The Cross of Death

James Carroll in ‘The Sword of Constantine’ (pp 264) raises an interesting comparison of how Jews and Christians use the Abraham story of Isaac. 

Christians see Abraham as the pinnacle of faith, he would sacrifice Isaac knowing God would resurrect him. Judaism sees the greatness of the Isaac story on Abrahams faithfulness to obey God, even in plight of the worst of scenarios. 

This leads us to martyrdom in the crusades. Jewish people would not convert, even though this meant the slaughter of their families, because, like Abraham, it was better to be faithful to God unto the point of death. 

These actions in the crusades tipped off a centuries long animosity where Jews were also defined by their defiance of Christianity and its cross of death.

Advertisement