Why Christians owe Jews an apology--And why that apology needs to happen sooner rather than later...

To get to the point, I will start with a question: Is there a difference between me giving you something versus you taking it from me? The answer is, yes, there is a big difference between the two. Imagine if I gave you something but people said that you took it from me and punished you accordingly. Think about how unfair that would be to you and to me as the person who wanted to give you that gift. In essence, this is what has happened to the Jews. The narrative has been that the Jews took the life of Jesus, but that’s not accurate. To say that anyone took the life of Jesus doesn’t give Jesus enough credit for the magnitude of what He offered us. Furthermore, the specific role of the Jews during the overall crucifixion was actually very different than what has previously been presented as well and it’s time to apologize for the error, correct the narrative and restate the true facts surrounding the crucifixion.

Let me first say that Jesus willingly gave up His life because it was God’s plan for the salvation of man and Jesus confirmed that fact when He stood before Pontus Pilate and said, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above.” John 19:11. In addition, in the Garden of Gethsemane, Jesus said, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me; yet, not as I will, but as you will.” Matthew 26:39. These statements show that the crucifixion was God’s will. Jesus also said, “Therefore, the one who handed me over to you is guilty of the greater sin.” 

Who handed Jesus over? The answer is two-fold. 

First,  Judas Iscariot. And the importance of the story of Judas isn’t necessarily about the person, but the decision—The decision to make money one’s top priority (There are other errors encasing that decision as well but money is a key detail to focus on). When one puts money over a person and over a valuable relationship, that is the opposite of love. The fact that Judas felt a great deal of remorse afterwards to the point of throwing the money back shows that he didn’t realize the magnitude of that decision. 

I think Judas represents a piece that exists within all of us. Every time we put money as a top priority in our lives and don’t help someone in need or help the homeless or help someone who is suffering, we are making a “Judas type of decision.” Just as Judas didn’t realize the magnitude of that mistake, we don’t realize it either. The primary message behind the teachings of Jesus is that love is the most important priority…the most important decision we can make…and the prize of life. At any given moment, we can only have one top priority and that often comes down to a choice between love or money (job/power, etc). We all choose money more than we realize. 

Second, although Judas made an error, Pontius Pilate cleared that error and gave “the crowd” a second chance to get it right, but they chanted “crucify him.” Thus, the entire crowd who chanted is responsible as well. While the root problem with Judas was a focus on money, the root problem among “the crowd” was judgement. They chanted because they didn’t think that Jesus acted in the way that they thought he should act or do what they thought He should do or say the things that they thought He should say. Jesus tried to warn us about the serious ramifications of judgement all throughout His life by continually associating with people who society-at-large judged harshly. Jesus also said, “He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone.” John 8:7-11. We didn’t learn the lesson about judgement back then and still didn’t learn it today. 

We judge others before we love them, condemn them before we try understand them, attack them before we try to show compassion and watch them suffer before trying to lend a hand. It’s the reason there is so much division and animosity in the world. Jesus was trying to show us a new way to think and a new way to act. Judgement is the opposite of love so it separates us from God who is love. Judgement is so severe, that it can destroy love and turn love into war. Look at the world and you can see that firsthand. 

Thus, it was the errors and sins of mankind that killed Jesus, not the Jews.

The Jewish leaders simply asked Judas a question—They asked Judas if he would identify who Jesus was. That question wasn’t just any routine or ordinary question, but it was the question that would initiate the unfolding of God’s plan for the salvation of man which helped us to see Judas’ error (his choice to put money first) and showed us why Jesus had to suffer the crucifixion. Their question wasn’t the source of the problem, but it revealed the problem and initiated our salvation from it. As such, it wasn’t a denial, but the fulfillment of a prophesy and calling. The Jews were called on by God to walk hand-in-hand with Jesus, the Son of God, to carry out God’s plan for the salvation of man. I believe this is the reason that the Jews are considered to be a chosen people.

If you believe that you benefited from that plan (benefited from the crucifixion), which we all did, you can’t then attack the individual pieces of it. It’s hypocritical to say that you benefit from something and then attack it at the same time. As I mentioned and it’s worth repeating, the Jews did not take the life of Jesus but the errors of mankind did. The Jews simply walked with Jesus to save us from those errors (and from our other sins) and it’s time they get the respect they deserve for playing a special role alongside of Jesus—They were instrumental in launching God’s plan. A plan that we all benefited from. 

I would like to be the first Christian to stand up and apologize to the Jews for the incorrect narrative and hope others will join me because that incorrect narrative hasn’t only caused the Jews to suffer for a long time, but it also prevented them from being able to fully accept Jesus as well. To accept Jesus under the incorrect narrative would have only caused them more pain and suffering. Once we, as Christians, apologize and reset the narrative to the proper one, the Jews will receive the respect they deserve and once that shift happens, they, too, will be able to see their own valuable role as well—They walked with Jesus (who was also a Jew) to carry out God’s plan for the salvation of man. Jesus is a lot closer to them than they realize. 

I think the apology from Christians and the correction to the narrative needs to happen quickly because I don’t think that Jesus will come back to the earth until He is fully accepted and that can’t happen until the wrongdoings of the past are corrected. The last thing Jesus would ever want to do is come to the earth if a large number of those whom He loves so dearly won’t be with Him, especially if they are His chosen. He is no doubt waiting to give everyone on a earth a real and fair chance at belief and we need to correct our errors for that to happen.  

If and when the Jews accept Jesus as Savior (Savior from our sins), I don’t think that means that Jews have to give up Judaism and convert to Christianity. Jesus loves people from all religions so I think Jesus and His teachings can simply be welcomed in wherever you are. I think we will begin to hear “I am a Jesus-believing Jew” or “I’m a Jesus-believing Buddhist”or “I’m a Jesus-believing Muslim” (I, personally, consider myself to be “a Jewish-loving, Buddhist-loving, Islam-loving Christian!”) 

The crucifixion was the greatest act of love there ever was. It was God’s plan to save mankind. Jesus willingly gave up His life to help clear us of our sins and the Jews helped Jesus to fulfill that role and important plan of God. We learned what love really is in the process as well. Love is not a feeling but an action. Love involves sacrifice. To be willing to give up one’s life for the good of another is a great act of love and Jesus showed us that first hand.

www.irenepiercepanayi.com (For more thoughts and perspectives, visit my blog)

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Helping the world…

It’s time to get this world back to a place of peace, happiness and good health for all and bringing about the changes that we need is easier than you think. It begs with an idea. If you like an idea or new perspective, share it with as many people as you can and tell them to do the same. Once an idea or perspective catches on, change will begin. For love and peace to reign in the world, we have to try to understand each other and appreciate one another—This is the starting point for peace. If you like an idea but do nothing, nothing will change. If you share it with as many people as you can, everything can start to change.