Mystery Solved

Who really crucified Jesus Christ? The mystery is soon to be solved. What about the Romans? The power of Rome was in Pilate’s hands. All he had to do to stop the crime of history was to say, “No!” Even if Jewish leaders would have said, “We’ll have to tell Caesar that you’re no friend of his,” Pilate could have countered, “You evil leaders. I will not only go to Caesar myself, but I’ll have you punished for such a statement!" No, Pilate sold Him out.

And the soldiers? Some say it was their duty to obey. Today we punish soldiers who commit atrocities. Nazis stood on trial at Nuremberg and said they were only obeying orders. It didn’t work, for the duty to obey does not justify a crime.

You’re seeing it clearer, aren’t you—that the crucifixion of Christ is one of contradictions and complexities. This unequalled event in human history was fast-moving action. We see the Jews involved. We see Jesus’ own disciples who parted company with Him. We see guilty Romans and guilty priests, high officials and humble citizens, who could have helped but by then were just swept by the tide, some watching, some crying, some walking away disgusted, but no one doing anything. Military, political and civilian guilt travelled full circle.

What is the answer to “Who crucified Jesus?” We must bring God into the matter. The fifty-third chapter of Isaiah states that Jesus was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities. Verse six states: “All we like sheep have gone astray.” Since God says that “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23), Isaiah was speaking of all the world. Each of us had turned to “his own way.” And God had laid on His chosen Messiah the sins of us all. Scripture is clear that God sanctioned the death of Jesus.

Verse 10 says, “Therefore it pleased the Lord to bruise him.” Pleased God to bruise His only Son? Why? So that He could become the atonement. The verse continues, “When thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see His seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the Lord shall prosper in his hand.” God the Father could have stopped the crucifixion—but He would have had to withdraw His love for a lost world. For you. For me.

Jesus Himself could have stopped it. He said, “The Father knows me and even so I know the Father, and I lay down my life for the sheep.” (John 10:15) What sheep? First, He was referring to His Jewish flock, but in verse 16 He says “other sheep I have which are not of this fold”—referring to the Gentiles. To the whole world. Concerning His life, Jesus said, “No man takes it from me.” (V18)  No Jew takes it from Him? No Gentile? No soldier? No priest?

Is it any wonder that, according to verse 19, there was another argument among the Jewish people. Some said Jesus must have a devil to say such things. Others said, “No, these are not the words of a devil.” (V21) How awesome it must have been to know that here was someone standing in your midst claiming to have come forth from God and that He would die for the sins of the world!

It’s easy looking back at history. But how would you like to have been standing there? To have been, for example, one of the earthly brothers of Jesus and have Him look at you and say, “Before Abraham was, I am”? Or can you imagine him saying, “I am the good shepherd”? Or, “I am the resurrection and the life”? The Bible says that Jesus’ own family members didn’t believe in Him. Neither would you nor I have believed. It’s easy to believe now that we can look back. But if we would have been there, we would have been run over by the same events.

It’s time now to let the Scriptures determine who crucified Jesus. Acts 4:27 & 28 states: “For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and people of Israel, were gathered together. For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done.” Herod, Pontius Pilate, Gentiles, and Israel—that takes in the world. It includes everybody. And the Bible is clear that “the world” could only do what God’s hand and counsel “determined before to be done.” God allowed this greatest story in history to run all the way to the crucifixion. Who crucified Jesus? You did! I did! Our sins did! He died for you and me. Because He loves us. Because His love is more than talk!

"Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ" (I Corinthians 11:1)
The ST. PAUL SCHOOL, with Frank Eiklor, Eileen Young and Cecilia Contreras