This is a profound question many have argued over for millenia. As I have discovered in my research for this blog, there are many strong opinions and arguments on this topic which go way beyond my understanding or paygrade. Many people and people groups wanted Jesus dead but nobody wanted to claim responsibility for His death…So who was responsible??
This month we have been focusing on a few of the players who were instrumental in bringing about the death of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Let's take a closer look shall we.
Politics or Religion, Who Really Was Responsible for Jesus Death?
This is a profound question many have argued over for millenia. As I have discovered in my research for this blog, there are many strong opinions and arguments on this topic which go way beyond my understanding or paygrade. Many people and people groups wanted Jesus dead but nobody wanted to claim responsibility for His death…So who was responsible??
This month we have been focusing on a few of the players who were instrumental in bringing about the death of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Lets take a closer look shall we.
We have already met Caiaphas, the chief priest. He was threatened by Jesus purity and righteousness. Jesus words to those who were to care for God’s people cut deeply into their corrupt souls and convicted them. The religious leaders were more concerned about losing their power, priviledge, and prestige so rather than repent, and turn back to God, they instead plotted together to “secretly” kill Jesus (Mark 14:1). They even had a turncoat, Judas, who assisted them in the the evil plot for a mere 30 pieces of silver which Jesus predicted in Matthew 26:23-24 at the “last supper” with His beloved disciples.
Look at Jesus’ response on the night of His arrest in the Garden to the angry mob and his betrayer: Matthew 26:53-55 53 Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?” 55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me.
Next in line is Herod. Herod we discover is a vain, selfish, ruthless king, burdened by guilt over foolishly taking John the Baptists life. As he hears of Jesus ministry and working of miracles, he is haunted by the thought that John may have come back to life. When Herod hears of Jesus arrest and Jesus presented to him, he was both mesmerized and afraid as Leon suggested in a previous blog. Herod is not interested in truth but wanted to meet Jesus, to be entertained by Him, but when Jesus does not comply or even respond to Herod, Herod becomes enraged and he and his soldiers turn on Jesus (Luke 23: 8-12). They mock and ridicule Him, dress Him in a cast off elegant robe and ship Jesus back to Pilate.
Pilate is really the one with power here in this mix. Leon will be telling you more about him next week but for now, we know that as the Prefect of Judea, he alone has the power to put Jesus to physical death. Pilate had quickly realized the power play that was before him and there was no basis for the charges. Jesus was no threat to Roman rule in Judea nor was He a defiant rebel.
Although, he tried to pass off this final judgement on and innocent man, in the end Pilate succumbed to the threats from the mob before him, the vocal opponants of Jesus, and the frienzy bordring on riot they were working themselves into as they shouted ”crucify Him” and barely veiled threats of “if you let this man go, (Jesus), you are no friend of Caesar’s!! Pilate relents by washing of his hands choosing to bow to the pressure of the corrupt leaders who made up the crowd before him. He surrendered or gave up his power to do the right thing and succumbed to the exerted power.
While be questioned by Pilate, notice Jesus response in John 19:11 11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power over me if it were not given to you from above. Therefore, the one who handed me over to you is guilty of a greater sin.”
To the Pharisees earlier, when Jesus was calling them out for not caring for God’s sheep, he said this about His life in John 10:18, 18 No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
This single event in history united all these groups in this heinous crime. Jesus was crucified as an act of Roman violence against an innocent man. The ruling authority, Pilate, condemned Jesus to death, which was masterminded by the religious elite and carried out by the Gentile Roman soldiers. The conspiracy of guilt is predicted by Jesus Mark 10:33-34 and remembered Peter in Acts 4:27-28
Contrary to all of this, as I sit with the gospel stories, something else emerges for me. Not the placing of blame for I too am guilty of having Jesus crucified because of my own sins, but rather the human elements responsible for Jesus’ death are irrelevant. They were simply the means to the end. True, each of them played a role but they only carried out God’s redemptive plan spoken of all through the Old Testament... the One who had been promised to save his people.
Jesus’ death brings salvation to each of us who believe, Jew and Gentile alike. He willingly gave His life as a sacrifice for the sin of ALL mankind so that we could enter into communion with God.
It was not easy, He endured much pain and suffering and even sweat blood as He asked His Father if there was another way, yet, He obediently stayed the course to the bitter end. Why would he do such a thing??? Because of His unfathomable great love, to seek and save the lost of which I was one. To focus on who was responsible takes us away from this great truth and what it means to each of us personally. What will you do with the ransom price paid for your life?
My encouragement to each of you is to spend some time in the scripture accounts of the Passion week. Ask the Holy Spirit to help the accounts come to life for you, to draw you closer to the heart of the One who loves you so much. In doing so, may you have a fresh encounter and have the courage to live out the life He died to give you….
Fondly, Melody
