Pilate and Jews - conflict between them
"Pilate was prefect of Judea from 26–36/37 AD. Throughout his tenure, he was a source of irritation to the Jews.
Josephus (
War 2.169–177;
Ant. 18.3.1) tells us that Pilate arrived in Jerusalem at night and sneaked his soldiers’ legionary standards into the city under cover of darkness. This outraged the Jews because the standards had animal figures or images of the emperor on them and were worshiped as minor divinities by the soldiers (in violation of Ex. 20:4–6). The people protested for several days, demanding that Pilate remove the standards.
When he threatened to have his soldiers lop their heads off, they bared their necks, declaring that they would rather die than live with pagan idols polluting their city. The Romans were polytheists, worshipers of as many gods as they chose. No Roman had such strong religious beliefs that he would die for them. Rather than risk a bloodbath in his first week as governor, the astonished Pilate yielded to the Jews’ demands and removed the standards (
3.143).
In another controversy, though, Pilate stood his ground. He had used Jewish temple funds (the Corban; cf. Mark 7:11) to finance the construction of an aqueduct (
3.138). When a mob arrived before his residence to protest, Pilate had his soldiers beat them with clubs. A number of people died in the ensuing panic. It’s little wonder that the Jews complained of Pilate as “inflexible, merciless, obstinate” (Philo,
Embassy to Gaius 38).
3.143 3.143. Hedly, P. L. “Pilate’s Arrival in Judea.” JThS 35(1934): 56–67.
3.138 3.138. Bond, H. K. “The Coins of Pontius Pilate: Part of an Attempt to Provoke the People or to Integrate Them into the Empire?” JSJ 27(1996): 241–262.
Bell, Albert A.: Exploring the New Testament World. Nashville : T. Nelson Publishers, 1998, S. 73
You Said:
how did Jesus show that the cross was the ultimate sign of forgiveness?
Mat 27:50-54
And when Jesus had cried out again in a loud voice, he gave up his spirit.
At that moment the curtain of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth shook and the rocks split.
The tombs broke open and the bodies of many holy people who had died were raised to life.
They came out of the tombs, and after Jesus' resurrection they went into the holy city and appeared to many people.
When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, "Surely he was the Son of God!"
Let's look through a Jewish mind. Behind the temple curtain is the holy place of the tabernacle. Here God once a year meets a high priest for forgiveness for the whole nation. Now this hidden area is now available for all.
The dead are alive. Death is final sickness to cure. Luke 5:24 But that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins. . . ." He said to the paralyzed man, "I tell you, get up, take your mat and go home."
Even a non-Jewish people are recognizing Jesus is God's Son (of God).
Hope this helps
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