"Who Is Responsible For The Death Of Jesus Christ?" Series

"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