Sermon Tone Analysis

We will continue our special series on the Stories of the Cross.

We are looking at the same story from five very different viewpoints – each representing a being or group of people – that seeks to demonstrate how people can view Jesus with very different emotions.

Last time we talked about the fulfillment of prophecy in the crucifixion, which shows the active role of the Father.

Today we examine the hatred of the Jews towards Jesus.

I) Hatred fulfilled prophecy

We saw this last time – ; ; – but it more than simply a fulfillment of God’s prophecy

This phrase is a two-pronged indictment of the Jews (who represent mainstream Christianity) who first hated, and then second did so without reason

II) Hatred of the Jews

They did not start out hating Jesus – – but came to that point very quickly –

It was not that Jesus spoke harshly that caused the hate –

What did cause the hate was Jesus challenging their traditions and the status quo – ;

Hatred caused them to treat Jesus cruelly, with slaps – – spitting and slapping His face – – mocking His claim to be a prophet (and much more) from God – – ridicule – – and scoffing at Him – ;

People generally dislike change, especially when another person causes us to change in ways we did not expect or desire

Cruel behavior (often not leading to death) will spring from that challenge to long-established ideas, as in the Crusades up to the political/religious debates that happen in our time; even among our brothers/sisters in Christ –

III) Without cause

It may be the simplest of concepts, but Jesus did nothing wrong

Jews certainly thought they had ample justification for their hatred, but they did not –

The only standard for condemnation of another is the Bible itself – ;

If we want to oppose someone else (and there are times when we should – ), we must do so with Bible in hand, for what we oppose and how

Concl: The Jews are the interesting participants in the crucifixion of Jesus, representing those least likely to kill Jesus, yet the most invested.