(NOTE: These answers are not presented in a particular order, just in the approximate order that they arrived from our contributors. Feel free to add your comments. If you have a burning question send it to steve@saltshakers.com or if you feel able to answer these type of questions email us to join our panel of "messianic rabbis".)

SANDRA JEFFERY answers ...

Lies unchallenged become truth. It was the Roman’s who actually killed Jesus at the urging of the Sadducees and Pharisee’s leaders. Interestingly though, in a real sense, neither the Jews nor Romans can bear full responsibility for Jesus death as he himself said ‘No one takes my life from me. I lay it down myself.’ Jesus knew he was the Son of God and this was God’s plan for him. Although his death was promoted and supported by jealous Jewish religious leaders, multitudes of Jewish people grieved at his death including priests, believing him to be the Son of God.

RABBI JOSEPH KRESEFSKY answers ...

Oh Holy Friend, unequivocally No! Isaiah 53:6 says – “We all, like sheep, went astray; we turned, each one, to his own way”; and, Romans 3:23 says – “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of G_d”. ALL of us have sinned and because of this Yeshua chose to give his life. John 10:17-18 says – “this is why the Father loves me: because I lay down my life – in order to take it up again! No one takes it from me; on the contrary, I lay it down of my own free will. I have the power to lay it down, and I have the power to take it up again. This is what my Father commanded me to do.”

Messiah’s sacrificial death was known and planned since the beginning of time – since Adam and Eve sinned against G_d, and the root of that sinful nature was going to pass down through all humanity, the only way that sin could be atoned for, once for all, was through the sacrificial death of Messiah – in essence, it was the Father Himself who arranged for His son to be sacrificed on all humanities behalf.

EVETTE LEWIS answers ...

In essence, it was the political situation of the time that led to His trial and crucifixion. One thing you have to know, though, is that Hashem is in control always - it was in His plan for His son to die, as the ‘spotless Lamb’ - the ultimate sacrifice, and Yeshua took up His commission out of love for us all. If you go back to the time of sacrifices, then once a year, at Passover, the High Priest took a perfect lamb, and it was sacrificed as ‘Atonement’ for the people’s sins. This then gave the High Priest access to the Holy of Holies - the place in the Temple where he could come face to face with Adonai.

On Yeshua’s death, the curtain that hid this place in the Temple was torn in two, and now, anyone who accepts Him as their Lord and Saviour can enter into this same relationship - coming face to face with G-d. No need for a sacrifice, for traditions or religious behaviour of any kind - just come as you are to Him - no need for an intermediary - He loves you direct.

I’ve heard it said that the Devil must have been happy when Yeshua died - when in actual fact it would have been the biggest kick in the teeth for him - at the point Yeshua died, He had Victory over Death and Sin, and so even though He died, He rose again, and now we can all rise with him into eternity.

To say 'the Jews killed Yeshua is too sweeping a statement really. At the time, people thought that this great 'knight in shining armour' a King was going to come along and save them from the Romans oppression and rule. It shocked people when He turned out to be a loving, meek man, who was not ’beautiful’ and who was willing to cross over every social barrier there was to show the Father's love to all, equally. This included mixing with the ‘wrong sort’ ie the Tax Collectors (who were seen to be dishonest), He spoke to women (at the Well) which was considered taboo, and also told of the Good Samaritan (Samaria had set up its own shrines and there was much bad history between Samaria and Israel). He loved all - from children to old people, the fit and healthy, blind, deaf, dumb, disabled or with leprosy, rich and poor - He loved all.

He hated the ‘religious’ traditions that crept into worship, and the corruption in the temple which had been allowed to be used as a market to sell imperfect creatures for sacrifice, and for dishonest money changing, catching out the very poorest of people - in fact those that were supposed to be looked after.

He was not afraid to point out the shortcomings where corruption lay - so when He told the Pharisees they were like ‘whitewashed tombs’ in other words on the outside they were clean but on the inside they were not living up to loving the people, they were empty and dead, this stirred up a political storm. He was angry that His Father's house had become a 'den of thieves' , instead of a place where the needy could get their needs addressed.

The people in charge were afraid of an uprising as they were in a good financial situation as long as the Romans were there, and Pilate did not want any trouble either as he could be in danger of losing his rule over the province. There was a good in-flow of money into the Temple so when Yeshua came along, with a His home truths, politically speaking, He was a thorn in the side of anyone who was corrupt or after their own ends.

He was willing to die for us - So was Jesus guilty of his own death?

Not in any sense of guilt that most people would understand. A soldier who goes on a mission that is certain to lead to death is a brave man, not a guilty one.

He was faithful to his mission, even though it led to His death; but He was not guilty in the same sense that Caiaphas and Pilate were guilty. They allowed Yeshua to be ‘tried’ knowing He was innocent and amidst all the turmoil, took the easy route and gave the people what they wanted - but I believe the crowd was stirred up, and it was a weak man that let Yeshua be led to the cross.

Yeshua said:-

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

You are my friends if you do what I command.

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business.

Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.

Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. This is my command: Love each other.

This means often laying down your own wants and needs to fulfil someone else’s. He did this for us all -everyone, including the Jews, the Chosen People. Now all we have to do is get on with loving each other.

BOB DOTY answers ...

Answer: I have been asked that question several times and my answeer is always the same: "No! You did, and so did I! Without His death on the cross and resurrection from the grave we would have no hope for the future. Those nails that held Him on the cross weren't made out of iron, but out of our sins."

HENRY BRINKMAN answers ...

The Jews condemned Yeshua, and were instrumental in the death of Yeshua. The Romans killed Him. In the plan of GOD this was to be, for our salvation. But ultimately it was Yeshua himself who said, I lay down my life freely, no one takes it from me.

RABBI CRAWFORD answers ...

Actually the Romans and the Jews did. The Jews chose Him to be hung, the Romans actually brutally beat Him and physically tortured Him.

RABBI MAX answers ...

Did the Jews Kill Jesus?

In any court of law, we have to weigh up evidence to see if someone is guilty. When we run roughshod over the law, we end up with a “kangaroo court”, which will bring about a conviction to suit the judges rather than the fact of guilt or innocence.

Christendom has convicted the Jews of killing Jesus, and anti-Semitism is rife within the churches of today. The Jews have been judged. Is this a fair conviction? Or have we judged through the kangaroo court?

Let’s look at the evidence and see if the conviction is, in fact, just.

Throughout the centuries, the Jews have been convicted as those who were responsible for Jesus’ death on the cross. But did the Jews really kill Jesus? There is no doubt the accusers of Jesus were Jews, but it would be illogical to point to all the Jews in Judea at the time as being the accusers of Jesus.

Mat 15:29 And Jesus departed from thence, and came nigh unto the Sea of Galilee; and went up into a mountain, and sat down there.

Mat 15:30 And great multitudes came unto him, having with them those that were lame, blind, dumb, maimed, and many others, and cast them down at Jesus’ feet; and he healed them:

Mat 15:31 Insomuch that the multitude wondered, when they saw the dumb to speak, the maimed to be whole, the lame to walk, and the blind to see: and they glorified the God of Israel.

The multitudes were following; at this point in time, the multitudes were Jews. When we look at some numbers mentioned in Scripture to see how many the multitudes are, we run into thousands. Thousands of Jews: Not gentiles; gentiles weren’t witnessed to and brought into the faith until approximately 10 years after Jesus’ resurrection. We must remember that Jesus did go to Samaria and witness there, but then again, these were not gentiles but Jews also, even though traditional Judaism classed them as backsliders or apostates. Of this multitude, many had been healed from incurable diseases. Some had been brought back from the dead. A lot of the Jews, therefore, felt nothing but admiration and gratitude toward this rabbi who could perform miracles.

Many of the religious leaders, on the other hand, were furious. Jesus was condemning their practices and way of life and they were actively seeking a way to discredit and get rid of Him.

Mat 12:14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

Jesus, on a number of occasions, called the Pharisees “hypocrites”, “serpents”, and a “brood of vipers,” and in front of huge crowds He described them as deceitful leaders.

Mat 23:27 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness.

Mat 23:28 Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity.

Mat 23:29 Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! because ye build the tombs of the prophets, and garnish the sepulchres of the righteous,

Mat 23:30 And say, If we had been in the days of our fathers, we would not have been partakers with them in the blood of the prophets.

Their status within the nation was being destabilised publicly by someone the crowds looked up to and believed in. This was unacceptable to the Pharisees, so they plotted to be rid of Him.

Mat 26:3 Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas,

Mat 26:4 And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtlety, and kill him.

It was not the Jewish people who plotted to kill Jesus, but the Jewish leaders whose positions were in jeopardy from the teachings of this radical rabbi who was winning the hearts and following of the people. This Jesus had become more than a minor thorn in their side. They were refusing to bow to the pressure of the people, as this usurped their position of power.

It is important to recognise that it was the leaders who wanted Jesus killed, but they were careful; they didn’t want a rebellion amongst the people. So they decided not to kill Him immediately. They would bide their time until after the festival:

Mat 26:5 But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people.

They knew that the masses would have to be handled carefully, to make sure they would not turn against them. Their plan had to be skilfully conceived and executed to convince the people this radical rabbi called Yeshua was a blasphemer and that He deserved to be put to death.

Furthermore, when Jesus was brought to the Sanhedrin, Matthew tells us:

Mat 26:59 Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death;

Mat 26:60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses,

Mat 26:61 And said, this fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

In the end, it was Jesus’ own words that were found sufficient in the eyes of the leaders to condemn Him. It is important to note at this time that Jesus spoke the truth, but the leaders wanted any excuse to be rid of Him. Had they wanted to know the truth of Jesus’ statements and check with Scripture as to whether what Yeshua claimed was true and accurate, as the Bereans did, the scenario would have been totally different.

However, it was preferable to the leaders to judge Him in the kangaroo court and ignore the evidence. The chief priests could only see their power slipping away, and judged accordingly.

When Pilate asked the crowd if they wanted Jesus freed or killed, we can safely assume that the aforementioned groups were there in force to see that their form of justice was done. Others present were probably locals who may have known little about Yeshua and who blindly followed the religious leaders and took their accusations as trustworthy.

Were all the Jews guilty of Christ’s death? Absolutely not.

Were most of the religious leaders guilty? According to the Biblical information, they were.

They plotted to capture Jesus, they found false witnesses to try and incriminate Him, and they refused to examine His statements against Scripture, though His miraculous works supported His claims. The religious leaders wanted Him dead and did not cease until their aim to have him killed was accomplished.

We see that it was the hated and distrusted Jewish leaders who were trying to get Jesus put to death, not the Jewish people. The multitudes or masses were actually followers of Yeshua and had nothing but admiration for Him. So why do we say the Jews killed Jesus, if it was a few evil men hungry for power who pushed for this?

Mat 27:25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children.

This crowd of leaders and their followers were calling for Yeshua’s blood, not the entire Hebrew nation: Only a small portion of the people. They were calling a curse down upon their own heads. However, as a result of their actions, the entire nation suffered as the deceptions of these evil leaders continued and grew, causing a blindness to overcome the nation as a whole. If, as has been stated by many ministers, God has finished with the Jews as a result of this act, why are only Jews saved for the first 10 years after Jesus’ resurrection? Why, then, is Jerusalem a millstone round the neck of the nations, as prophesied, if the Jews no longer have a place in God’s plan?

So it would seem that only a few power-hungry leaders in the Jewish nation plotted Jesus’ death, but they did not, in fact, carry out the sentence. The sentence was carried out by the Roman soldiers under the guidance of Pontius Pilate.

Do we now say that all the Romans killed Jesus and blame them in our kangaroo court? After all, they committed the physical act of murder upon an innocent man. Not only did they murder Him, but they whipped, beat Him, plucked his beard from His face and tortured Him with a crown of thorns on His head.

They then marched Him in a humiliating fashion to the place of crucifixion and nailed Him to some wood and left Him to die.

What was worse: The accusations of the Jews who handed Him over, or the act of the Romans in the killing of Yeshua?

Yet we never blame the Romans or accuse the Italians as a nation of killing the Messiah—why is that? The question must arise: Do we blame the Romans for Jesus’ death? No, of course not, they were coerced and blackmailed into this act by those wicked Jewish leaders; they are certainly guilty of the physical act as well as the other evils perpetrated, but they are not guilty of the murder of God.

Isn’t that a contradiction?

Not when we look at the Scripture for the truth, Jesus laid down His own life.

John 10:15 As the Father knoweth me, even so know I the Father: and I lay down my life for the sheep.

John 10:17 Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.

1 Jo 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

Jesus states categorically that He laid down His life for us and that no one could take it from Him.

John 10:18 No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father.

And why did the Father command this of Jesus:

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

Jesus laid down His life because God loved the world so much that HE gave His son.

Just like Judas Iscariot being foreordained to the purpose of giving Jesus up to the temple guards and the Sanhedrin, so too were the leaders who handed Him over to be crucified; so too were the Roman soldiers.

Unless Jesus had died and risen from the dead, none of us would have the chance of salvation. If God was worried about people persecuting Him and being rebellious, He could have come at another time, when circumstances were different and the leaders perhaps a little more receptive.

Jesus’ persecution, torture and death were foretold in Isaiah 53, amongst other places. Yeshua was born at the right time in the right place to fulfil the prophecy that God had ordained. For this to be correct, He would have placed the leaders in the positions they were in to bring about this fulfilment. To say any particular race of people killed Jesus is missing the point. Jesus’ death was a part of God’s plan for salvation and it was He who orchestrated it all.

Why, when trying to lay blame as to who killed Jesus, do we never point the finger at Simon of Cyrene? After all, he carried the cross for Jesus:

Mat 27:32 And as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name: him they compelled to bear his cross.

Cyrene was a city of Libya, in Africa, lying west of Egypt, so why don’t we accuse all Libyans of killing Jesus? The whole blame issue is a moot point and a ridiculous argument. It needs to be realised that Yeshua gave His own life willingly as a final sacrifice for sin. An act that was prepared by God, to bring reconciliation between man and Himself. No man can kill God unless He laid down His own life by His own choice.

Satan uses a hatred of the Jews as a very effective tool. If he can convince the Church that God has finished with the Jews, and he can convince the world to destroy them—which he has been trying to do for centuries—he thinks he can stop the return of the Messiah foretold in Scripture.

Zech 12:8 In that day shall the LORD defend the inhabitants of Jerusalem; and he that is feeble among them at that day shall be as David; and the house of David shall be as God, as the angel of the LORD before them.

Zech 12:9 And it shall come to pass in that day, that I will seek to destroy all the nations that come against Jerusalem.

Zech 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

Zech 12:11 In that day shall there be a great mourning in Jerusalem, as the mourning of Hadadrimmon in the valley of Megiddon.

Zech 12:12 And the land shall mourn, every family apart; the family of the house of David apart, and their wives apart; the family of the house of Nathan apart, and their wives apart;

Zech 12:13 The family of the house of Levi apart, and their wives apart; the family of Shimei apart, and their wives apart;

Zech 12:14 All the families that remain, every family apart, and their wives apart.

Destroy the nation of Israel and you remove the prerequisites necessary for the return of the Messiah. He will come to defend His nation in the physical land of Israel, and then they will realise their mistake and turn to Him. If Satan can destroy the Jews, he removes the “rules” of Jesus’ return. Look at how many times throughout history the nation of Israel has been enslaved and how many other nations have tried to destroy them.

Satan will use any means to bring about the destruction of Israel and lead Christians down a path that usurps God’s plan for His people. His desire is to remove our reference point for understanding Scripture from a biblical Judaic perspective, as interpreted and understood by the people He made into a nation. Anti-Semitism is an evil, Satan-induced lie to deceive believers into a false understanding of Scripture, leading to many false “christs” being preached within the church and many destructive and hateful religions outside the church. To reject the Jews is to reject the entire Bible and understanding of God’s purposes for both the Jews and the gentiles.

So do we continue to judge in the kangaroo court? Or do we seek the truth of God’s Word and pray for the nation of Israel and the peace of Jerusalem, as we are instructed in Scripture?

Psalm 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

According to Dr Arnold Fruchtenbaum, certain laws and regulations were in place at the time of Jesus’ trial to safeguard the people, when adhered to. We can see clearly, when we look at these regulations, how many were broken to bring a conviction against the Messiah.

1. There was to be no arrest by religious authorities that was effected by a bribe. Exodus 23:8

2. There were to be no steps of criminal proceedings after sunset.

3. Judges or Sanhedrin members were not allowed to participate in the arrest.

4. There were to be no trials before the morning sacrifice.

5. There were to be no secret trials, only public.

6. Sanhedrin trials could only be conducted in the Hall of Judgment of the Temple Compound.

7. The procedure was to be first the defence and then the accusation.

8. All may argue in favour of acquittal, but all may not argue in favour of conviction.

9. There were to be two or three witnesses and their testimony had to agree in every detail. Deuteronomy 19:15

10. There was to be no allowance for the accused to testify against himself.

11. The High Priest was forbidden to rent his garments. Leviticus 21:10

12. Charges could not originate with the judges; they could only investigate charges brought to them.

13. The accusation of blasphemy was only valid if the name of God itself was pronounced.

14. A person could not be condemned on the basis of his own words alone.

15. The verdict could not be announced at night, only in the daytime.

16. In cases of capital punishment, the trial and guilty verdict could not occur at the same time but must be separated by at least 24 hours.

17. Voting for the death penalty had to be done by individual count beginning with the youngest, so the young would not be influenced by the elders.

18. A unanimous decision for guilt shows innocence, since it is impossible for 23–71 men to agree without plotting.

19. The sentence could only be pronounced three days after the guilty verdict.

20. Judges were to be humane and kind.

21. A person condemned to death was not to be scourged or beaten beforehand.

22. No trials were allowed on the eve of the Sabbath or on a feast day.

So, was Jesus’ conviction by the Sanhedrin a legal process designed to safeguard the people from heretics, liars and murderers, or was it a kangaroo court? Perhaps the same type of kangaroo court that has decided the fate and future of the entire Jewish nation?

How many of the above rules were broken at the Messiah’s trial?