For the purpose of this thematic paper about opposition towards Jesus I chose the Gospel According to John. Even though the Book of John has so much love there are still many instances in which Jesus faced opposition. Within the book there is opposition from the Jews, Pharisees, Priestly Council (Sanhedrin), and the Disciples. We see the first opposition with the Jews in the temple and at the end of the Book of John we will still find the Jews opposing Jesus (2:12) . In this incident we read about the money changers in the temple and how Jesus becomes upset. This is where the opposition towards Jesus by the Jews begins. When the Jews ask him, “What sign can you give us to justify what you are doing?” From this place we find the Jews will …show more content…
Because they could not see Jesus with their spiritual eyes. Truthfully, they were looking for the Messiah in another form.
For this reason we find throughout the book the Jews wanted Jesus persecuted (8:31) . Wording in the beginning of Chapter 8 clarifies that not all Jews had a problem with Jesus. There was a certain sect of Jews who recognized Jesus as the Messiah. Continuing, we find the Jews questioning Jesus about who he is? Is he demon possessed (8:48)? And, because they are unable to understand the answers he gives they set out to stone Jesus. When he says, “I am” (applying God’s name to himself) (8:59) . Then when he says, “The Father and I are one”. Repeating these saying and truths the Jews considered what Jesus was doing “blasphemy” because in their eyes Caesar was the only King. So, both times when they try to stone him he slips away from them (10:31-39; 11:8) . Even though they did not have the final authority to do anything once captured they take Jesus to Pontius Pilate the local Roman governor (18:28) . Finally, the Jews pressed for Jesus crucifixion (19:6) . The Jews press Pilate by saying they have a law that anyone who says they are a King oppresses Caesar (19:12-16) . It is obvious that the behaviors by the Jewish religious people, secular leaders, and their followers’ preoccupation was in seeing Jesus dead.
Next we find opposition to Jesus by the Pharisees (3:1) . The first Pharisee Jesus encounters is Nicodemus. Nicodemus was also a Jew who
In Jerusalem, Jesus was treated fairly by everyone, but Romans and Jews didn’t except him, so he had to be executed. This shows that Romans and Jews would kill anyone who was dangerous, or threatening. Till this day, Jesus is a major part of believe and religion.
In The Judaeo-Christian Tradition by Jack H. Hexter, the trial of Jesus is addressed in an unorthodox perspective. The trial of Jesus incorporates two trials: the Roman trial and the Jewish trial. In Hexter's book the Roman trial is addressed in great length while the Jewish trial is almost unaddressed. Hexter provides a perspective of the trial of Jesus with only one cause: the charge of sedition, for claiming to be king of the Jews. By using the four gospel texts, Hexter's view is illuminated and we find crucial aspects to the trial that not only counter Hexter's view on the sedition charge but also provide evidence for other important charges. Themes other than the charge of sedition supporting Hexter's perspective include, the
The Pharisees, scribes, priests and Sadducees were all classified as religious leaders in the bible. None of them had any faith in Jesus, they believed he was a fake of who he said he was on this earth. During this time in the bible, no one really knew who Jesus really was
Jesus of Nazareth was seen as threat to the Roman Empire. They believed he would cause uproar since he proclaimed he was the son of God. With this title, Jesus would of had more power than the Roman Empire itself. Proclaiming this also made him a threat to the Jewish community in Jerusalem. The Jews believed that a Messiah would be sent to rescue them and deliver peace in harmony in Israel. Unfortunately, they did not believe Jesus was it. With both groups, they mistreated and ridicule Jesus and crucified him.
author keeps the same divine abilities Jesus’ was presented with throughout the book, and uses the crucifixion scene as a glorification of Jesus’ life. Consequently, Jesus’ refuses to use his powers and allows the crucifixion (Harris 269). Pontius Pilate, the Roman official which historians have deemed responsible for sentencing Jesus (Harris 91). In John, Pilate makes eight attempts to dissuade Jesus’ accusers that Jesus is guilty of crime. According to John, Pilate had written on the cross, “’Jesus of Nazareth, the King of the Jews,’” (John 19:19). This depiction of an innocent Pilate, and guilty Pharisees and Temple priests expresses the Johannine community’s distance from Judaism. Instead of blaming Rome, something the Jews have done for
During the time of Jesus, Josephus claimed “there were five sects of Jews at the time of Jesus: Pharisees, Sadducees, Essenes, Zealots and Sicarii” (How Jews lived in Jesus time). These groups had their own way of interpreting the scriptures to fit their lives in present and in future.
The Jews did not have a big motive to kill Jesus, certainly they just lacked motive for killing Jesus. He was accused of saying himself Son of God, blasphemed. Indeed, according to the various historians, the Jewish Community i.e. Pharisees, Essenes and the Sadducees, had many disagreements. These disagreements did not allow them to punish other heretical leaders and therefore they targeted Jesus. The Pharisees were of the religious
The disciples were happy followers of Jesus in the beginning and dropped did everything for him. At the beginning of the disciples journey with Jesus they started witnessing miracles and learning many new things. Towards the middle of the disciples journey with Jesus they started doubting and wondering what there purpose was. When the Disciples journey with Jesus comes to an end they don't want him to leave and deny that he will die on the cross. The disciples understand he has a purpose and has to leave and they pray with him. When Jesus leaves the Disciples and ascended into heaven they faithfully continue to walk in christ and perform miracles. Throughout this time many people start believing and the Disciples distribute throughout the world and go on different journeys performing
During this particular time period there were controversies about who Jesus really was and who he was claiming to be. Although in this time period there are many people who are viewed as the powerful one, Jesus claims to be someone powerful. This began to make the Pharisees and Sadducees furious and felt like they were weak. The Pharisees and sadducees saw Jesus as a threat when in other people’s eyes they saw Jesus as the Son of God.
The very first time that we see Jesus being confronted by the Pharisees is in Matthew 9:11-13. This is the point in Jesus’ life when he is calling for his twelve disciples and he calls for Matthew, a tax collector, to get up and become one of his disciples. Once Matthew agrees, Jesus sits down and eats a meal with Matthew, other tax collectors, and Jesus’ other disciples. When the Pharisees see this they question why Jesus is affiliating with sinners. Jesus’ kindly replies that his purpose here on the earth is to convert the sinners into
Jesus made it a point to act, speak, and move in a calculated way. Although no what what Jesus did or said it is a fact that the presences of God was present with him as much as would have been with him in the temple. Wright then revels that the agenda that Jesu had line up parallel with that of the Pharisees. Wright states on page 71 that alternative like that one was threatening to the Pharisees. Maybe this explained there behavior a little better , threatened people do desperate people do desperate things.
Jesus had no patience with Jewish leaders who disagreed with his conclusions because of the way Matthew describes Jesus’s personal religion as Torah Judaism. Church comes from the Greek word Ecclesia, although the church never existed in Jesus’s life. While Matthew was in the church he saw Jesus as a hero and labeled the Jewish leaders as ‘blind guides” and “hypocrites.” Even though he had a high disregard for the Jewish opponents, Matthew remained respectful to their self-righteous, hypocritical teachings and urged them to pay attention to the words of the church.
Jesus was brought into this world with a promising agenda, specialized with consideration for all existence. With all this glory that beckoned on Jesus, jealousy of others also came along. Since the day Jesus was born, he has been seen as a potential threat amongst many rulers. Herod the Great is the ruler of Judea at the time of Jesus’ birth. He is a man full of hate and is not afraid to kill anyone that crosses him. Word gets out that there is a new king, a king of all kings. He is furious that someone else can take his throne, he is even madder that this so called king is just an infant. He is threaten by a mere infant and gives an order to go to Bethlehem to kill all boys under the age of two. Despite Herod’s attempt to kill Jesus, Mary and Joseph managed to escape their son. They travel to Egypt, then to Nazareth, Galilee and remained
Historians found to comprehend someplace Jesus and his followers fitting in the midst of additional Jewish groups at the time. Allowing to the Jewish-Roman historian such as Flavius Josephus, the three parties in modern Judaism were the Pharisees, Sadducees and Essence. Pharisees were a dominant power in 1st-century Judea. First Christian’s mutual, numerous opinions of the Pharisees, such as resurrection, integrity in the following world, angels, social liberty, and Heavenly Wisdom. Once the collapse of the Holy place, the Pharisaic position was well-known in Rabbinic Judaism. Sadducees were mostly influential in Jerusalem. They believed the transcribed Law merely, refusing the old readings established by the Pharisees, such as faith in justice in the next world, revival of the body, angels, and spirits. Later Jesus began a commotion at the Temple, it was to have remained the Sadducees who had him under arrest and twisted over to the Romans for killing. The Pharisees were watching headfirst to the coming of God’s majestic rule in the world.
When Jesus started to perform his so called metical’s the current rulers of Jerusalem feared that he might take over so when Rome sized control of Jerusalem they told the Romans that Jesus was guilty of treason.