"Who Is Responsible For The Death of Jesus
Christ?"
Text-Acts 2:22-24
Day 2 of Passion Week(a day of disappointment &
righteous anger-the cursing of the barren fig
tree, and the cleansing of the Temple)
Note: Some of the ideas presented herein are my
own, and some come from a sermon by Roy Angell, in
his book Baskets of Silver-Broadman Press, 1955.
Introduction-
This is much discussion going on now concerning
the new movie directed by Mel Gibson, entitled, "The
Passion of the Christ." Sold out theaters across the
country testify to the fact that people want to know
about Jesus. This may be one of the greatest evangel-
istic contributors that the Christian church has ever
benefited from. It seems that the whole world is
talking about Jesus. I agree with Franklin Graham
that this is good, and I pray that much good will come
from this re-enactment of the passion of Christ. I
have seen articles about this in local newspapers,
heard it on tv, observed in in magazines, and over
the radio. If the church ever needed to step up and
speak out, it is now. People are curious about Christ, and they need to hear the truth about who killed Jesus, and what it all means to their lives.
This is our "Golden Opportunity,". Let’s not miss
it!
With this in mind, I want to preach today on the
subject-"Who Is Responsible For The Death Of Jesus
Christ?" Much has been talked about over the media
concerning this, and feelings that anti-Semitism are
being encouraged are shared by many, apparently.
Who really did kill Jesus? I am stating what I be-
lieve the Scriptures teach is the correct answer to
that question in this message this morning.
I. First of all, THE NATION OF ISRAEL(the Jews), are
responsible for the death of Jesus. This differs
with the author’s view mentioned above.
Now, wait just a moment before you get too angry
or accuse me of anti-Semitism. I love Israel, I
love the Jews. They were, and still are, the
special chosen people of God. I wish no harm to
them, I long to see them turn to Christ. Every true
Christian, I believe, feels this way. I believe
that the greatest friend the Jew has is a true,
born-again Christian believer. They are the
people through whom God sent Jesus, the Messiah, and
our prayer is that God will bless, protect, and
save Israel. God is not through with them yet. The
time will come when Israel turns in faith to Christ,
and mourns for Him and His forgiveness. See Zechar-
iah 12:10-"And I will pour upon the house of David,
and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit
of grace, and of supplications: and they shall
look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall
mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son,
and shall lie in bitterness for him, as one that is
in bitterness for his firstborn." See vs. 6 also-
"And one shall say unto him, What are these wounds
in thine hands? Then he shall answer, Those with
which I was wounded in the house of my friends."
Romans 11:26-"And so all Israel shall be saved;
as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the
Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from
Jacob."
As Paul said, "Blindness, in part, is
happened to Israel until the fulness of the Gentiles
be come in."(Romans 11:25)
In the chosen text that I read at the beginning of
this messasge today, Peter accused his own people,
the Jews and said to them, on the day of Pentecost:
(Acts 2:36) that "God hath made that same Jesus,
whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ."
Jesus prayed on the cross-"Father, forgive them..."
He meant the Jew, the Gentile, all races, all
nations, all mankind. We all are guilty before
God of the crucifiction of Jesus.
II. Secondly, GOD THE FATHER HAD A PART IN THE
DEATH OF HIS ONLY SON.
You may say, "How could God allow His Son to suffer
and face rejection and ridicule as He did, when He
could have delivered Him?" It is simply and plainly
taught in the Scriptures that He did this because
He loved you and me-all mankind, and that it pleased
God to let Him suffer, and bear our iniquities, so
that we could be saved eternally. See Isaiah 53.
There God is said to have smitten Jesus. And,
truly, this is so, for if God had not loved us so
much, He never would have allowed His Son to go
through the torture that He did for our sins. But,
"He was wounded for our transgressions, He was
bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our
peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are
healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have
turned ever one to his own say; and the Lord hath
laid on him the iniquity of us all."
John 3:16-17, "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.
For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn
the world; but that the world through Him might be
saved."
Jesus was brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and
wicked men brutally murdered Him, for no wrong that
He had done. The Suffering Servant had done only
God’s will and told the truth of God.
III. Thirdly, THE ROMAN GOVERNMENT & IT’S OFFICIALS
WERE ALSO RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DEATH OF CHRIST.
It was Pilate, and other Roman leaders, who senten-
ced Jesus to death, knowing that He was innocent.
It was Roman soldiers who beat Him, and nailed Him
to the cross. This was all predicted centuries be-
fore it ever happened, in the book of Psalms,
chapter 2, verses 1-3: "Why do the heathen rage,
and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of
the earth set themselves, and the rulers take
counsel together against the Lord, and against His
annointed, saying, "Let us break their bands asun-
der, and cast away their cords from us."
You see, what it is that ungodly men resent the most
about God, is that He rules over them, and commands
them to repent, and live the way He wants, not
according to their selfish, sinful desires.
IV. Fourthly, THERE IS A SENSE IN WHICH, JESUS HIMSELF, BROUGHT ABOUT HIS OWN CRUCIFICTION.
The Bible clearly teaches this also. John 10:17-18,
"Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay
down my life, that I might take it again.
"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."
The death of Jesus was a voluntary sacrifice. He
could have escaped death, and all that suffering,
but He yielded His spirit up in death on the cross,
for our benefit, because He loves us so.
Twelve legions of angels would have delivered Him
had He cried out for them to do so. That’s how
much he loves you, lost sinner.
V. Fifthly, JESUS’ OWN DISCIPLES ALL FORSOOK HIM,
AND FLED, AND HIS OWN TOWN DID NOT BELIEVE IN
HIM, OR ACCEPT HIM AND & HIS OWN FAMILY DID NOT
BELIEVE IN HIM UNTIL AFTER THE RESURRECTION.
See Matthew 26:56. Peter denied even knowing Him,
and they fled in fear. Jesus was not being the
Messiah that they wanted Him to be. He was not
overthrowing the Romans, and putting the Jews in
power and giving them worldly blessings and riches
that they longed for. He had come to save from
sin, not to make us rich and powerful.
Even His own town, and His own family members did
not believe in Him until after the resurrection.
They, too, bore guilt.
VI. Sixthly, SATAN ALSO HAD A PART IN THE DEATH OF
JESUS.
It was Satan who entered into Judas Iscariot, and
compelled him to betray Jesus. It was Satan who
puts unbelief, and hatred, and jealousy in the
hearts of men.
It was Satan who inspired the insults hurled at
Jesus on the cross, who stirred up the crowds to
cry out for Him to be crucified.
It was Satan who moved the soldiers to be so brutal
to Jesus, to make the crown of thorns, to thrust
the spear into His side, to gamble for His
garments.
VII. Seventhly, ALL OF US, THE WHOLE WORLD, HAD A
PART IN THE CRUCIFICTION OF CHRIST.
It was our sins that put Him on the cross. It
was to redeem us that He died.
Isaiah 53:6-"All we like sheep have gone astray,
we have turned every one to his own way, and the
Lord hath laid on Him (Jesus) the iniquity of us
all."
You see, a perfect sacrifice had to be made for
mankind. Jesus became that sacrifice.
1st Peter 1:18-"Forasmuch as ye know that ye were
not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver
and gold, from your vain conversation received by
tradition from your fathers;
vs. 19-But with the precious blood of Christ, as
a lamb without blemish and without spot."
Conclusion-So, my friend, you now should realize
that it was your sins and mine that put Jesus on
that cross, and God commands all men everywhere
to repent and believe the Gospel.
Won’t you trust Christ right now. He will save
you, and wash your sins away, in His own blood.
Comments?
Send to: dannymoss@hotmail.com, or
dannymoss777@yahoo.com
