, April 3, 33 AD. This conclusion was made by American and German geologists based on an analysis of seismic activity in the Dead Sea region. This conclusion is based on a text in Matthew stating that an earthquake occurred on the day of the execution. According to geological studies, an unprecedented earthquake in the Jerusalem area in the decade between 26 and 36 years of our era occurred on that day.
The next question to be answered is where did they kill Jesus Christ. This happened on Mount Calvary near Jerusalem. She was located northwest of the city. It is believed that she got her name because of the skulls that stacked at the place of execution of criminals in ancient Jerusalem. According to legend, Adam was buried on the same mountain.
Before Calvary, Jesus himself carried a cross on which he was crucified later. When Christ was raised on the cross, they left them to die under the scorching Jewish sun. There is a tradition according to which one of the Roman soldiers decided to alleviate his suffering. It is even known who killed Jesus Christ with a spear. It was a Roman centurion named Longinus. It was he who drove the spear under the ribs of the Savior, ending his torment on the cross. Now you know who killed Jesus Christ with a spear. Since then, the Orthodox and Catholic churches have honored Longinus as a martyr.
According to legend, he stood guard near the cross, guarded his coffin and was a witness to the Resurrection. After that, Longin believed in Jesus and refused to give false evidence that the disciples had stolen his body.
It is said that Longin suffered from cataracts. During the execution, the Savior's blood sprinkled in his eyes, due to which he was healed. In Christianity, he is considered a martyr who patronizes all people suffering from eye diseases.
Having believed in Christ, he went to preach to his homeland, in Cappadocia. Two other soldiers who witnessed the Resurrection went with him. Pilate sent a soldier with the order to kill Longin along with his associates. When the detachment arrived in his village, Longin himself went to the soldiers, inviting them to the house. During the meal, they told him about the purpose of their trip, not knowing who was in front of them. Then Longin called himself and asked the soldiers, who were certainly amazed, to fulfill their duty. They even wanted to release the saints, advised them to escape, but the companions showed will and character. They firmly decided to accept suffering for the Savior.
Their bodies were beheaded and buried in Longin's native village. The heads were sent to Pilate as confirmation of the fulfillment of the mission. The Roman procurator ordered his heads to be thrown into a landfill. They were found by a poor blind woman who was healed by touching her heads. She took their remains to Cappadocia, where she buried.
It is known where is the spear that killed Jesus Christ. It is considered one of the Tools of the Passion and is called the Spear of Longinus, the Spear of Christ or the Spear of Fate. This is one of the greatest relics in Christianity.
There are many legends that tell who owned it after the Crucifixion of Christ. Among them are called Constantine the Great, the king of the ready Theodoric I, Alaric, Emperor Justinian, Karl Martell and even Charlemagne. The latter believed in him so much that he kept it to himself at all times.
There are references to the fact that it was owned by emperors of the Holy Roman Empire. From this we can conclude that we are talking about a real murder weapon.
Now in the world there are several relics that are considered the Spear of Longinus or its fragment. Since the XIII century, in the treasury of the Etchmiadzin Monastery in Armenia there is a spear, which (according to legend) was brought by the Apostle Thaddeus.
In the basilica of St. Peter in Rome there is the so-called Vatican Spear of Destiny. He is identified with a spear from Constantinople, which was previously stored in Jerusalem. The first mention of it can be found at Anthony of Piacenza, who made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. When the Persians captured the city in 614, they captured all the Holy Relics. According to the Easter Chronicle, its tip was broken off, and the spear was transported to the church of St. Sophia, and later to the Church of Our Lady of Pharos.
Researchers, trying to answer the question of where is the spear that killed Jesus Christ, came to the conclusion that the relic is stored in Vienna. The Vienna Spear is distinguished by blotches of metal, which are considered nails from the crucifix. Today it is located in the Treasure Chamber of the Vienna Palace. After the annexation of Austria in 1938, the mayor of Nuremberg transferred him to the church of St. Katarina. He was returned to Austria by American General George Patton. These events are overgrown with numerous legends. Today, a spear is considered an important part of modern Christian mythology.
This is, in brief, the story of the Savior's death. From this article, it should be clear when, who, and why killed Jesus Christ.