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then he hangs himself in shame. Doesn't matter! He betrayed our Lord. Wow... you Christians are some fair-weather freakin' friends. The idea of killing Jesus for our salvation is great until somebody actually has to do it. Which brings me to Pontius Pilate. This poor...oppressive Roman Governor of a conquered land... He tries desperately to save Jesus from the Cross. He even goes so far as saying "Hey! Jews! You know, we've got three guys up here... two robber/murderer/rapists and this hippy who some people don't like... [singing] One of these things is not like the others." But, of course, because it moves the story in the right direction - the Jews pick one of the bad guys and Jesus goes up on the cross. Pilate, trying to be a fair leader gives the people what they ask for. Why is there a special place in hell for him? I don't understand. Is being a bureaucrat a sin? Okay don't answer that.

Finally, the Jews are shown as blood thirsty and wicked. Again... if they weren't none of this would have happened. Don't blame them. They were playing their part in this thing that was set in motion years before. Let it go. Okay. If they had picked Jesus over the other guy, it all would have been for nothing and you would have no reason to wear purple and yellow floppy hats every spring.

So I guess what I'm saying is... there's no bad guy in any of this, no matter what Mel Gibson says. Don't say "they put our Lord to death" if putting him to death is really what made him your Lord. That's pointless hostility. So do me a favor - this Easter if you're Christian, hug a Jew and say "Hey! It's okay man! You were just doing your job. We're cool."

Then take their hand and start singing songs from "Godspell"... if that doesn't have them kicking the gentile out of you in under three minutes, nothing will.

Learn more about this author, Eric P Schwartz.
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