Who Is Responsible For The Death of Christ?
Pastor David L. Brown, Ph.D.
Sermon Delivered 2/22/04
The court will come to order. The purpose of the case
we are trying before the court is to find out who is responsible for
the death of Jesus Christ the Lord. A variety of different witnesses
have submitted written affidavits. We will consider these testimonies and
you the jury must come to a verdict. Let’s move on to the first witness.
- The National Jewish Leadership
There is an outcry today from some sectors of Judaism
because some have said that Jews were responsible for the death of Jesus
Christ. The question must be asked, is there any evidence that this is the
case? Let’s hear the testimony.
Consider the testimony of Mark. We will
see what he has to say that relates to the responsibility of the Jews
concerning the death of Christ?
Turn to the words Mark has recorded for us in his
Gospel. You will see in Marks written testimony after Christ has thrown
out the money changers, the Jewish leadership (the Scribes who interpreted
the Law and the Chief Priests) wanted to kill Jesus. Let’s hear it in
Mark’s own words -- Mark 11:18
"And the scribes and chief priests
heard it, and sought how they might destroy him: for they
feared him, because all the people was astonished at his doctrine."
Is there anybody who can collaborate the testimony of
Mark? Ah yes, there is Dr. Luke. Let’s see what he has to say --
Luke 19:47
"And he taught daily in the temple. But the chief priests
and the scribes and the chief of the people sought to destroy him."
I remind you that the context of these words are the same as they were in
Mark; the cleansing of the temple.
Now, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, there are those
who will claim that destroy may not mean to kill. However
the Greek word apollumi
(ap-ol'-loo-mee), when it refers to a person, means to put to death. The
Jewish leaders were bent on killing Jesus!
I would also present to you that this was not the only
incident where the Jewish leaders were looking for ways to kill Jesus. I
call the Apostle John to testify. Let us hear his words --
John
5:16-18
"And therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, and sought to
slay him, because he had done these things on the sabbath day. 17
But Jesus answered them, My Father worketh hitherto, and I work. 18
Therefore the Jews sought the more to kill him, because he not
only had broken the sabbath, but said also that God was his Father, making
himself equal with God." The Jews conspired to put Jesus to death!
John 11:47-53
"Then gathered the chief priests and
the Pharisees a council, and said, What do we? for this man doeth many
miracles. 48 If we let him thus alone, all men will believe
on him: and the Romans shall come and take away both our place and nation.
49 And one of them, named Caiaphas, being the high priest that
same year, said unto them, Ye know nothing at all, 50 Nor consider
that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and
that the whole nation perish not. 51 And this spake he not of
himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should
die for that nation; 52 And not for that nation only, but that also
he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered
abroad. 53 Then from that day forth they took counsel together
for to put him to death." (See also Matthew 26:3-4).
I submit to you, the jury, that the Jewish leaders were
intent on killing Jesus. They schemed, they planned and they were just
waiting for the opportunity to kill him or have him killed.
The opportunity presented itself when Judas Iscariot
approaches the Jewish leaders and offers to betray Christ for 30 pieces of
silver (Matthew 26:14-16). The Jewish leaders were glad for
opportunity to apprehend Christ (Mark 14:11). The Chief priests and
Elders organized a large armed group of men, and Judas lead them to Jesus,
and they "took him" (Matthew 26:47-50). The point of this testimony
is to show that the capture of Jesus Christ was orchestrated by Jewish
national leaders in cooperation with a turncoat Jewish disciple of Christ.
The next testimony that I will introduce to prove
Jewish culpability in the death of Christ is the account of a near riot.
Let’s read the Mark 15:1, 6-14. Note particularly
verse 11.
The Jewish leaders incited the people to call for the crucifixion of
Jesus.
There is another parallel passage in which the Jewish
leaders even take responsibility for the crucifixion of Christ.
Matthew
27:22-25
"Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus
which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be
crucified. 23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done?
But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. 24 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."
There is one last testimony that I want to introduce as
evidence that the Jews were culpable. It is from two sermons by the
Apostle Peter. Peter says, "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:" Acts 2:22-23
Acts 3:12-15
"And when Peter saw it, he
answered unto the people, Ye men of Israel, why marvel ye at this? or why
look ye so earnestly on us, as though by our own power or holiness we had
made this man to walk? 13 The God of Abraham, and of Isaac, and of
Jacob, the God of our fathers, hath glorified his Son Jesus; whom ye
delivered up, and denied him in the presence of Pilate, when he was
determined to let him go. 14 But ye denied the Holy One and
the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you; 15 And
killed the Prince of life, whom God hath raised from the dead; whereof
we are witnesses." (see Acts 4:10-12)
Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury: I submit to you that
the Jews of Jesus’ day were responsible in part for the death of Jesus
Christ. However, that does NOT give anyone a right to persecute Jewish
people.
You will note that I said the Jews were responsible "in
part," but not wholly! I will now introduce evidence that others were
culpable as well.
- Pontius Pilate and The Romans
I submit to you that provincial Roman Governor, Pontus
Pilate and his soldiers were responsible for the death of Jesus Christ.
First, I can prove that Pilate knew that Christ was innocent. Both Matthew
and Mark record that he knew that "envy" (or jealousy) was the motivation
behind the Jews arresting Jesus, turning Him over to the Roman authorities
and calling for his crucifixion. (Matthew 27:18
"For he knew that
for envy they had delivered him." Mark 15:10
"For he knew that the
chief priests had delivered him for envy.")
Even Pilate’s wife warned him about the innocence of
Christ (Matthew 27:19). Pilate himself declared "I find no fault in
him" (John 19:4). I submit to you that the Governor could have
released Jesus, nd, had intentions, for a brief time, to do just that,
until political pressure was applied (John 19:10-12). He caved in
to the political pressure and gave orders for the crucifixion to take
place (John 19:6-15). While he "washed his hands" of the whole
matter, it was Pilate who gave permission for Christ to be put to death
when he knew he was innocent (Matthew 27:24).
I submit to the jury that Pilate and the Romans shared
responsibility for the death of Jesus Christ. However, there is one more
point that I would like to make in my presentation. It is this…
- Sinners Are Responsible For The Death of Christ
Paul testifies, "…Christ died for our sins
according to the scriptures;" 1 Corinthians 15:3
He further says
Christ "was delivered for our offences…"
Romans 4:25. And in
Galatians 3:13
he says, "Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of
the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is
every one that hangeth on a tree:"
Next, Peter testifies: 1 Peter 2:24
"Who his own
self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to
sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed."
1 Peter 3:18
"For Christ also hath once suffered
for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being
put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:"
If you are wondering who is a sinner, the answer is --
Romans 3:23-26
"For all have sinned, and come short of the
glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth
to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his
righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the
forbearance of God; 26 To declare, I say, at this time his
righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which
believeth in Jesus."
Ladies and Gentlemen of the jury: I submit to you that
the Jews were responsible for the death of Christ. Pilate and the Romans
were responsible for the death of Christ. And, you and I are likewise
responsible for the death of Christ. I would also state for the record
that Christ could have stopped His death from taking place but did not
(John 10:17-18). He could have called the heavenly angels to come and
deliver Him but He did not (Matthew 26:53). Why? Because was on a mission
to pay for our sins and offer salvation to all who would believe (1 John
4:14).
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