WHO KILLED JESUS?
No trial or
execution in history has had such a momentous outcome as that of Jesus in Roman
occupied Jerusalem, 2000 years ago.
But was it an execution or a judicial murder; and who was responsible?
The Bible Mysteries program focused on three suspects, Caiaphas, the Jewish High
Priest; Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor; and, most surprisingly of all, Jesus
himself.
I. The Jews with the help of wicked
men.
(Acts 2:5 KJV) And there
were dwelling at Jerusalem Jews, devout men, out of every nation under heaven.
(Acts 2:23 KJV) Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and
foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and
slain:
- There is no question that there was Jewish involvement in the death of Jesus
- The main Jewish involvement consisted of the religious establishment:
- The Jewish people in general were not against Jesus
The rulers, the priests, and the people united in accepting responsibility for
the death of Christ, saying, "Let his blood be on us and on our children" (Matt.
27:25). While Pilate could not be absolved from responsibility for this
miscarriage of justice, the nation did accept responsibility for Christ's death.
The tragic reply came back like an echo of a groan from future generations: "His
blood be on us and on our children." Thirty years later, on this very
spot, judgment was pronounced against some of the best citizens of Jerusalem.
Of the 3,600 victims of the governor's fury, not a few were scourged and
crucified! Judas died in a loathsome suicide, the house of Annas was
destroyed some years later, Caiaphas was deposed a year after the crucifixion,
and Pilate was soon after banished to Gaul and there died in suicide. When
Jerusalem fell, her wretched citizens were crucified around her walls until, in
the historian's grim language, "space was wanting for the crosses, and crosses
for the bodies." The horrors of the siege of Jerusalem are unparalleled in
history.
II. The Gentiles.
(Luke 18:32 KJV) For he
shall be delivered unto the Gentiles, and shall be mocked, and spitefully
entreated, and spitted on:
Pilate and Herod five times had declared Christ innocent of the charges brought
against Him and seemed determined to release Jesus. Justice so demanded, for the
accusations against Christ had no support that would justify His condemnation.
But the multitude was not seeking justice but demanding Christ's death. Inflamed
passions were ready to break forth into a riot (Matt. 27:23).
Roman/Gentile Involvement
- Jesus implicated the Gentiles as His killers.
Luke 18:31-32 31 Jesus took the Twelve (disciples) aside and told them, "We are
going up to Jerusalem, and everything that is written by the prophets about the
Son of Man will be fulfilled. He will be handed over to the Gentiles. They will
mock him, insult him, spit on him, flog him and kill him. (NIV)
III. Our Sins!
(1 Cor 15:3 KJV) For I
delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died
for our sins according to the scriptures;
Pilate sought to absolve himself of all responsibility for his decision. "He
took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. 'I am innocent of this
man's blood,' he said. 'It is your responsibility'" (Matt. 27:24). But Pilate
could not escape the sense of his responsibility. There was a custom among the
Greeks, Jews, and Romans of that time that when a man shed blood, he would wash
his hands, thus symbolically cleansing away the stain. Pilate felt that he was a
murderer.Mel Gibson understands this. In
his movie, The Passion of the Christ, the hand holding the spike being nailed
through Christ’s wrist is Gibson’s. Who killed Jesus? Mel Gibson knows. And he
made the very point with his own hand that he was responsible, not the Jews.
IV. The sins of the whole world!
(1 John 2:2 KJV) And he
is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins
of the whole world.
V. Jesus Himself!
(John 10:17 KJV)
Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take
it again. (John 10:18 KJV) No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of
myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This
commandment have I received of my Father.
- Non-apparent reasons for the death of Jesus.
- Jesus predicted His death. (and resurrection)
In the 4 gospels Jesus predicts His death at least 14 times. A sample, Mark
10:33-34 33 "We are going up to Jerusalem," he said, "and the Son of Man will be
betrayed to the chief priests and teachers of the law. They will condemn him to
death and will hand him over to the Gentiles, 34 who will mock him and spit on
him, flog him and kill him. Three days later he will rise." (NIV)
VI. God the Father killed Jesus!
(John 3:16 KJV) For God
so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth
in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
The ultimate reason for the death of Jesus The New Covenant Scriptures teach
that we are all responsible for His death So no one has any grounds to persecute
the Jews or for that matter anyone else over their role in the death of Jesus.
Conclusion
Denial of the willingness of Jesus to die, denial of the resurrection, denial of
the sovereignty of God, these are major and fundamental doctrines for a
Christian to deny.
Hear Now! only three words to say
to someone who claims to be a follower of Jesus yet blames his death on the
Jewish people:
1. Repent
2. Repent
3. Repent
God bless you and yours!
On behalf of this generation,
Your friends in the service of Christ,
Tony
and Marge Abram
Abundant Life Crusades
If we could be
of more help or if you want more information please visit:
www.tonyabram.com or
www.abundantlifecrusades.com
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