Is the story of Jesus being on a cross just fictional?

[Guttairc]

He walked in his home-town, Nazareth, all his life, never traveled. And people made his small town into a mall, so he got angry and tilted tables and whipped people in this temple. But, I mean, he never was an murderer I think, so why`d he be sentenced to death on a cross? Was he sentenced to death by the Romans just for being popular? I find it a little strange the story, he obiviously cared about people, so why`d he do anything to them? The society at the time, had pretty much the same rules as now, laws, they couldn`t sentence him to death for nothing

 

[Joseph G]

He walked in his home-town, Nazareth, all his life, never traveled. And people made his small town into a mall, so he got angry and tilted tables and whipped people in this temple. But, I mean, he never was an murderer I think, so why`d he be sentenced to death on a cross? Was he sentenced to death by the Romans just for being popular? I find it a little strange the story, he obiviously cared about people, so why`d he do anything to them? The society at the time, had pretty much the same rules as now, laws, they couldn`t sentence him to death for nothing

That's exactly what they did. Pontius Pilate declared that He had done nothing wrong - but He feared the Jews and sentenced Him to death anyway.

The Jews cried for His crucifixion because He wasn't the Messiah they wanted - to deliver them from under the thumb of Rome rather than save their souls.

All of the ultimate lost have hated God and then His Son for this core reason - He has diagnosed all of us as thoroughly depraved and heading toward hell (which offends our sense of self-righteousness) - and that our only escape is His mercy extended through the atoning sacrifice of His Son. We don't really want true Love like that (the cost in repentance and faith and appearing foolish before the world is too high) - we would rather cling to our sins, redefine them as good, and either occupy our minds through pleasure such that we can pretend we're not gonna die and face judgement - or we can practice some form of religion (as opposed to a relationship with Him), and roll the dice that our good deeds will outweigh our evil ones. Both choices dreamed up and inspired by the devil himself.

To what extent does God have to go to in order to prove to us that He is truly good, loves us and has made a Way to eternal life through His Son? If pouring out all the wrath that we deserve on His own sinless Son, allowing Him to experience true hell so that we don't have to - all for the purpose of expanding God's eternal family isn't enough - then what else can He do?

My fervent suggestion... make a careful (and prayerful) study of Jesus' life - especially pondering carefully what He experienced in His final days - and then most poignantly savor all of the profound words He spoke from the cross - and see if it doesn't lead you to accept the things you may not understand about God and life - and trust them to Jesus. He is, after all, God - and we ain't.

The beauty is that when we receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, He gifts us with His precious Holy Spirit, who leads us into all Truth. Satisfying just one of our deepest God-given desires.

I'm banking that you will easily conclude that He not only died on that cross, but rose again - because having received as much through sheer faith in His Word (itself a gift from God), you'll recognize His living Spirit... in you.

And in other genuine believers, too. It's why WE cling to hope in spite of every possible trial in this temporal life. We have that hope because we already know from our walks with Him that He keeps ALL of His promises!

Following is a great place to start, if you haven't already. Praying for you and always available to assist in your journey. All of us here who know Him are. You're on the right track by seeking Him - He promises that if you do with all of your heart, mind and soul you will most certainly find Him! He ain't lyin'! God bless!

Bible Gateway passage: John 1 - New International Version

The Word Became Flesh - In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light...

www.biblegateway.com

 

[d taylor]

He walked in his home-town, Nazareth, all his life, never traveled. And people made his small town into a mall, so he got angry and tilted tables and whipped people in this temple. But, I mean, he never was an murderer I think, so why`d he be sentenced to death on a cross? Was he sentenced to death by the Romans just for being popular? I find it a little strange the story, he obiviously cared about people, so why`d he do anything to them? The society at the time, had pretty much the same rules as now, laws, they couldn`t sentence him to death for nothing

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Jesus being sentence to die on a cross. Was God's plan to take away the sin of the world,.
So man, in man's sinful state that man is in, which has separated man from God.

Can through belief in Jesus, believing Jesus is who He Jesus says He is. The Son of God/ The Messiah, the resurrection and the life (Eternal Life). Become a born again child of God. There is no way back to God, back into the family of God. Except through belief in Jesus.

There are two destinies a person will take 1. Can be to be restored back into the family of God, by belief in Jesus and 2. Or the lake of fire, a place that all people who do not have the Life of God, will eventually end up in for eternity.

So a person can end up spending eternity with God or separated from God.

 

[ViaCrucis]

He walked in his home-town, Nazareth, all his life, never traveled. And people made his small town into a mall, so he got angry and tilted tables and whipped people in this temple. But, I mean, he never was an murderer I think, so why`d he be sentenced to death on a cross? Was he sentenced to death by the Romans just for being popular? I find it a little strange the story, he obiviously cared about people, so why`d he do anything to them? The society at the time, had pretty much the same rules as now, laws, they couldn`t sentence him to death for nothing

The sentence Jesus was charged with was for being "king of the Jews". What Jesus said and what He taught was perceived by the Roman authorities as an offense, and a potential threat, to their power and maintaining their power in the region.

Jesus never preached political violence, He had no interest in what the Jewish Zealots were aiming for (liberation and independence from Rome), when Jesus talked about God's kingdom, it had nothing to do with earthly power.

Nevertheless, Jesus did preach about a kingdom, and Jesus' messianic claims were inherently kingly. When Jesus was brought before Pontius Pilate, Pilate told Jesus what He was being accused of, that He claimed to be a king. Jesus' responded by saying it's true that He is king, but that His kingdom isn't of this world--were it, then His followers would have acted violently when He was arrested.

And it wasn't just Rome. The Gospels also tell us that there was a small group of Jewish leaders who conspired to take Jesus out. Jesus spoke out against the corruption of the Temple, and Jesus' ministry could be perceived as a threat to the Roman establishment; both of these things were enough to upset the priestly aristocracy. That's what got some of the Jewish priests, especially Caiaphas, the High Priest at the time, involved. Caiaphas is even recorded as saying that it was better for one man to die in order that the whole nation be spared--Caiaphas was thinking in terms of handing Jesus over to be punished by Rome, so that Rome wouldn't come in and hurt everyone (something Rome had done in the past). Jesus also regularly was critical of the hypocrisy, and often seemed to undermine local rabbinic authority, which is why there were those among the Pharisees who had strong feelings against Jesus. The Sadducees (of the priestly aristorcratic class) and the Pharisees never really got along, they butted heads all the time. The Gospels present them working together, and secretly, as a purely strategic act to address the threat(s) they thought Jesus represented. It wasn't all priests, or all rabbis, it wasn't all Pharisees, and it certainly wasn't all, most, or even a LOT of regular Jewish people. It was a small number of leading authorities among the two major factions of Judaism in Judea. And they wanted Rome to deal with the problem, so Rome wouldn't retaliate against them.

Claiming to be Messiah certainly is something Rome wouldn't ignore. There had been messianic claimants in the past, and they led revolts, and messianic claimants would do the same later on (the most famous being Simon bar-Kochba's revolt in the 2nd century). Talking about a kingdom of the heavens, God's kingdom, is something that would certainly get people like Pontius Pilate itchy. Pilate was well known for his rather brutal ways, he was so bad that he would later get in trouble from his superiors back in Rome itself.

So the charge against Jesus was that He was "the king of the Jews", the charge was posted on his cross, written in Latin, Aramaic, and Greek so anyone and everyone who could read, could read it. This tells us exactly what Rome was doing when it crucified Jesus. It was saying, "This is what happens to you uppity Jews when you challenge Caesar", because Rome wanted to make sure everyone knew there was only one king--the Emperor, in Rome, and he was the rightful king even over the Jews. So Jesus was crucified to send a message, this is what Rome does to would-be messiahs, this is what Rome does when you dare challenge Caesar's authority. It doesn't matter if you are a real threat, or just a potential threat. Rome dominates, Rome controls, Rome is in charge--obey, submit, or else.

That's why Rome crucified Jesus.

Of course, Christians also understand the Cross in another, and even more important way. Not only was Jesus' crucifixion NOT a victory for Rome, it was actually the defeat of all tyrants. Especially the defeat of the arch-tyrants: Death and the devil. As St. Augustine would say, Victor quia Victima; He is victor because He was made a victim. The Lamb of God reigns.

-CryptoLutheran

 

[FireDragon76]

The account of Pilate in the Bible is widely considered by scholars to not be completely historically reliable, and instead meant to soften the reality to Grecoo-Roman audiences, that Jesus died at the hands of their "evil empire". Pilate was a typical Roman beaurocrat who killed many peasants for far less serious reasons that simply calling oneself king. Essentially, Jesus was executed for being a troublemaker in a society where the Latin word pax, peace, had conotations of order imposed through violence. So Jesus death is about Rome asserting its dominance over conquered or subjugated peoples.

 

[Joseph G]

The account of Pilate in the Bible is widely considered by scholars to not be completely historically reliable, and instead meant to soften the reality to Grecoo-Roman audiences, that Jesus died at the hands of their "evil empire". Pilate was a typical Roman beaurocrat who killed many peasants for far less serious reasons that simply calling oneself king. Essentially, Jesus was executed for being a troublemaker in a society where the Latin word pax, peace, had conotations of order imposed through violence. So Jesus death is about Rome asserting its dominance over conquered or subjugated peoples.

Lessee... interpretation of the Bible through "scholars" who come and go - or through the Holy Spirit Who leads into all Truth? I'll go with the Holy Spirit! Like the Father and the Son - He never changes or equivocates. And the historical and archeological evidence backs up the inerrancy of Holy Scripture again and again - no matter how many years "scholars" scoff.

God bless!
Joseph

biblegateway.com

 

[timf]

The bible is literally true. Jerusalem was the center of the religious industrial complex, The temple was where God had dwelt. It was here that the money changers had established their business that offended Jesus. In particular cheating people who had foreign money.

We can see from the story about Nicodemus (John 3) that he was ignorant about being "born" of Spirit and water (Ezekiel 36). Most were also ignorant that the Messiah would have t die. What was not prophesied was that by his death Jesus would provide a means of salvation.

1Co 2:7 But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
1Co 2:8 Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.

Satan and his helpers (the princes of this world) were unaware that this could be done.

It can be misleading to read the bible and impose our view of modern life into it. There was not a "mall" in Nazareth. Economically there would be attempts to bully vendors who wanted to sell in the small market place, but nowhere near the legal requirements for leases and other ordinances one would find today in trying to sell something in your own small town.

Israel was a militarily occupied territory. This is so different than what we know today that it is difficult to even imagine. Consider that Matthew (the tax collector) lived in your town and that you were not required to pay your taxes by April 15th every year. Instead Matthew knew everything you had and could order Roman soldiers to take it from you.

 

[David Lamb]

He walked in his home-town, Nazareth, all his life, never traveled. And people made his small town into a mall, so he got angry and tilted tables and whipped people in this temple. But, I mean, he never was an murderer I think, so why`d he be sentenced to death on a cross? Was he sentenced to death by the Romans just for being popular? I find it a little strange the story, he obiviously cared about people, so why`d he do anything to them? The society at the time, had pretty much the same rules as now, laws, they couldn`t sentence him to death for nothing

I have only just come across this thread, so I apologise for the late reply. First, I would say that it is important to get the facts correct. He didn't walk "in his home-town, Nazareth, all his life" - we read of Him going into Samaria:

“But He needed to go through Samaria. So He came to a city of Samaria which is called Sychar, near the plot of ground that Jacob gave to his son Joseph.” (Joh 4:4-5 NKJV)

Also, we are told that He left Nazareth, and lived for a time in Capernaum:

“And leaving Nazareth, He came and dwelt in Capernaum, which is by the sea, in the regions of Zebulun and Naphtali,” (Mt 4:13 NKJV)

The incident in the temple took place in Jerusalem, not Nazareth. There was no temple in Nazareth:

“So they came to Jerusalem. Then Jesus went into the temple and began to drive out those who bought and sold in the temple, and overturned the tables of the money changers and the seats of those who sold doves. And He would not allow anyone to carry wares through the temple. Then He taught, saying to them, "Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all nations’? But you have made it a ‘den of thieves.’"” (Mr 11:15-17 NKJV)

We are also told why the Jewish leaders wanted Him crucified:

“And the scribes and chief priests heard it and sought how they might destroy Him; for they feared Him, because all the people were astonished at His teaching.” (Mr 11:18 NKJV)

“Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.” (Mt 27:17-18 NKJV)

So they feared Him and they were envious of Him.

You are right when you say that "they couldn`t sentence him to death for nothing." But they wanted Him dead, so they listened to false witnesses who told lies about Jesus:

“Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death, but found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward and said, "This [fellow] said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.’"” (Mt 26:59-61 NKJV)

Mark's account says that the testimony of the false witnesses did not even agree!:

“Then some rose up and bore false witness against Him, saying, "We heard Him say, ‘I will destroy this temple made with hands, and within three days I will build another made without hands.’" But not even then did their testimony agree.” (Mr 14:57-59 NKJV)

I think at least part of the reason why you find the story strange is that you have many of the facts wrong. (I'm not criticising you, so please don't take offence.)