Posted: 01 April 2024

From a sermon given on 31 March 2024:

It is Saturday… Jesus is in the Grave. And that makes me think... Who was really 'responsible' for the death of Christ?

Consider the following....

Do we blame the Roman soldiers? Certainly we can, they 'crucified' Him...

Surely though it was the Roman governor, Pontius Pilate, who was 'responsible?' He alone had the power to enforce the death penalty, it was he who, as a magistrate of the Roman Empire, declared: ".... I find no fault in him." (John 19:4); ".... I find no fault in him." (john 19:6); "....I find no fault in this man." (Luke 23:4). Yet, Pilate bowed to pressure and condemned an innocent man for political expediency and popularity.

It was a meaningless gesture for him to publicly "wash his hands" and declare: ".... I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it." (Matthew 27:24)

How hypocritical! He was the Roman governor. As the highest magistrate in the land, he had declared: "Ye have brought this man unto me, as one that perverteth the people: and, behold, I, having examined him before you, have found no fault in this man touching those things whereof ye accuse him: No, nor yet Herod: for I sent you to him; and, lo, nothing worthy of death is done unto him." (Luke 23:14. 15)

He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the Lord.
(Proverbs 17:15)

But what about the "mob of people in the streets?" They were the ones who pressured Pontius Pilate to condemn the Lord to death.

".... We have no king but Caesar." (John 19:15) they cried. ".... Release unto us Barabbas" (Luke 23:18) was their demand. "Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children." (Matthew 27:25)

Thou shalt not follow a multitude to do evil; neither shalt thou speak in a cause to decline after many to wrest judgment
(Exodus 23:2)

However, it was the "Jewish religious leaders" who initiated the arrest and trial of Jesus. It was the religious leaders who incited the mob to scream for Barabbas to be released and Christ to be crucified. (Matthew 26:3-4; Luke 22:3-4; John 7:32). "And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.... But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them."
(Mark 15:7,11)

And they were instant with loud voices, requiring that he might be crucified. And the voices of them and of the chief priests prevailed. And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.
(Luke 23:23-25)

Of course, it was 'Judas who betrayed Christ' - for mere silver. Judas was one of the Lord's trusted twelve disciples, the treasurer, but he became a traitor. It has been common for Hollywood productions to deal very sympathetically with Judas, but the Bible is clear that Judas was greedy (Matthew 26:14-15); treacherous (Luke 22:47-48); dishonest and hypocritical (John 12:5-6). The Bible states it clearly that Judas Iscariot betrayed Christ (Matthew 10:4). Judas asked the Chief Priests: ".... What will ye give me, and I will deliver him unto you?...." (Matthew 26:14). The Bible records that the Chief priests 'were glad' Judas's treachery (Mark 14:10). Although Judas was the treasurer of the Twelve, and feigned concern for the poor, the Bible reveals that, in fact, Judas was a thief, stealing from the funds of the Lord Himself (John 12:4-6). Far from Judas being a well-meaning victim of circumstances, the Bible is quite clear that he was a malicious traitor. John's Gospel plainly states: "Then satin entered into Judas" John 13:27. Jesus was betrayed by Judas.

Yet, was it not God's will that Christ suffer and die on the Cross? In the garden of Gethsemane, Jesus prayed: ".... Father, if thou be willing, remove this cup from me: nevertheless not my will, but thine, be done." (Luke 22:42)

However, we also need to ask whether it was not the Lord Jesus Christ Himself, who was responsible for His own death? As our Lord declared: "I lay down My life for the sheep.... I lay down My life.... no one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself...." (John 10:15-18). Our Lord Jesus was not a victim, or a martyr, he was a willing sacrifice - an Atonement - for our sins.

So, in the final analysis, was it not YOUR sin and MY sin that was responsible for the sufferings and the 'atoning death of our Lord Jesus Christ?' Yes, it was indeed for our sins that He suffered and died....

As 'New Covenant Believers,' we should "take care and protect" our Jesus Christ - the world hates Him more and more and would love to "Crush and Crucify" Him again and again and again.

".... It is finished ...." (John 19:30) He will always remain the One and Only!

BLESSED EASTER - Fred