The anti-Israel argument I find most vile is this one: “The Jews killed Jesus.”
It undermines the very heart of the gospel and minimizes the sacrifice Christ made in a grotesque way. Here’s why.
His life wasn’t taken. He gave it.
First, this argument minimizes the unfathomable sacrifice Yeshua willingly made for us. His life wasn’t taken from Him. He was in control the entire time, and He could have called on the angels to deliver Him at any moment (Matthew 26:53). He laid down His life on purpose, as part of a deliberate plan. As He said, “No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord” (John 10:18).
We all killed Jesus
Second, you “killed” Jesus. I “killed” Jesus. We all did. To think you are in any way less responsible for Christ’s death than the crowd chanting “Crucify Him!” is peak hubris and sinful pride.
Even if the Pharisees had defended and protected Him, He still would have had to die. Why? Because of your sins, and mine. Their defense of Him wouldn’t have changed anything. Our sins would still have put Him on the cross. “He was pierced for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities” (Isaiah 53:5).
And the beautiful part? He still would have done it willingly, because you are worth it to Him.
If you don’t recognize your own guilt and responsibility in His death, you are voluntarily removing yourself from the gift His blood provides for the guilty.
He died to save the very people who killed Him
Yeshua died to save, not condemn, the very people responsible for His death. He prayed over the ones who physically crucified Him, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing” (Luke 23:34).
If your aim is to condemn the people guilty of His death, rather than forgive them and see them saved, you have missed Christ’s heart entirely. You are working against His will. Stop trying to destroy the ones Jesus died to save, and start trying to save them.
Anyone using “the Jews killed Jesus” to turn people against Israel is under a spiritual attack, one that is trying to manipulate and sway their mind. Pray for them, that they won’t become a mouthpiece for the same prideful arrogance that got Satan thrown out of Heaven.
We were all guilty. We all need a Savior. And He came willingly, for every one of us.
