Note: I preach from an expanded outline not a manuscript. Also, there is an outline for the congregation to follow along at the end of the sermon. Also I have a bibliography there.
WHO REALLY KILLED JESUS?
March 28, 2004 Jay Robison Matthew 27:20-26
Have you noticed amazing lengths we go to avoid
responsibility if you caught making a mistake, doing wrong. Not, I goofed, or I’m guilty or please forgive me But an error in judgment was made Someone said "I assume responsibility for all of my actions, except the ones that aren’t my fault."
We expend a lot of time & energy trying not to be blame. We all have defense mechanisms about parent’s fault, Boss’ fault, world’s fault who ate the pie? (This was a drama just before the sermon, Mom is looking for her pie to be entered in the county fair, but it is gone, who ate the pie? No one admits to eating it but the husband, daughter son and grandmother each say they had a little piece, the point is none of them ate it, but they all did)
Maybe that is why Jesus’ crucifixion so intriguing
Great injustice is done, someone has to be at fault
We have affixed blame in a lot of places
Passion narrative is an unfolding drama, As we read about last days of Jesus’ life we are drawn in it is a humbling process to see Jesus’ cruel suffering & death
Today want to look at list of likely suspects. Who really killed Jesus? Let’s consider how we take or avoid responsibility at all costs
1. THE JEWS
Throughout history these have been most likely suspects. Church leaders have misused\misinterpreted Bible to promote theological justification for Christians to hate Jews
Christians like Augustine, Chrysostom, Aquinas, and Luther, have accused all Jews as being Christ haters and Christ killers. Even today there are those who have distorted views Of story to believe Jews alone responsible. The Jewish Anti-defamation League on website Calls the Passion of the Christ anti-Semitic
Warns of hate crimes against Jews because of this movie
What does the Bible say? Mt 26:3-4 The leading priests & the older Jewish leaders had a meeting at the palace of the high priest, named Caiaphas At the meeting, they planned to set a trap to arrest Jesus
and kill him.
As story is told there were folks who set a trap to get Jesus Since he had done no wrong there had to be a trap
Certainly there were Jewish leaders who were part
Of Jesus’ demise, they were power people in society
While they were poor, people in an occupied land
Jewish religion was seen as powerful means of control
When claim was made that Jesus revolutionary bringing about an insurrection He had to be brought under control
Message here is be careful how we use words\power Vs 25 how expressed power All the people answered, “We and our children will be responsible for his death.”
NT scholar Raymond Brown A Crucified Christ in Holy Week "No line in the passion narratives has done more to embitter Jewish\Christian relations than this."
Holocaust survivor Eliezer Berkovits said “The NT is the most dangerous & Anit-Semitic tract in human history” Paul says in 1 Thess 2:14 the Jews killed Jesus
Let’s look at it, did the Jews act alone? There is more than 1 point in my sermon so there are other suspects
Matthew was a Jew would he then condemn all Jews forever That’s who he was himself, other Jews who followed Jesus I believe verse points to fact that Jesus willingly died And that he was totally rejected by his people
Are the Jews guilty? Question has to be answered Have I PLOTTED AGAINST OTHERS ? Have I misused my power? Have I been part of tearing down former spouse
Taking a part a rival, climb ladder over someone else
2nd suspects
2. PILATE AND THE ROMANS
Jews were not in political control They were an occupied land, no freedoms They could not bring about crucifixion alone
Jesus sentenced to death by the Roman governor Pilate on a charge of treason vs state Listen to Jn 19:10 Jesus before Pilate Don’t you realize I have the power to free you or to crucify you? Pilate says in effect,I’m in charge here
Pilate not King but sent as Procurator, or Governor
To keep peace in this geographical area of Roman empire. Jews brought Jesus to Pilate as leader of revolt
Lucado says Pilate looks at lone figure feet swollen & muddy, hands tan, knuckles lumpy One eye is swollen shut, other looks at the floor, arms and thighs streaked w\crimson Experience has taught him to steer clear of Jewish squabbles especially religious ones society had Hungry children, angry people, we could use a king Pilate sighs a King who could make sense out of this mess And the Angels were Silent pg 167
Pilate seems to want to let Jesus go, give me one good reason But people are clamoring he claims to be greater than Caesar Oh that is the big card you have to do something now.
So Pilate climbed on the fence and sat down Jn 19:16 NIV says Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. Crucifixion was Roman means of execution. Roman guards at cross and tomb Romans did it
But again there is a question for us Have I TAKEN THE EASY WAY OUT We faced with messy situation, have I ever washed by hands, Said not my fault, as I turned away Seen hurting people and said, I can’t do nothing about it
Farm saying don’t get milk without manure
NM NM=No Mess NO Ministry
3. JESUS’ FRIENDS
If Jesus such an insurrectionist to be feared powerful leader. Where is his army? Who’ll fight for him? Fact is that Jesus’ friends abandoned him
There was no one who stood with him Jesus was caught because his friends turned on him Judas one of closest most trusted disciples betrayed him
Listen to Mt 27:3-4 NKJV Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned, was remorseful & brought back the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.”
Judas one betrayer among many Mt 26:56 after Judas acted, all disciples deserted him & fled. NIV
When it came right down to it no one stood with him
Would he have been crucified so quickly if there were
Others ready to die with him? Probably not Judas was not the only one to leave him Mt 26:74 Peter began to place a curse on himself & swear, “I don’t know the man.” At once, a rooster crowed.
Jesus had predicted all would leave him All disciples said oh no not me, Peter most vehement
So Jesus said before the rooster crows deny me The rock rolled when the heat was turned up
Look at response of Judas vs that of Peter Peter showed weakness of humanity when he denied Jesus
Judas showed guilt\spiritual consequences of rejecting Jesus
Ask Have I ABANDONED A FRIEND IN A TIME OF NEED Is there someone who depended on me trusted me That I let down, did I break a promise to family or work?
Certainly Jesus’ followers guilty of talking but not delivering Haven’t you done the same thing failed a friend Let down your family are you guilty am I?
We must confess guilt, and turn over their life to God
But there is another suspect to the crime
4. THE CROWD
Part of charade of trial, Jews acted, Pilate debated
Friends abandoned, but public opinion carried the day
Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!” Matt 27:22-23 NKJV
Look at the dynamic here of "group think" and group pressure good people are capable of doing horrible things when they crave the acceptance of the "in-group."
Wonder how we would respond, in that Jerusalem crowd
Have I BEEN A PART OF A MOB Have I been carried along by the tide for evil Crowd called for his blood
What corporate wrongs am I a part of? Christ’s BLOOD MAKES US ALL GUILTY His blood was shed it was a real cross real pain\suffering. Fact is that Jesus willingly went to that cross
Isaac Watts reflected on this reality wrote these words Alas and Did my savior bleed & did my sovereign die Would he devote that sacred head for sinners such as I Was it for crimes that I had done He groaned upon the tree? Amazing pity! grace unknown! And love beyond degree! But drops of grief can ne’er repay The debt of love I owe: Here, Lord, I give my self away ’Tis all that I can do.
Also BRINGS US FORGIVENESS & RECONCILIATION We, along with all of humankind, are guilty and sinful We have been like Jews scheming, like leaders no stand up Like Jesus friends running away, like crowd lead In our betrayals & denials, in our hatred, in our failure to love, we, too, are all guilty of crucifying Christ.
However, our guilt and sin does not condemn us forever
Christ’s blood is our sacrifice, makes us a forgiven people Christ died in our place, for our guilt and sin, which were nailed to the cross and atoned for We are given a new freedom, rooted in his all-inclusive love, so serve him with the utmost gratitude.
Never approach cross with arrogance but humility my sins sent him there I can see myself in all these suspects
WHO REALLY KILLED JESUS?
March 28, 2004 Jay Robison Matthew 27:20-26
A list of likely suspects . . .
1.
The leading priests & the older Jewish leaders had a meeting at the palace of the high priest, named Caiaphas. At the meeting, they planned to set a trap to arrest Jesus and kill him.
Matt 26:3-4 NCV
All the people answered, “We and our children will be responsible for his death.” Vs 25 NCV
Have I
2.
Don’t you realize I have the power to free you
or to crucify you? John 19:10 NIV
Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified
John 19:16 NIV
Have I
3.
Judas, His betrayer, seeing that He had been condemned,
was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to
the chief priests and elders, saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” Matt 27:3-4 NKJV
Peter began to place a curse on himself & swear, “I don’t know the man.” At once, a rooster crowed. Matt 26:74 NCV
Have I
4.
Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!”
Matt 27:22-23 NKJV
Have I
Christ’s
But also
Bibliography: Broadman bible Commentary, Sermon Central website, A Crucified Christ in Holy Week by Raymond Brown, Max Lucado And the Angels were Silent, Matthew Commentaries by Hare, also by Beare
