What a privilege it is to gather here with all of you in this holy sanctuary on this beautiful day to honor and celebrate the resurrection of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Each year on Easter Sunday we as Christians come together, both here and around the world, to memorialize the most remarkable and important event in all of human history. Together we remember and cherish the morning when Jesus rose from the dead and walked out of the grave alive and victorious over sin and death!
For this year’s Easter service, I have prepared a message that presents us with a provocative question. It’s one that makes many people uncomfortable, as well it should. I’ve titled today's sermon, “Who Killed Jesus Christ?” The answer to this question isn’t as straightforward as you might think. The answer also has profound implications for each of us…
I. THE JEWS
The Jewish religious leaders felt threatened and intimidated by Jesus. He publicly challenged their authority and fearlessly questioned their authenticity. His teachings undermined their power over the people and exposed the futility of their man-made traditions. Their skepticism of and animosity toward Jesus grew gradually throughout the course of His ministry, eventually coming to a resounding crescendo and leading them to seek His death.
“3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, named Caiaphas; 4 and they plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth and kill Him.” - Matthew 26:3-4
The Jewish leaders demanded that Jesus be executed. They manufactured bogus charges against Him, pressured the authorities to consent to their evil wishes, and successfully secured His death sentence. There is absolutely no question that the Jewish religious leaders - including the chief priests, scribes, elders, and Pharisees - were all instrumental in and shared responsibility for Jesus’s death.
That said, the Jewish people were guilty as well. It was they who cried out for Barabbas to be released rather than Jesus. When asked what to do with Jesus, they all shouted, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” They even said, “Let Jesus’ blood be on us and our children.”
21 But the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Crucify Him!” 23 And he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!” 24 When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” 25 And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” - Matthew 27:21-25
II. THE ROMANS
Though the Jews wanted Him dead, it was the Romans who actually crucified Jesus. They were the only ones who had the legal authority to sentence Jesus to death and then carry out His execution. The Roman governor Pilate reluctantly and cowardly condemned Him, Roman soldiers scourged him, led Him to Golgotha and there nailed Him to the cross, mocked Him as He died, and then took His lifeless body down. As such, they too bore responsibility for His death.
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him. 28 They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head. 31 After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him. - Matthew 27:27-31
III. GOD - THE FATHER AND SON
God the Father didn’t literally kill Jesus, but He didn’t prevent it from happening either - though He certainly could have. In fact, the Father actually sent His only begotten Son to earth on a mission to die! This was the primary reason why Jesus came to begin with. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ was wholly consistent with the Father’s sovereign purposes and perfect will.
22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.” - Acts 2:22-23
What’s more, Jesus didn’t kill Himself. That said, He was God in the flesh and possessed almighty, divine power. Just like His Father, He could have intervened and saved His own life. But instead, He willingly consented to His Father’s will and sacrificially surrendered His life on the cross of Calvary.
“17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.” - John 10:17-18
IV. EVERYONE
Why did God send His Son to die? Why did Jesus give His life sacrificially on the cross? Why did the Jews and Romans, who typically hated each other, come together on this one occasion to conspire against and crucify Jesus? Why? Because this was God’s plan of redemption. Jesus died to pay the debt of man’s sin, to secure their forgiveness, and to suffer the penalty due them. Jesus’ sacrificial death satisfied the just requirements of God and appeased His wrath against our sin. He died to save sinners, and since we’ve all sinned, everyone of us bears responsibility for His death.
24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. - 1 Peter 2:24
CONCLUSION
So, as we close, again I ask, “Who killed Jesus Christ?” As we’ve discussed, there are several different ways that someone might answer this question. It was the Father’s perfect plan for Jesus to be crucified, it was the Jews who demanded that He be crucified, it was the Romans who actually carried out His brutal crucifixion, it was Jesus who voluntarily allowed Himself to be crucified, and it everyone’s sin that made His crucifixion necessary.
But, if you were to ask me this morning, personally, who killed Jesus Christ, this would be my answer… “I did.” I realize that it wasn’t me alone, but someday each of us must stand individually before God. I can’t answer for your sin, nor you for mine. So I will answer for myself and own up to my own guilt. I will bear responsibility for myself. It was my sin that nailed Him to the cross. I am guilty of the blood and body of Christ. Me. I killed Jesus. This is the confession of my heart, and is that of everyone who has ever truly come under the conviction of sin.
Though my sin led to His death, His death leads to my life. Jesus bore my sin, paid my ransom, and secured my pardon at Calvary. He died so that I could be set free! Then, three days later, He rose from the grave, the firstborn from the dead, forever conquering sin and death, and in Him I have the assurance of eternal life. Not only me, but all who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Hallelujah!
For this year’s Easter service, I have prepared a message that presents us with a provocative question. It’s one that makes many people uncomfortable, as well it should. I’ve titled today's sermon, “Who Killed Jesus Christ?” The answer to this question isn’t as straightforward as you might think. The answer also has profound implications for each of us…
I. THE JEWS
The Jewish religious leaders felt threatened and intimidated by Jesus. He publicly challenged their authority and fearlessly questioned their authenticity. His teachings undermined their power over the people and exposed the futility of their man-made traditions. Their skepticism of and animosity toward Jesus grew gradually throughout the course of His ministry, eventually coming to a resounding crescendo and leading them to seek His death.
“3 Then the chief priests and the elders of the people were gathered together in the court of the high priest, named Caiaphas; 4 and they plotted together to seize Jesus by stealth and kill Him.” - Matthew 26:3-4
The Jewish leaders demanded that Jesus be executed. They manufactured bogus charges against Him, pressured the authorities to consent to their evil wishes, and successfully secured His death sentence. There is absolutely no question that the Jewish religious leaders - including the chief priests, scribes, elders, and Pharisees - were all instrumental in and shared responsibility for Jesus’s death.
That said, the Jewish people were guilty as well. It was they who cried out for Barabbas to be released rather than Jesus. When asked what to do with Jesus, they all shouted, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” They even said, “Let Jesus’ blood be on us and our children.”
21 But the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Crucify Him!” 23 And he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!” 24 When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” 25 And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” - Matthew 27:21-25
II. THE ROMANS
Though the Jews wanted Him dead, it was the Romans who actually crucified Jesus. They were the only ones who had the legal authority to sentence Jesus to death and then carry out His execution. The Roman governor Pilate reluctantly and cowardly condemned Him, Roman soldiers scourged him, led Him to Golgotha and there nailed Him to the cross, mocked Him as He died, and then took His lifeless body down. As such, they too bore responsibility for His death.
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole Roman cohort around Him. 28 They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. 29 And after twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand; and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 They spat on Him, and took the reed and began to beat Him on the head. 31 After they had mocked Him, they took the scarlet robe off Him and put His own garments back on Him, and led Him away to crucify Him. - Matthew 27:27-31
III. GOD - THE FATHER AND SON
God the Father didn’t literally kill Jesus, but He didn’t prevent it from happening either - though He certainly could have. In fact, the Father actually sent His only begotten Son to earth on a mission to die! This was the primary reason why Jesus came to begin with. The crucifixion of Jesus Christ was wholly consistent with the Father’s sovereign purposes and perfect will.
22 “Men of Israel, listen to these words: Jesus the Nazarene, a man attested to you by God with miracles and wonders and signs which God performed through Him in your midst, just as you yourselves know— 23 this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.” - Acts 2:22-23
What’s more, Jesus didn’t kill Himself. That said, He was God in the flesh and possessed almighty, divine power. Just like His Father, He could have intervened and saved His own life. But instead, He willingly consented to His Father’s will and sacrificially surrendered His life on the cross of Calvary.
“17 For this reason the Father loves Me, because I lay down My life so that I may take it again. 18 No one has taken it away from Me, but I lay it down on My own initiative. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This commandment I received from My Father.” - John 10:17-18
IV. EVERYONE
Why did God send His Son to die? Why did Jesus give His life sacrificially on the cross? Why did the Jews and Romans, who typically hated each other, come together on this one occasion to conspire against and crucify Jesus? Why? Because this was God’s plan of redemption. Jesus died to pay the debt of man’s sin, to secure their forgiveness, and to suffer the penalty due them. Jesus’ sacrificial death satisfied the just requirements of God and appeased His wrath against our sin. He died to save sinners, and since we’ve all sinned, everyone of us bears responsibility for His death.
24 and He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness; for by His wounds you were healed. - 1 Peter 2:24
CONCLUSION
So, as we close, again I ask, “Who killed Jesus Christ?” As we’ve discussed, there are several different ways that someone might answer this question. It was the Father’s perfect plan for Jesus to be crucified, it was the Jews who demanded that He be crucified, it was the Romans who actually carried out His brutal crucifixion, it was Jesus who voluntarily allowed Himself to be crucified, and it everyone’s sin that made His crucifixion necessary.
But, if you were to ask me this morning, personally, who killed Jesus Christ, this would be my answer… “I did.” I realize that it wasn’t me alone, but someday each of us must stand individually before God. I can’t answer for your sin, nor you for mine. So I will answer for myself and own up to my own guilt. I will bear responsibility for myself. It was my sin that nailed Him to the cross. I am guilty of the blood and body of Christ. Me. I killed Jesus. This is the confession of my heart, and is that of everyone who has ever truly come under the conviction of sin.
Though my sin led to His death, His death leads to my life. Jesus bore my sin, paid my ransom, and secured my pardon at Calvary. He died so that I could be set free! Then, three days later, He rose from the grave, the firstborn from the dead, forever conquering sin and death, and in Him I have the assurance of eternal life. Not only me, but all who repent of their sins and trust in Jesus as their Savior and Lord. Hallelujah!