Why the Romans crucify Jesus

Full Answer Section

         

• What do Jesus's followers claim happened after he died? Jesus's followers claim that after he died, he was resurrected from the dead on the third day. They believe that he physically rose from the tomb, appeared to many of his disciples over a period of 40 days, and then ascended into heaven. This belief in the resurrection is a cornerstone of Christian faith.

• Why did early Christians adopt the Hebrew Bible (Old Testament) as part of their sacred text? Early Christians adopted the Hebrew Bible (which they came to call the Old Testament) as part of their sacred text for several key reasons:

  • Continuity and Fulfillment of Prophecy: They believed that Jesus was the Messiah whose coming was foretold and prophesied throughout the Hebrew Scriptures. The Old Testament provided the prophetic framework that they saw fulfilled in Jesus's life, death, and resurrection.
  • Divine Revelation: They saw the Hebrew Bible as God's inspired word, revealing His nature, His covenant with humanity, and His plan for salvation.
  • Historical and Theological Foundation: It provided the historical and theological backdrop for understanding God's relationship with humanity, the origins of sin, the need for redemption, and the establishment of God's covenant people. Jesus himself and the apostles frequently quoted and referenced the Hebrew Scriptures.

• Christianity holds that God has a three-part nature (a trinity) - what are the three components? The three components of the Christian Trinity are:

  • God the Father
  • God the Son (Jesus Christ)
  • God the Holy Spirit

• What did Christ's sacrifice on the cross make possible for humanity? According to Christian theology, Christ's sacrifice on the cross made atonement for sins possible for humanity. It is believed that through his death, Jesus paid the penalty for humanity's sins, offering a way for reconciliation with God and eternal life. This act of sacrifice is seen as the ultimate demonstration of God's love and mercy, overcoming the barrier of sin that separated humanity from God. It offers the possibility of forgiveness, redemption, and salvation for those who believe in him.

• What happens in the sacrament of the Eucharist? In the sacrament of the Eucharist (also known as Holy Communion or the Lord's Supper), Christians commemorate and partake in the body and blood of Jesus Christ. This sacrament typically involves consuming consecrated bread and wine (or grape juice), which are believed to symbolize or, in some traditions, actually become the body and blood of Christ. It is a central act of worship, recalling Jesus's Last Supper with his disciples before his crucifixion, where he instituted this practice. Participants remember Jesus's sacrifice, give thanks for salvation, and express their communion with Christ and with fellow believers. The theological understanding of what exactly happens to the bread and wine varies among different Christian denominations (e.g., transubstantiation, consubstantiation, symbolic presence).

Sample Answer

        According to the Gospels, why did the Romans crucify Jesus? According to the Gospels, the Romans crucified Jesus primarily due to accusations of sedition and treason against the Roman Empire. The Jewish religious leaders (chief priests and elders) perceived Jesus as a threat to their authority and the established order. They brought him before the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, accusing him of claiming to be "King of the Jews," which was interpreted as a challenge to Caesar's authority. Pilate, though initially finding no fault in Jesus, eventually yielded to the crowd's demands and the pressure from the Jewish leaders, who warned him that not crucifying Jesus would imply disloyalty to Caesar. Thus, Jesus was executed as a political insurgent, despite Pilate's personal reservations.