The Crucifixion and AntiSemitism

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The Crucifixion and Anti-Semitism
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Anti-Semitism

• The Jewish people are descendants of Shem thus,
  they are a part of a larger group of people
  called Semites (Gen. 1110-26).
• Anti to be against
• Anti-Semitism then is the attitude of animosity
  or hatred toward Jews.

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• Abraham H. Foxman, ADL National Director, and
  Gary Bretton-Granatoor, ADL Advisor on Interfaith
  Affairs, issued the following statement The
  final version of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the
  Christ" now in theaters repeats all of the
  stereotypes and images surrounding the death of
  Jesus that have generated anti-Semitism for 2,000
  years. We had hoped that Mel Gibson would hear
  our concerns and make changes sadly, the
  epiphany did not happen. Instead of listening to
  our concerns about the history of the charge of
  deicide being used to foment anti-Semitism
  through the centuries, Mr. Gibson attacked his
  critics and refused to listen to the concerns of
  Christians and Jews.

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Both Jesus and His apostles had an attitude of
love toward those who crucified Jesus.
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The Attitude of Jesus

• Jesus died to save the Jews.
• And she will bear a Son and you shall call His
  name Jesus, for it is He who will save His people
  from their sins. (Matthew 121)
• But Jesus was saying, Father, forgive them for
  they do not know what they are doing. (Luke
  2334a)

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• God offered the gospel first to them.
• For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the
  power of God for salvation to everyone who
  believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
  (Romans 116)

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The Attitude of the apostles

• They acknowledged that the Jews were fulfilling
  the sovereign purpose of God.
• this Man, delivered up by the predetermined plan
  and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross
  by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.
  (Acts 223)

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• They acknowledged that the crucifixion had been
  committed in ignorance and out of a spiritual
  hardening.
• And now, brethren, I know that you acted in
  ignorance, just as your rulers did also. (Acts
  317)
• What then? That which Israel is seeking for, it
  has not obtained, but those who were chosen
  obtained it, and the rest were hardened (Romans
  117)

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• They urged them to repent and be forgiven and not
  allow hardness of heart to continue.
• Repent therefore and return, that your sins may
  be wiped away, in order that times of refreshing
  may come from the presence of the Lord and that
  He may send Jesus, the Christ appointed for you,
  (Acts 319-20)
• Take heed therefore, so that the thing spoken of
  in the Prophets may not come upon you (Acts
  1340)

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The NT shows that Gods just wrath was visited
upon the Jews who crucified His Son and
persecuted His church.
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Jesus predicted this day of wrath

• Then let those who are in Judea flee to the
  mountains, and let those who are in the midst of
  the city depart, and let not those who are in the
  country enter the city because these are days of
  vengeance, in order that all things which are
  written may be fulfilled. Woe to those who are
  with child and to those who nurse babes in those
  days for there will be great distress upon the
  land, and wrath to this people, and they will
  fall by the edge of the sword, and will be led
  captive into all the nations and Jerusalem will
  be trampled under foot by the Gentiles until the
  times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. (Luke
  2121-24)

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The apostles announced the coming of this day of
wrath

• who both killed the Lord Jesus and the prophets,
  and drove us out. They are not pleasing to God,
  but hostile to all men,16 hindering us from
  speaking to the Gentiles that they might be
  saved with the result that they always fill up
  the measure of their sins. But wrath has come
  upon them to the utmost. (1 Thessalonians
  215-16)
• The book of Revelation announces the fulfillment
  of this day of wrath on the harlot, the city
  where our Lord was also crucified (Rev. 11

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The punishment for their rejection of Jesus and
His people has come upon the Jewish people in the
destruction of Jerusalem in AD 70.
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The sins of the ancient Jewish leadership provide
no ground for racial hatred or persecution of
Jews at any other time.
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Racism violates the principle of personal
accountability.

• The person who sins will die. The son will not
  bear the punishment for the fathers iniquity,
  nor will the father bear the punishment for the
  sons iniquity the righteousness of the
  righteous will be upon himself, and the
  wickedness of the wicked will be upon himself.
  (Ezekiel 1820)

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Racism violates the love that Jesus lived and
taught.

• For God so loved the world, that He gave His
  only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him
  should not perish, but have eternal life. (hn
  316)
• From the standpoint of the gospel they are
  enemies for your sake, but from the standpoint of
  Gods choice they are beloved for the sake of the
  fathers (Rom. 1128)

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No true Christian ever practiced racism of any
sort with the Lords approval.
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And opening his mouth, Peter said I most
certainly understand now that God is not one to
show partiality, but in every nation the man who
fears Him and does what is right, is welcome to
Him. (Acts 1034-35)