THE PASSOVER PLOT
An article in a recent copy of the Denver Post comments at some length on a new book recently published in England (and soon to be for sale in this country) which seeks to completely destroy the very foundations of Christianity. This book was written by Dr. Hugh J. Schonfield, a Jewish scholar living in London. This man has authored some commentaries on Biblical history and a modern translation of the New Testament.
This author is noted for his liberal views; and his book, "The Passover Plot," which claims that Jesus planned His own crucifixion, is causing much concern in many quarters. The author suggests that Jesus, believing Himself to be the Messiah, schemed throughout His life to manipulate people so that the Old Testament prophecies would be fulfilled.
Dr. Schonfield says he subscribes to no religious creed himself. He claims that his book is the result of forty years of objective research. In it he states that "a conspiracy had to be organized of which the victim himself was the principal instigator."
Such a charge is outright blasphemy, and impugns the holy Son of God as an imposter. The Word of God tells us that the Father "hath committed all judgment unto the Son: that all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father" (John 5:22, 2322For the Father judgeth no man, but hath committed all judgment unto the Son: 23That all men should honor the Son, even as they honor the Father. He that honoreth not the Son honoreth not the Father which hath sent him. (John 5:22‑23)). How solemn it will be for this man, who has written in such a wicked manner concerning the Son of God, when he stands before Him as his judge in that day when the books are opened and the dead are "judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works" (Rev. 20:1212And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. (Revelation 20:12)).
"The Passover Plot," if as reported, will go down as one of the blackest and foulest blots in the history of Christendom. Think of charging the perfect, sinless Son of God with unheard-of wickedness, and of keeping up a pretense of imposture! One of the claims that Dr. Schonfield makes is that the vinegar passed to Jesus on a sponge was really an opiate administered at the proper moment to enable Him to simulate death so that His legs would not be broken like those of the two thieves that were crucified on either side of Him. The Word of God carefully anticipates this fraud by telling us that when they attempted to give Him a little Roman mercy by an opiate, Jesus refused the gall.
If Dr. Schonfield, as he claims, has spent 40 years of research on this subject, with such defective conclusions as he has put forth, it scarcely need be said that he has failed to find the true worth or power of the Holy Scriptures. Rather he brings to mind the ones of his same nation of whom the Lord said, "They be blind leaders of the blind" (Matt. 15:1414Let them alone: they be blind leaders of the blind. And if the blind lead the blind, both shall fall into the ditch. (Matthew 15:14)), and "If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth" (John 9:4141Jesus said unto them, If ye were blind, ye should have no sin: but now ye say, We see; therefore your sin remaineth. (John 9:41)).
According to the review, this unscrupulous author has not forgotten to bring up the old story which was taught by the Sadducees and others, that His disciples came by night and stole Him away while the soldiers on guard slept. How could these men know what happened while they slept? There was no chance of such a development happening under the jealous eyes that were watching the scene. So while another effort has been made to prove fraud in connection with the resurrection, His resurrection still remains as one of the best authenticated facts in history. There is no better witness to His resurrection than the factual account given in the Scriptures. We read that "He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures: and that He was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: after that, He was seen of above five hundred brethren at once" (1 Cor. 15:4-64And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures: 5And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep. (1 Corinthians 15:4‑6)).
As this author (whose apparent objectives of denouncing Jesus seem so parallel with the Jewish leaders of almost 2000 years ago) makes his vicious but pitifully weak attacks on what he considers vulnerable records of Jesus' life, we fail to see how he could explain the following:
1. How did Jesus, the unborn Babe, arrange His birth in the obscure town of Bethlehem Ephratah in accordance with Micah's prophecy more than 700 years before?
Were the Jewish rulers, who openly proclaimed themselves the enemies of Jesus, also a part of His hypothetical conspiracy when they covenanted with Judas for 30 pieces of silver or when Judas returned the money to them, wherewith they purchased the potter's field? "Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; and gave them for the potter's field." Matt. 27:9, 109Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremy the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value; 10And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me. (Matthew 27:9‑10).
How were the Roman soldiers, callous and unimpressed by Jewish religious claims, drawn into the subterfuge that he claims was perpetrated by the world's Savior, so that they "parted his raiment and cast lots" (Luke 23:3434Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots. (Luke 23:34)), as prophesied by David so many years before and recorded in Psalm 22:1818They part my garments among them, and cast lots upon my vesture. (Psalm 22:18)?
We forbear further comment on the fallacious statements and conclusions of Dr. Schonfield, an obvious enemy of the cross of Christ, although we have barely scratched the surface of numerous proofs of the true story of the Savior's life and work at Calvary.