Did the Romans make Jesus wear a crown of thorns at his execution?
Although three of the canonical gospels mention that Pilate’s soldiers dressed Jesus in purple and put a crown of thorns on his head, the story is probably a myth. It’s extremely unlikely that thornbushes grew within the walls of Jerusalem and that the soldiers would take the time to hunt through the hills for thorns just to mock and ridicule a common criminal. Neither would they spend the time to dress and undress a prisoner. This legend was most likely superimposed to portray Jesus as the King of the Jews. However, it must also be noted that the historian Josephus Flavius uses the word king as a designation for any leader of a band of insurgents. Subsequently, there were many criminals labeled “King of the Jews,” and the term had nothing to do with the awaited Messiah.
Didn’t the Jews kill Jesus?
Not so fast. The story of Jesus’s trial is highly suspicious and clearly tries to placate the Romans while defaming the Jews. At the time, the Sanhedrin (the Jewish Supreme Court) had only limited jurisdiction over capital punishment. The penalty for blasphemy was stoning, not death by crucifixion. If the Sanhedrin had, contrary to all logic, sentenced Jesus to death on a day when they were forbidden to congregate, there would have been no need to bring him before Pontius Pilate for confirmation. The Romans were generally reluctant to interfere in conflicts among Jews, especially any religious controversies. And Pilate, who viewed the Jews with utter contempt, would never have allowed a mob of Jews to influence his decision and pronounce a death sentence against his will.
In fact, only rebels against the Roman occupation of Palestine were sentenced to death by crucifixion, which was the most shameful, most humiliating death imaginable. Therefore, the eve of Pesach, when Jerusalem filled with Jews from all over the Roman Empire, would have been an ideal time for the Romans to flex their muscles and deter anyone who tried to revolt against them. As such, Jesus was arrested by the military and the final judgment was passed upon him in a court-martial proceeding as an agitator, not a blasphemer. The Romans were in charge, not the Jews.
However, it is possible that the temple priests, the Sadducees, might also have seen the increased Roman presence as an opportunity to rid themselves of a troublemaker by warning them about Jesus. The Sadducees were known to work hand in hand with the occupying power in the interest of political tranquility.
Furthermore, in Josephus’s works, where he describes every political crime and sentence of the first century, there is no mention of the sensational double trial before the Jewish Sanhedrin. Although he mentions all revolts and disturbances and any just or unjust death sentences of any political importance, he does not mention the trial of Jesus. One more crucified Jew made no difference to the Roman procurators and emperors, or their historians.
So why do the gospels claim that the Jews killed Jesus? Over the years, as the tales of Jesus spread from one man to another, the story line changed to appease the anti-Jewish sentiment among the Romans, especially after the outbreak of the Jewish War in AD 66. The Gospel of Mark, for example, is believed to have been composed by a Roman soldier in Rome. In this anti-Jewish fashion, the gospels also turn one of the disciples into the traitor who betrays Jesus. The eternal Jew, with a name that would forever be associated with Judaism, Judas became the devil and all Jews the devil’s offspring.
In the end, it made more sense for the new Christians to portray Jesus as a powerful Messiah who was derided by the Jews and to characterize Pilate as an innocent man who had acted only under pressure from the Jews. Thus, they successfully convinced the Romans that the Empire had nothing to fear from the new Christian religion.
If you’re interested in learning more, I suggest you read The Court-Martial of Jesus: A Christian Defends the Jews Against the Charge of Deicide by Weddig Fricke, an excellent book in which Fricke explains why it’s unlikely that the Jews were responsible for Jesus’s death.
To get an idea of what the original gospels were like, you can read The Lost Gospel: The Book of Q & Christian Origins by Burton L. Mack.
For more information about my research, please visit my website: www.kristisaareduarte.com.
Acknowledgments
I would like to thank all the historians, theologians, researchers, bloggers, journalists, adventurers, and authors who came before me, whose works I’ve studied, and whose findings have either strengthened my theories or made me question them. In particular, I owe an incredible amount of gratitude to Nicolas Notovitch, Weddig Fricke, Elizabeth Clare Prophet, Marvin Meyer, Burton L. Mack, Ben Witherington III, Robin R. Myers, and Reza Aslan. A complete list of books, websites, and videos used for research can be found at my website, www.kristisaareduarte.com.
I couldn’t have reached this point and completed the novel without my beta-readers, who poked, dissected, criticized, and questioned the manuscript when it was far from polished and complete. Susan Norkin, without your comments and corrections about Judaism, I would have stepped on toes and certainly earned some sneers. Mercedes Bassani, your detailed remarks and your passionate but sober insights into Catholicism helped me better understand its intricacies. Kaie Pugi, your sweet support and confirmation of facts regarding the Eastern religions helped keep me on track. Petra Bergstrand and Anthony Giovanni, your plot tweaks, questions, and invaluable enthusiasm strengthened the story and kept my engine going through the many times of doubt. I’d also like to give a shout-out to Nathan Paul, who answered my questions about Judaism and Hebrew terminology.
I owe a huge thanks to my amazing editors. Sarah Aschenbach and Julie Klein helped clarify my direction, pointed out many structural errors, and helped make the copy both clearer and crisper. I’m also indebted to Laurel Robinson, my excellent proofreader and copy editor, who made sure all the t’s were crossed and i’s were dotted before publication.
I would not be the person I am without my parents. Their passing, far too early in life, taught me the importance of saying the words “I love you,” and to live every day as though it may be my last.
I’d also like to thank my sisters, Anne-Pii and Tiina, for always being there for me. Even though we live far apart, you are always in my heart and in my thoughts.
And last but not least, my husband, Eduardo, who supported my passion throughout the many years of writing The Transmigrant, who believed in my success, and who always allowed me the time I needed to write. You’re my soul mate and my best friend, and I love you more than words can say. Now can I have a dog?
KRISTI SAARE DUARTE, author of The Transmigrant, has spent her life traveling the world and chasing adventures. Always open to change, she has lived in Sweden, England, Estonia, Spain, and Peru, where she has studied languages, art, and acting, and has had careers in health care management, advertising, and finance. She is also a Reiki healer and spiritual channel. Currently, she lives in Harlem, New York City with her husband, Eduardo.
If this book moved you, please leave a review on Amazon.com or Goodreads.com. Just two–three words are better than nothing: Loved it. Liked it. It was OK.
Thank you!
For more information:
www.kristisaareduarte.com
Twitter: @kristisaare
Facebook: www.facebook.com/KristiDNYC/
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