Background

Judea is the jurisdiction in which Jesus is killed. Judaism is Judea's state-religion, the only religion permitted under the law. This law does not apply to personnel of the controlling power stationed in Judea, the Romans, but for everyone else, the practice of any religion other than Judaism is prohibited. Enactment and enforcement of religious laws is reserved exclusively for the high-priests of the Temple of Jerusalem. They alone have the power to set, teach, judge and enforce religious ideologies and activities, and to prescribe punishment for offenders. One such ordinance stipulates that every faith, ideology, or concept of any divinity outside of Judaism is heresy; and that advocates of such “other faiths” are to be considered false prophets and must be killed.

"If there arise among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams... that prophet, or that dreamer of dreams, shall be put to death..." (Deuteronomy 13:1,5).

Jesus is not a high-priest of the Temple of Jerusalem and, therefore, is barred from any religious leadership role while in Judea. More important, rather than acknowledge the merciless, vengeful Jewish god, Yahweh, reserved for Jews alone, he educates people about a merciful forgiving God, the “Father,” who loves everyone alike. He makes a deliberate distinction between his Heavenly Father and the Jews' father, Yahweh, when he states:

"...If God were your father, you would love me because I derive and came from God... You are of the evil father and you wish to fulfill your father's wishes. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the Truth, for there is no Truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies" (John 8:42-44).

The Jews specifically ask Jesus to confirm their assessment of him and his rejection of Judaism:

"... Are we not right in saying that you are a Samaritan and demon-possessed?” (John 8:48).

Since his teachings not only diverge from, but directly oppose Judaism, the high-priest of the Temple of Jerusalem declare him a false prophet, and initiate proceedings to have him killed. Jesus is aware of their intent when he says in John 8:37-38:

"...You want to kill me because my words find no home with you. I speak of what I saw at my Father's; you, too, do what you do because that is what you saw at your fathers'."

The Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, however, refuses to execute Jesus. Rather, he delivers him into the hands of the Jews to do whatever they want with him, and "washes his hands" of what might happen to Jesus. The high-priests then order the mercenary guards of the Temple of Jerusalem to publicly torture and crucify Jesus.

The degree of cruelty the Jews inflict on Jesus suggests more than just enforcement of laws: it suggest a desire to inflict maximum pain. But why? To answer that question we must look at both the victim and his assailants.