Who Killed Jesus?
Last week in one of my classes that topic was discussed. The typical answers are the Romans and/or the Jews. It always amazes me when I hear about how people/groups throughout history have been so murderously preoccupied with persecuting the Jews for this act.
But what about God the Father’s place in this magnificent event? Jesus’ part? And how did I contribute to Jesus’ death? Seems like these are the ones who should be held “responsible.”
God the Father. God’s love caused Him to send Jesus to the world to be the atoning sacrifice for sin. That means it was God’s will that Jesus die on the cross. Why? I John 4:14 says, “the Father has sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world.”
God the Son, Jesus. John 10:14-20 records that Jesus is the Good Shepherd who came to bring His Sheep into the pen by means of laying down His life for them. And He does this willingly. How does this metaphoric language translate into plain English?
Jesus willingly, knowingly, purposefully, and lovingly allowed Himself to be crucified so that those who belong to Christ (past, present, and future) could be freed from the bonds of death and have eternal life with Him. I once heard a song about how Jesus didn’t need to be nailed to the cross because His love would have kept Him there.
Read these words of Jesus in John 10:18, “No one takes it (my life) from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
Me. Isaiah 53:5-6 gives us some information.
5 But he was pierced for our rebellion,
crushed for our sins.
He was beaten so we could be whole.
He was whipped so we could be healed.
6 All of us, like sheep, have strayed away.
We have left God’s paths to follow our own.
Yet the Lord laid on him
the sins of us all.
I killed Christ with my sins. And as a former sinner, what else could I do but sin? Now as a Christian, I have the power, desire, and ability to choose to behave differently, although not perfectly.
After thinking about my part in Jesus’ death and what Jesus gave me anyway, I just have to humbly thank Him in prayer and song.
Here are some songs I’m singing today:
What songs would you add?
1 comment January 14, 2008
We are a hurting people. Left to ourselves we tend to be destructive. We tend to isolate and envelope ourselves within a bubble of silence behind a mask. Or maybe this is only true of those I know?