Good Friday 2025

On Palm Sunday, 2025, Rev. Andrew Thayer, an Episcopal Priest, published an opinion piece in the New York Times in which he claimed Jesus’ triumphant entry was a political protest against Roman tyranny. And that was the reason Pilate had Him Crucified. 

Rev Thayer completely ignores Matthew, Mark, Luke and John’s testimony about Jesus Christ’s person and purpose.  A mistake many opinion leaders have made in the past.  Elle Purnell, who writes for the Federalist, pointed out in an article on Monday that any child she had taught in Sunday School could tell you Jesus died to take away our sins. “He came to take the punishment for our sins so we sinners could be reunited with God by His grace.” 

This interaction between the two writers reminded me there is a legitimate question about Christ’s crucifixion that is seldom addressed.  Why did the Jewish authorities have Jesus Christ Crucified when the Law listed stoning as the method of execution for blasphemy?  Blasphemy was what the Priest’s charge against Jesus Christ.

Leviticus 24:16 says whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death. All the congregation shall certainly stone him, the stranger as well as him who is born in the land. When he blasphemes the name of the Lord, he shall be put to death.

The obvious reason is that stoning wasn’t God’s plan. BTW, claiming to be God is not blasphemy if you really are God.  The truth is that Jesus Christ offered Himself as a sacrifice for our sin and that required He shed His Blood.
And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. Hebrews 9:22

As for the Jewish Priests I believe they wanted the crucifixion because under the Mosaic Covenant hanging on a tree was a sign of being accursed by God, Deuteronomy 21:23.  They likely believed that would discredit Christ’s claim to be the Messiah.  What they did not know, and should have, is that Jesus was going to suffer the full weight of being accursed by God in our place.  The crucifixion was exactly what God wanted.  Something they should have known that because it was revealed in the O.T.  Prophecies like Isaiah 53 said God was going to lay our sin on Him.  Psalm 22 actually revealed some to the details of crucifixion. 

And we know the Jewish leaders had no qualms about stoning people.  Remember in John 8 they brought a woman guilty of adultery to Jesus Christ for that very purpose.  To be stoned.  And in Acts 7 Luke recorded the actual stoning of Stephen by the Sanhedrin.   

Yes, Jesus Christ was crucified by the Pontius Pilate. Who also said Christ was innocent of any crime. So, Rev. Thayer’s charge of sedition is a complete fantasy.  The truth is Jesus Christ suffered the full fury of God’s judgement of our sin while He hung on that cross.  Jesus Christ, the creator God, became a man just so He could take our place in the court of God’s judgement on sin.  And His death satisfied the penalty God demanded.  Paid it in full.    
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Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. Hebrews 2:17
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