Was the Priesthood that Crucified Christ Illegitimate?

 Note: Contains original research and perspectives.

The writings of the early church contain a wealth of knowledge and rare information that is uncommonly known in the present.

In one example of this, Eusebius of Caesarea, renowned for his "Ecclesiastical History," (written around 312), offers a captivating historical insight that unveils a lesser-known facet of the crucifixion narrative. In his writings, Eusebius emphasizes the intriguing shift in the Jewish Priesthood that occurred during the period of Roman rule in Judea.

The Breaking of the Ancient Line of Priesthood

While he is making note of how long Jesus' public ministry was, he counts it as less than four years, because there were four High Priests listed in the Gospels, and he cites Josephus Flavius for the succession of the High Priests. As an explanation for this, he mentions in passing, in Book 1, Chapter 10, of the Ecclesiastical History,

"The rites indeed of the law, having been already abolished since that, with it were also annulled the privileges of the priesthood: of continuing it for life, and of hereditary descent. Under the Roman governors, however, different persons at different times were appointed as high priests, who did not continue in office for more than one year."

This detail underscores a significant transformation in the religious leadership of the Jewish community.

This reveals that ever since the Roman conquest of Judea, the High Priests of the Temple and of Jewish community were political appointees by the secular authorities. The last High Priest of the traditional hereditary line of Aaron was Aristobulus III, who was slain by Herod the Great, the first Roman appointed "King of the Jews." From that time on, the High Priest was appointed by the Romans through the Ruler of Judea.

Eusebius elaborates on this in Book 1 Chapter 6: 

7. But Hyrcanus, who was the last of the regular line of high priests, was very soon afterward taken prisoner by the Parthians, and Herod, the first foreigner, as I have already said, was made King of the Jewish nation by the Roman senate and by Augustus.
8. Under him Christ appeared in bodily shape, and the expected Salvation of the nations and their calling followed in accordance with prophecy. From this time the princes and rulers of Judah, I mean of the Jewish nation, came to an end, and as a natural consequence the order of the high priesthood, which from ancient times had proceeded regularly in closest succession from generation to generation, was immediately thrown into confusion. [Eusebius' statement is perfectly correct. The high priestly lineage had been kept with great scrupulousness until Hyrcanus II, the last of the regular succession. (His grandson Aristobulus III, however, was high priest for a year under Herod, but was then slain by him.) Afterward the high priest was appointed and changed at pleasure by the secular ruler. Herod the Great first established the practice of removing a high priest during his lifetime; and under him there were no less than six different ones. (Footnote from Ecclesiastical History)]
9. Of these things Josephus is also a witness, who shows that when Herod was made King by the Romans he no longer appointed the high priests from the ancient line, but gave the honor to certain obscure persons. A course similar to that of Herod in the appointment of the priests was pursued by his son Archelaus, and after him by the Romans, who took the government into their own hands.

Comparing the Old and New Priests-Kings

Herod the Great was also the same who ruled Judea at the birth of Christ. Therefore, just as soon as the old Priesthood in its ancient line was extinguished, the eternal Priesthood of Jesus Christ was introduced into the world. Instead of being appointed High Priest by the rulers of this world like the new line of Jewish priests, He was appointed by the Ruler of All Worlds : "So also Christ did not exalt himself to be made a high priest, but was appointed by him who said to him, 'You are my Son, today I have begotten you.'" Heb. 5:5

Just as Herod the Great, the "King of Jews" was crowned by the Romans, the true King of the Jews was born Jesus Christ. It was for this reason, that there was a rumor that another "King of the Jews" was born that inspired the Slaughter of the Innocents in the Gospel. Later, he was crowned in mockery by the Romans with a purple robe and crucified under the moniker of "King of the Jews."

Originally the High Priest was appointed was hereditarily, and for life. While the powers of this world annulled that practice, Christ who still represents the untainted Law of God, and who is ever-living, was appointed for Life as well, bringing in a never-ending priesthood. His pedigree is not of mortal man, but of God Himself. "But he holds his priesthood permanently, because he continues forever. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them." Heb. 7:24-25

Hyrancus II, who was the last of the regular succession of High Priests was actually also both King AND High Priest of Judea. Jesus Christ, who restored the High Priesthood was made Priest AND King as well, creating a complete restoration of the former order. He was truly fulfilled as "a Priest-King forever after the Order of Melchizidek." - Psalm 110:4, Heb. 5:6.

"Now if perfection had been attainable through the Levitical priesthood (for under it the people received the law), what further need would there have been for another priest to arise after the order of Melchizedek, rather than one named after the order of Aaron?" - Heb. 7:11

Implications for the "Blame" of Who Crucified Christ

Now there are further implications as well that influence the traditional narrative of the crucifixion. For millennia, a certain responsibility, blame, and guilt has been put upon the Jews for condemning Christ, as if God had not long foreordained His ransom. However, when we understand that it was not the spiritual Israel that condemned Christ, but the worldly, compromised priesthood appointed by Rome, and the secular powers of Rome that carried out His execution, we begin to see the design displayed in the fulfillment of prophecy. The Israel of God (Gal. 6:16) stayed true and following their Priest and in Christ, and further invited the whole world to His reign. For Israel, the unbelieving branches were broken off of as a pruning, but we Gentiles brought as wild branches are grafted into that tree of true Israel (Rom. 11:17-24). The tree is one and the same, but pruned and grafted by the true husbandman, Christ. Thus, Jesus rightly said, "salvation is of the Jews."

The Rejection of Christ Caused the Destruction of the Temple

After the death of Christ, the Lord granted the standard and mystical 40 years to allow repentance and to call Israel to Himself. (Christ died and rose in 30 A.D, the Temple was destroyed in 70 A.D.)  Shortly before the destruction of the Temple, the Jews killed James, brother of the Jesus, and Bishop of Jerusalem. It was widely seen as a final rejection of the authority of Christ, for in rejecting James, they also rejected Jesus. At the time, a rumor was circulating that Jerusalem was destroyed because they had killed James. Both James and Jesus are mentioned in the history of Josephus. "If then, Josephus says that it was on account of James that the desolation of Jerusalem came upon the Jews, would it not be more in accordance with reason to say that it happened on account of Jesus Christ?" - Origen 248 A.D. Ante-Nicean Fathers 4.416

A contemporary pagan testimony of this perspective has been preserved in the letter of Mara bar Serapion, writing just after 73 AD:  "What advantage did the Jews gain from executing their wise king? It was just after that their kingdom was abolished."

It seems a common attitude in the aftermath of the destruction of Jerusalem was that these events occurred based on the fact that Jesus "came unto his own, but his own received him not." (John 1:11)

Christ Set Up the Eternal Priesthood

So after 40 years to allow for repentance after the death of Christ, the Temple in Jerusalem was destroyed, for the eternal Temple with the eternal Priesthood had been set up, thus fulfilling Daniel 9:26-27: "And then sixty-two weeks must pass before the Christ is done to death; the people will disown him and have none of him. Then the army of an invading leader will destroy both city and sanctuary, so that his taking away will mean utter destruction; only a ruin is to be left when that war is ended. High covenant he shall make, before another week is done, and with folks a many; but when that week has run half its course, offering and burnt-sacrifice shall be none; in the temple all shall be defilement and desolation, and until all is over, all is fulfilled, that desolation shall continue."

So we see the continuation of the ancient Priesthood fulfilled by the restoration of it in Christ, as foretold. The old Priesthood ended under Herod the Great. Yet the powers of this world were unable to destroy the true Priesthood, for in the reign of that same Herod, "King of the Jews," the eternal Priesthood and Kingship was introduced into this world to lead the spiritual Israel of God. 

The old priesthood and Temple are destroyed in the earth, yet in Christ, they are eternally ministered to our benefit in the heavenlies. The earthly Temple was perishable, and it indeed perished, but it was fashioned after an eternal archetype in heaven. In like manner, the earthly priesthood was perishable, but is fulfilled in the heavenly archetype of Jesus Christ, the eternal high priest.

Through the eternal Priesthood, the Gentiles have been invited into the family of Israel by the mediation of Christ in the New Covenant. We have been grafted into the tree of Israel, and therefore, we are all Jews in Christ, the Israel of God - both Jew and Gentile. Rather than a replacement theology, its an inclusion theology. Its a fulfillment of Isaiah 54:2-3, speaking to Israel saying: "Enlarge the place of your tent, and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out; do not hold back; lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes. For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left, and your offspring will possess the nations and will people the desolate cities."

Therefore we can all say with Paul, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek." (Rom 1:16)

The Rejection of the Temple Recorded in the Talmud

The rejection of the Roman appointed Jewish Priesthood and their sacrifices at the Temple is recorded in the Jerusalem Talmud:

"Forty years before the destruction of the Temple, the western light went out, the crimson thread remained crimson, and the lot for the Lord always came up in the left hand. They would close the gates of the Temple by night and get up in the morning and find them wide open" (Jacob Neusner, The Yerushalmi, p.156-157). [the Temple was destroyed in 70 CE]

A similar passage in the Babylonian Talmud states:

"Our rabbis taught: During the last forty years before the destruction of the Temple the lot ['For the Lord'] did not come up in the right hand; nor did the crimson-colored strap become white; nor did the western most light shine; and the doors of the Hekel [Temple] would open by themselves" (Soncino version, Yoma 39b).

The passage teaches that for the 40 years prior to the destruction of the Temple in 70 AD, these miraculous events occurred. Forty years previous to 70 AD places us at 30 AD, the exact year scholars say the crucifixion of Jesus occurred. If one uses the more traditional dating of the crucifixion at 33 AD, it places 30 AD as the beginning of Jesus' public ministry. Therefore, these signs began and were recorded as starting at the start of the High Priestly ministry of Jesus, or else His heavenly ministration. 

Here's a breakdown of the elements mentioned in the passage:

1. Lot for the Lord: Refers to the casting of lots (a form of random selection) to determine which of two goats would be "for the Lord" and which would be the scapegoat. According to the Talmudic account, the lot that should have fallen on the right side, representing divine favor, did not do so, representing a rejection of the sacrifice for forty straight years.
2. Crimson-colored strap: This is a reference to a ritual involving a crimson-colored strap tied to the scapegoat. The tradition held that the strap would miraculously turn white as a sign of divine acceptance of the atonement. In the last forty years before the destruction of the Second Temple, it is said that this miracle did not occur, representing a continuous rejection of the sacrifice.
3. Western most light: This refers to one of the lights in the Temple's menorah (candelabrum). The text suggests that a specific light in the westernmost position did not shine during this period. In the Temple, the menorah had seven branches, each holding a lamp. According to Jewish tradition, the westernmost lamp, known as the "western lamp" or "western light," held special significance. It was the first lamp to be kindled each evening and served as a symbol of divine light and the Shekhinah, the divine presence. The westernmost light was considered to be particularly sacred, and its extinguishing or failure to shine was seen as a symbolic and ominous sign. The absence of light in this lamp was interpreted by the rabbis as a reflection of the waning divine favor or presence. It symbolized a departure of the divine light and protection from the Temple.
4. Doors of the Hekel (Temple) opening by themselves: The doors of the Temple were reported to open miraculously every night. The fact that they opened by themselves could be seen as a sign of the breakdown of the divine protection and regular order. The Temple in Jerusalem had various chambers, and the Hekel was one of them. It was the main hall of the Temple and housed the menorah, the showbread table, and the golden altar of incense. The Holy of Holies was also located behind the Hekel. This sign demonstrated the open access to the presence of God that had never before been granted. It is also reminiscent of the tearing of the veil at the crucifixion of Jesus.

These events occurred continuously for 40 straight years until the Temple's destruction.

Those who persisted in not following the new High Priesthood of Christ after the destruction of the Temple created a new system of Judaism known as "rabbinic Judaism", without a High Priest and without blood sacrifices, based around the synagogue, not the Temple. 

Yet the eternal High Priesthood of Jesus Christ, as both Priest and Lamb, perpetually offers the most worthy sacrifice through the Eucharist, thus fulfilling the prophecy in Malachi 1:11:

"For from the rising of the sun, even to its going down, My name shall be great among the Gentiles; In every place incense shall be offered to My name, And a pure offering; For My name shall be great among the nations,” Says the Lord of hosts."

Malachi, last of the prophets before the coming of Jesus Christ, foresaw that a pure offering would be made among all the nations of the Gentiles - a prediction that would have been unable to occur under the former Temple Priesthood. So not just in one solitary place are temporary sacrifices made, but now the One perfect sacrifice brings collective participation of God's people, both Jew and Gentile, to every nation on earth through the Eucharist.

Praise God.