Who Really Killed Jesus?

WHO REALLY KILLED JESUS? ACTS 2:22-23 3-7-09

Today I want to talk for a little while on the subject of, “who really killed Jesus”, I suppose that many of us will say that it was Pilate and the Roman Government of that day, and others might say that it was the Jews at that time, some might say that it was Satan, others will say that it was our sins, but

the real reason was, because of the love of God.

There are scriptures that say the Romans crucified Him and put Him to death, and there is scripture that say that the Jews was responsible, and then there is scripture that says that God the Father was responsible, and then we can read that it was all of man kinds sins that killed Jesus.

And so today I want to bring a few thoughts on “who really killed Jesus”.

Listen as I read today’s text from ACTS 2: 14 But Peter, standing up with the eleven, lifted up his voice, and said unto them, Ye men of Judaea, and all ye that dwell at Jerusalem, be this known unto you, and hearken to my words: and then Peter goes on to say in verses 22-23

22 Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: 23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain:

The Jewish leaders hated Jesus for exposing the hypocrisy of their self-styled religious system.

Caiaphas was a Sadducee who had been appointed High Priest a few years earlier.

The Sanhedrin was the governing body of the Jews but they didn’t have the authority to put people to death.

All down through the centuries, the Jews have been blamed as being the ones who were responsible for Christ’s crucifixion.

Ø So I ask the question, did the Jews really kill Jesus?

It’s true that the accusers of Christ were Jews, but not all the Jews hated Jesus. Let’s not forget that

“ Multitudes,” had followed Him and had seen His miracles over his 3 ½ years of preaching.

A great many had been healed from incurable diseases. Some had even been brought back from the dead.

So there was a great number of Jews that felt nothing but gratitude toward Jesus.

But there were many of the religious leaders, which were filled with envy and bitterness, because of His accusations and condemnations and wanted to get rid of Him in any way they could.

On several occasions Jesus called the Pharisees “hypocrites,” “serpents,” and “brood of vipers,” and He described them as untrustworthy leaders in front of huge crowds (Matthew 23).

And this greatly humiliated the Pharisees so they were always on the lookout for opportunities that would allow them to accuse and have Jesus killed.

Matthew 12:14 Then the Pharisees went out, and held a council against him, how they might destroy him.

They were afraid that He would take over as leader of the people, so they plotted to find fault in Him, so as to have Him killed: they were aware of the fact that the majority of the people liked Jesus, so they didn’t want to kill Him during the feast, lest there be an uproar among the people”

Matthew 26: 3-5

Then assembled together the chief priests, and the scribes, and the elders of the people, unto the palace of the high priest, who was called Caiaphas, 4And consulted that they might take Jesus by subtilty, and kill him. 5But they said, Not on the feast day, lest there be an uproar among the people. This only shows us that, just like Jesus said, they were a bunch of hypocrites.

So these hypocrites had people to falsely testify against Jesus to put Him to death, trying to convince the people that Jesus was worthy of death.

Matt. 26: 59-68

Now the chief priests, and elders, and all the council, sought false witness against Jesus, to put him to death; 60 But found none: yea, though many false witnesses came, yet found they none. At the last came two false witnesses, 61And said, This fellow said, I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.

62And the high priest arose, and said unto him, Answerest thou nothing? what is it which these witness against thee? 63But Jesus held his peace. And the high priest answered and said unto him, I adjure thee by the living God, that thou tell us whether thou be the Christ, the Son of God.

64Jesus saith unto him, Thou hast said: nevertheless I say unto you, Hereafter shall ye see the Son of man sitting on the right hand of power, and coming in the clouds of heaven