Killing Jesus

1. Jesus was born into a world dominated by Roman power and Herodian cruelty.

The child with thirty-six years to live is being hunted.

Herod's paranoia. King Herod, a puppet ruler installed by Rome, was a ruthless despot terrified of losing his throne. Hearing prophecies of a new "king of the Jews" born in Bethlehem, he ordered the massacre of all male children under two in the area to eliminate the potential threat. This act of infanticide highlights the violent political climate of the time.

Roman authority. Herod's power stemmed entirely from Rome, which dominated the Western world and brooked no dissent. Life expectancy was low, especially for those who angered the ruling powers. The Roman Empire's iron fist ensured absolute submission, making any challenge to authority incredibly dangerous.

Prophecy and escape. Despite Herod's brutal efforts, Jesus and his parents, Mary and Joseph, escaped Bethlehem after Joseph had a warning dream. Their flight fulfilled ancient prophecies, setting the stage for Jesus's life to unfold according to scriptural predictions, even from his earliest days.

2. The Roman Empire's brutal rise set the stage for future conflict.

The Ides changed everything.

Caesar's dominance. Julius Caesar, the most powerful man in the world, consolidated Roman power through military conquest and political maneuvering. His assassination on the Ides of March (March 15), 44 B.C., plunged Rome into civil war, a conflict that reshaped the empire and its relationship with its provinces, including Judea.

Civil war and its cost. The ensuing civil war, effectively the first world war, saw Roman fight Roman across the Mediterranean. Leaders like Caesar and Pompey, and later Octavian and Marc Antony, waged brutal campaigns. The conflict resulted in immense bloodshed and suffering, demonstrating the Roman capacity for violence and control.

Octavian's triumph. Julius Caesar's adopted son, Octavian, emerged victorious from the civil war, defeating rivals like Marc Antony and Cleopatra. He became the sole ruler of the Roman Empire, later known as Caesar Augustus. His reign established a new era of imperial rule, characterized by centralized power and a demand for absolute loyalty, setting a precedent for his successor, Tiberius.

3. Life under Roman and Herodian rule was marked by heavy oppression and taxation.

Many Galileans suffer malnutrition because they have no food left with which to feed themselves.

Economic hardship. Under Herod Antipas, son of Herod the Great and tetrarch of Galilee, the Jewish people faced crippling taxation. Antipas's lavish building projects, like the cities of Sepphoris and Tiberias, were financed by squeezing the poor. This led to widespread debt, loss of land, and even debt slavery.

Tax collectors despised. Tax collectors, often Jews themselves, were hated for extorting money and publicly abusing those who couldn't pay. They were seen as collaborators with the oppressive Roman regime and its local puppets like Antipas. This system created deep resentment among the populace.

Loss of dignity. The economic pressure eroded traditional Jewish community bonds, as people became less willing to help neighbors for fear of their own ruin. Many lost their homes and inheritance, forced into begging or crime. This harsh reality bred a longing for a savior who could deliver them from this suffering.

4. John the Baptist emerged as a prophetic voice, preparing the way.

John is that rarest of all prophets: a man who lives to see his predictions come true.

Voice in the wilderness. John the Baptist preached a radical message of repentance and baptism in the Jordan River, calling for preparation for the coming of a new king who would judge the world. His ascetic lifestyle and fearless condemnation of immorality, including Herod Antipas's unlawful marriage, attracted large crowds and alarmed the authorities.

Challenging authority. John's message was both religious and political, directly challenging the Roman Empire and the Jewish Temple hierarchy. He criticized tax collectors and soldiers, urging them to act justly. His popularity made him a threat to Antipas, who feared he would incite rebellion.

Martyrdom. Despite his nonviolent message, John's outspokenness led to his imprisonment by Herod Antipas. At the request of Herodias, Antipas's wife, John was beheaded. His death, however, did not quell the religious fervor but instead paved the way for the emergence of an even greater figure.

5. Jesus's ministry began in Galilee, attracting followers and challenging norms.

The Sermon on the Mount... may be the most important speech in history.

Calling disciples. After his baptism by John, Jesus began his ministry in Galilee, choosing twelve diverse men, including fishermen and a tax collector, to be his disciples. He taught in synagogues and public spaces, quickly gaining a reputation for his insightful words and apparent supernatural acts.

Message of hope. Jesus's teachings, particularly the Sermon on the Mount, offered a message of hope, love, and righteousness to the oppressed people of Galilee. He spoke of God's kingdom, forgiveness, and the importance of inner purity over outward religious observance, resonating deeply with the poor and marginalized.

Growing popularity. Jesus's ability to seemingly heal the sick, feed thousands, and even raise the dead, coupled with his charisma and defiance of religious norms (like eating with sinners), drew massive crowds. This popularity, however, also attracted the wary attention of both Roman and Jewish authorities.

6. Jesus's teachings and actions increasingly clashed with religious authorities.

Jesus is undermining their authority.

Pharisee opposition. The Pharisees, guardians of Jewish religious law, saw Jesus as a threat to their authority and way of life. They criticized him for seemingly violating Sabbath laws, associating with sinners, and offering his own interpretations of scripture, which they believed were exclusively theirs to define.

Temple confrontation. Jesus's dramatic act of overturning the money changers' tables in the Temple courts was a direct challenge to the religious establishment's corrupt practices. He accused them of turning God's house into a "den of robbers," an act that enraged the chief priests and elders and solidified their desire to eliminate him.

Intellectual duels. Despite attempts to trap him with theological questions, Jesus consistently outwitted the Pharisees and Sadducees using logic and scripture. His public denunciations of their hypocrisy further alienated them, making it clear that a peaceful coexistence was impossible.

7. Jesus's final week in Jerusalem escalated tensions and sealed his fate.

Jesus of Nazareth has six days to live.

Triumphal Entry. Jesus's entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, just days before Passover, was interpreted by many as the fulfillment of prophecy, a sign that he was the promised Messiah, the king of the Jews. The crowds' jubilant reception, waving palm branches and shouting "Hosanna," was a public declaration of his perceived status.

Temple actions. Jesus's repeated actions in the Temple courts, including driving out vendors and teaching with authority, further inflamed the religious leaders. His prediction of the Temple's destruction was particularly provocative and, in their eyes, a capital offense.

Predictions of death. Despite the public adoration, Jesus repeatedly told his disciples that he would be betrayed, condemned, and crucified. While they struggled to comprehend this, focusing instead on his perceived earthly kingship, Jesus seemed increasingly resigned to his impending fate, knowing his actions had made him a marked man.

8. Betrayal by a disciple led to Jesus's arrest.

For a price, Judas Iscariot is capable of doing anything.

Judas's motive. Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus's twelve disciples and the group's treasurer, grew disillusioned with Jesus's apparent refusal to lead a political uprising against Rome. Motivated by greed or a desire to force Jesus's hand, he secretly negotiated with the chief priests to betray Jesus for thirty silver coins.

The Last Supper. During a final meal with his disciples, Jesus predicted his betrayal and identified Judas as the one who would hand him over. Despite this, the other disciples failed to fully grasp the gravity of the situation until Judas left the room.

Garden arrest. Judas led a group of Temple guards to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus was praying. He identified Jesus with a kiss, a prearranged signal. Jesus was then arrested without resistance, while his terrified disciples fled into the night, leaving him alone with his captors.

9. Jesus faced illegal trials by Jewish religious leaders.

Everything about Jesus’s interrogation is illegal...

Trial by Annas. Jesus was first taken to the palace of Annas, the powerful former high priest and father-in-law of Caiaphas. Annas conducted an illegal nighttime interrogation, during which Jesus was struck by a guard. This initial questioning aimed to gather evidence and break Jesus's spirit before the formal trial.

Trial by Sanhedrin. Jesus was then brought before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish high court, at Caiaphas's palace. The trial was illegal due to its timing (at night, during Passover) and procedures (false witnesses, self-incrimination). Despite numerous false accusations, Jesus remained largely silent until directly asked if he was the Christ, the Son of God.

Blasphemy conviction. When Jesus affirmed his divine identity, Caiaphas tore his robes and declared him guilty of blasphemy, a capital offense under Jewish law. The Sanhedrin quickly condemned him to death. However, they lacked the authority to carry out an execution under Roman rule, requiring them to involve Pontius Pilate.

10. Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, ultimately decided Jesus's fate.

Pilate orders that a small bowl of water be brought to Jesus.

Pilate's dilemma. Caiaphas and the Sanhedrin brought Jesus to Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, demanding his execution. Pilate, wary of Jewish religious law and potential unrest, initially found no basis for a Roman charge against Jesus. He attempted to pass the case to Herod Antipas, as Jesus was Galilean, but Antipas sent him back.

Political maneuvering. Pilate tried to release Jesus by offering the crowd a choice between him and Barabbas, a notorious criminal. However, influenced by the chief priests, the crowd demanded Barabbas's release and Jesus's crucifixion. Pilate, despite his reservations and a warning from his wife, felt pressured to appease the Jewish leaders to maintain order and protect his career.

Scourging and sentence. Hoping to satisfy the Sanhedrin without crucifixion, Pilate ordered Jesus to be severely scourged. When this failed to appease them, and facing continued demands for crucifixion, Pilate symbolically washed his hands, declaring himself innocent of Jesus's blood, and handed Jesus over to be crucified, a Roman form of execution.

11. Jesus was scourged and crucified, fulfilling prophecy.

Jesus of Nazareth is dead.

Brutal scourging. Jesus was subjected to a horrific Roman scourging, where he was whipped with a flagellum tipped with lead weights, tearing his flesh. This brutal punishment was designed to weaken the victim severely before crucifixion, often bringing them near death.

Mockery and suffering. Roman soldiers mocked Jesus, dressing him in a purple robe, placing a crown of thorns on his head, and hailing him as "King of the Jews." This added psychological torment to his physical agony as he was forced to carry his crossbeam to the execution site, Golgotha.

Crucifixion. Jesus was nailed to the cross through his wrists and feet, then hoisted upright. Death by crucifixion was a slow, agonizing process of suffocation. Despite the pain, Jesus spoke, offering forgiveness and entrusting his mother to a disciple. A soldier pierced his side with a spear, confirming his death.

12. The mystery of the empty tomb launched a new faith.

To this day, the body of Jesus of Nazareth has never been found.

Burial and guard. Joseph of Arimathea and Nicodemus, members of the Sanhedrin and secret followers of Jesus, obtained permission from Pilate to bury Jesus's body in a new tomb. Fearing the disciples might steal the body and claim resurrection, the chief priests requested a Roman guard be placed at the tomb, and a heavy stone sealed the entrance.

Empty tomb. On the third day, women who came to anoint Jesus's body found the tombstone rolled away and the tomb empty. The Roman guard was gone. The disappearance of the body remains a central point of debate and belief.

Resurrection belief. The Gospels record that Jesus appeared to his disciples and others over forty days after his death. These alleged appearances transformed the disciples from fearful men into fearless preachers. Their conviction that Jesus had risen from the dead became the foundation of the Christian faith, which rapidly spread despite intense persecution.

Last updated: May 13, 2025