Who Killed Jesus?

2019-12-25

This is one of those absurd questions that people argue over that is fruitless. It is clear that Roman executioners executed Jesus. The Scriptures also tell us:

When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. (25) Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. (Matthew 27:24-25)

Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:36)

For ye, brethren, became followers of the churches of God which in Judaea are in Christ Jesus: for ye also have suffered like things of your own countrymen, even as they have of the Jews: (15) Who both killed the Lord Jesus, and their own prophets, and have persecuted us; and they please not God, and are contrary to all men (1 Thessalonians 2:14-15)

The Romans literally crucified Jesus, but these Scriptures also tell us the Jewish people were also guilty, just as David had indirectly murdered Uriah the Hittite (2 Samuel 12:9).

However, Jesus told us these things:

Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? (Matthew 26:53)

Therefore doth my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again. (18) No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This commandment have I received of my Father. (John 10:17-18)

There were two people there the day Jesus was crucified: those who killed Him, or those who cowered and did nothing to stop His death. All were guilty of Christ’s death.

Jesus had control over His life from the beginning. He could have avoided His death, but He told us, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many” (Matthew 20:28). Without Jesus’ death, we would never have hope.