This week, the announcement of the Pope’s new book, “Jesus of Nazareth – Part II” caught the attention of the news media and the attention of some Jewish groups. The book is the second in the Pope’s “Jesus of Nazareth” series. What caught the attention of the media and Jewish groups were his statements about the culpability of the Jewish people for the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
It is an old tradition to proclaim the entire Jewish nation guilty of the crucifixion. It was the Jewish leaders who clamored for Jesus’ death. It was the Jewish leaders who essentially forced Pontius Pilate to yield to their desire to crucify Jesus. These facts have been used to persecute Jews for centuries, including the persecution by the German people leading up to and during World War II.
The curse proclaimed by the Jewish leaders as recorded by Matthew (Matt 27:25), “His blood be on us, and on our children,” was also used as justification for the persecution and as an explanation for the persecution. It appeared the Jews cursed themselves and their descendants with these words.
Is that really the case? Could the Jews really be cursed because of what the Jewish leaders said? A statement in the Pope’s book says something interesting, and it is the particular statement that attracted attention. The statement is, “Jesus’ blood does not cry out for vengeance and punishment, it brings reconciliation. It is not poured out against anyone; it is poured out for many, for all.”
What? Does the eternal purpose of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ trump the curse stated by the Jewish leaders? The answer is a resounding, “Yes!” How can a group of men overrule the very purpose of God? If they could, God would not be God.
So, do we need to rethink this “blame the Jews” thing? The Pope thinks so, but that does not necessarily mean it is so. The writer of the book of Hebrews says it like this,
“But ye are come unto Mount Zion, and unto the city of the living God, . . . And to Jesus the mediator of the new covenant, and to the blood of sprinkling, that speaketh better things than that of Abel.”
We have come to Jesus. The sacrifice of Jesus fully accomplishes the purging (cleansing) of all our sins. The Old Testament sacrifices, which included sprinkling the sacrificed animal’s blood, were pictures of the future sacrifice of Jesus. The Old Testament sprinkling, and its fulfillment by Jesus and His sacrifice, was intended to bring mercy. Abel’s blood cried out for vengeance against his brother, Cain. Jesus’ blood speaks better things: forgiveness, cleansing, and adoption by God.
The Pope was correct. Jesus’ blood does not cry out for vengeance. Jesus’ blood brings reconciliation to God. Jesus’ blood speaks forgiveness. Jesus’ blood speaks cleansing from sin. Jesus’ blood speaks adoption into the family of God. If we believe that message of the Gospel, we receive that forgiveness, cleansing, and adoption. If Jewish people believe the same Gospel, they also receive that forgiveness, cleansing, and adoption. Are Jewish people cursed and deserving of cruel punishments by men because of the crucifixion of Christ? No. Actually, that crucifixion and subsequent resurrection brought grace and mercy to all who believe, both Jews and non-Jews. God’s wisdom and purpose is great.
Break the Bread 