The Jews were a particularly troublesome lot at that time 2,000 years ago. They had already had several claimants to the role of Messiah. Jesus in His day, was such an obscure unknown that no known written record of Him has survived outside of religious materials. The claim of a position as a Son of a God was common. Immaculate Conception was also said of John the Baptist and others. At that time, there were several resurrection stories available for belief, offered as proof of divinity. “The con” was as well known then, as “the sting” is today. A person suddenly choosing to embark on a career in the ministry is not unknown. It even happens today. A person suddenly "seeing the light" and embarking on a career of revolution, or reformation, is common. They rise up out of the obscurity of the masses of humanity as a suddenly growing wild weed. Judea had a theocratic history and background. The people were accustomed to the idea of prophets "crying in the wilderness'. They understood bandits claiming to be revolutionaries. The Roman military was well versed with dealing out death. They made very sure that Christ died on the cross. The four soldiers were there, not only to be sure He was properly nailed to the cross, and was not rescued by His followers. The soldiers took the heavy hammer to break the leg bones if the three did not die soon enough. Breaking the leg bones caused an immediate inability to breathe while on the cross. The three to be executed needed to be dead, and removed before dark that day and before the beginning of the Passover festival. This part of the crucifixion does not fit historical records. The Roman military was well versed with dealing out death. They wanted their victims to suffer for a very long time. It was done painfully, and the nails missed the large blood vessels so the victim would not quickly bleed to death. What is more, the Romans had no trouble with insulting the people and leaders of Jerusalem. That was the whole point of the sign above the head of Jesus. It was to insult the Hebrews. Why not insult them even more? Insult deliberately by leaving the crucified men on the crosses during Passover? For the usual time period, as was the common practice? That was the whole point of crucifixion. Crucifixion was a terror tactic. People were known to be alive, surviving on the cross, for a week, or more. Were the soldiers bribed to kill Jesus quickly? It was not unknown for victims on a cross to be given food and water to keep them alive longer. In the story, Jesus is portrayed almost as a wimp. He died quickly, even before his leg bones could be broken. Pilate is even supposed to have questioned the speed of His death. Maybe the officer in charge had been bribed to take Him down while still alive? With a death sentence from the military governor of Judea, I think not. Jesus knew in advance what was going to happen to Him at Jerusalem. He even purposefully did things to bring the religious and political pot to a boil. He was setting Himself up to take the fall. It worked. The pot that needed to be brought to a boil? The common people frustrated by continuing Roman rule and religious leaders that were passive. The Hebrew religion was in foment. God had failed them. He had been unable to keep the Romans out of Judea. Jerusalem had gone from being the center of the Universe to a minor provincial capitol. Jerusalem was a source of slaves and taxes for a distant hated Rome. Pay your taxes, or be sold as a slave to pay them. Israel was a tinderbox awaiting a spark of rebellion. The Jewish population was known to be ready to fight at the drop of a hat. They were unwilling to understand and believe the strength of the Roman military. They were zealous and fanatic in their belief that their God’s power would protect them. The Sanhedrin knew with full certainty that a terrible blood bath would follow. The population would be ground beneath the heel of the Roman military machine. The Roman army was practically unending in size. Did Jesus intend that there would be a political revolution and a blood bath? Jesus was there and “pushy”, “demanding”, and “troublesome”. The Sanhedrin were there, frightened and worried, “on edge” , “jumpy”, and protective of the "status quo". They both had to deal with the very real civil political reality of that time and place. The Romans were there in force, with a powerful army, and not going away. Did all three participants make mistakes? Was everyone trying to do the right thing? Did Jesus intend that He could force the fearful Sanhedrin to deal with Him? Did He overplay His hand? Who cut the deck? Who dealt the cards? Did God “stack the deck”? Did Jesus plan to become a martyr? Was His death an accident? Did Jesus believe that the holiday crowd, when given one condemned man to save, would choose Him? Did the Sanhedrin “outmaneuver” Him, and have a strong cadre of prepared cheerleaders salted in the crowd? Was His death intended as a diversion, to cool the passions of the mob by providing blood sport, a visual circus? Was His death only intended to rid the Sanhedrin of a “thorn in their paw”? Did Pilate go along with the Sanhedrin as a useful public reminder of the reality of Roman military power. The crosses were deliberately erected outside a gate of the city along a well traveled road. Today, we think, yes, possibly, but we’re not sure. If Jesus had been convicted of a religious crime, He would have been stoned to death. The fact of His crucifixion indicated that His punishment was for a civil, a state crime. The mildest form of a claim of Kingship of the Jews was sedition against the Roman state. Punishment? Crucifixion. We have a lot more questions than answers. Christ’s death as a martyr can be seen as a deliberate, long shot gamble. What would be the payoff? The story of His death at the hands of the known efficient killing machine of the Romans? His later resurrection? Proof of a life after death? A belief that the story would be such a strong calling card that it would work? That it would seize the imagination of peoples around the world? It would bring them to hear and follow the messages of Christ’s ministry? I believe that Christ offered Himself as a martyr.
(c) Copyright 2006: George Wallace recently published a book on religion which lashes out at nearly all of the comfortable ideas about God, the trappings of organized religion, and the priesthood. His pithy comments and suggestions for a return to a God-centered personal religion will interest everyone. This article may be freely reprinted so long as all copyright attributions, and the full content of this resource box are included. www.OhGodIsThatYou.com
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