For Jewish people, it’s not uncommon to hear comments about penny-pinching frugality. It’s not unusual to be asked intrusive questions about our religious practices or political stances. Sometimes, one is even the recipient of a string of incoherent obscenities. Obviously, none of the above are acceptable.

Sadly, one of the most unacceptable phrases a Jewish person can hear is “The Jews killed Jesus.”

accusation has plagued the Jewish people for much of the last two thousand years. It’s even been the fuel behind countless antisemitic atrocities throughout history.

The claim that the Jewish people are responsible for Jesus’ death emerged from the mouths of self-proclaimed Christians as well as from atheists—from those who consider themselves religious and those who do not. So, how can we respond?

Four Ways to Respond When Someone Blames Jewish People for Jesus’ Death

1. Jesus was Jewish. All of his first followers were Jewish.

Behind this antisemitic claim often lies ignorance. This becomes clear when you consider one simple fact: Jesus was Jewish. In fact, he was a religious, Torah-following Jew. He was born and raised in Israel. His first followers were all Jewish, and it was one of the most prominent ones—Saul of Tarsus, also known as Paul—who brought the message of Jesus beyond the confines of Israel to include Gentiles as well. Today, there are a significant number of Jewish people who believe in Jesus as the Jewish Messiah.

At no point did Jesus ever reject his Jewish background. He attended and taught in the synagogue, observed the Jewish holidays, and in one lively exchange with a Samaritan woman, clearly identified himself with the Jewish people: “You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews” (John 4:22).

 

2. It makes no sense to blame an entire people group for something that happened two thousand years ago.

No one would walk up to Mindy Kaling, star of The Mindy Project, and accuse her of murdering Mahatma Gandhi. Nor would anyone call out Robert De Niro for having a hand in the assassination of Julius Caesar. We do not accuse all Indians for Gandhi’s assassination or all Italians for the demise of Caesar. And it’s completely illogical to lay the blame for Jesus’ death at the feet of all Jewish people—even if some, along with some Romans, played a part in his crucifixion.

 

3. Jesus is not dead—he is alive.

All four accounts of Jesus’ life in the New Testament—the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John—give a clear account of the resurrection of Jesus. Paul wrote that Jesus was seen by more than 500 of his followers after he rose from the dead (1 Corinthians 15:6). It is the resurrection that provides those who believe in Jesus the hope that they, too, will live forever with him after they die.

Belief in Jesus is not just focused on his death (and the reasons for it), but on his life. Yes, he died the worst death known to man. His resurrection is also a well-documented fact. So, rather than engage in a nonsensical argument about who is responsible for the way he died, we can be glad that his death is not the end of the story. The Messiah who died was also raised to life again.

4. Jesus willingly laid down his life.

The true meaning of Jesus’ death on the cross lies in its sacrificial nature. Jesus voluntarily laid down his life for his people. Multiple times, Jesus taught his followers that he would die and rise from the dead. He expected to give up his life.

That is why no one person or people group is “responsible” for the death of Jesus.

He himself said, “No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again” (John 10:18).

Jesus did many things while he walked among us, but his ultimate purpose (paradoxical as it sounds) was to give up his life for all of us—Jewish or not. That means that God allowed Jesus to die because of our sins.

We failed to perfectly fulfill the Law, and Jesus took the death penalty in our stead. He was the fulfilling and final gift of atonement we always needed.

The prophet Isaiah foretold how dying for his people would be part of the role of Messiah.

He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed.

All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned—everyone—to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. (Isaiah 53:5–6)

The next time someone says to you, “The Jews are responsible for the death of Jesus,” you could explain how Romans were involved and how they physically nailed Jesus to the cross. But it will be more thought provoking if you ask them if they know why Jesus died. And then tell them that we all needed his sacrificial atonement. And finally, let them know that the death of Jesus was not a tragedy, but the entrée into the greatest story of God’s love ever told.