Readings for today: Matthew 27:1-31, Mark 15:1-20, Luke 23:1-25, John 18:28-40, 19:1-16
Who crucified Jesus? Who was responsible for His suffering and death? Was it the Jewish people? Was it the religious authorities of His day? Was it the Romans? Pilate? All of the above? Certainly this passage has been used to justify some of the most horrific anti-semitism in history. Christians blaming the Jewish people for killing the Messiah. It’s a terrible misreading of the passage. Not all Jews wanted Jesus dead. Not all Jews even knew who Jesus was. A much better reading is to identify Jesus as the victim of a corrupt, 1st century political system. Trapped between the competing interests of ambitious religious leaders and their Roman oppressors. Caught up in the nationalistic currents that were sweeping the nation at the time. He was one of many would-be messiahs who would be killed during this particular stretch in history in Israel as the Romans tried desperately to maintain peace in a region where tensions were rising.
Who crucified Jesus? For the Christian, the answer is clear. I did. I was the one who put Jesus on the cross. It was my sin that held Him there. It was my unrighteousness and my ungodliness that required a sacrifice. I have no one to blame but myself. I cannot wash my hands of my responsibility. Jesus’ pain was the price of my salvation. Jesus suffered to make atonement for my sin. Jesus died to deliver me from death. If no one else on earth had ever sinned, Jesus still would have given Himself for me.
Make no mistake, Jesus was no victim. This was His plan from the beginning. From eternity, He was predestined to serve. Predestined to suffer. Predestined to die. He was not forced to do it for no authority in heaven or on earth or under the earth has any power over Him. He was not moved to do it as if Jesus were driven by emotion like the rest of us. He was not even asked to do it as if He was some kind of divine “plan B” just in case things with humanity didn’t work out. No, Jesus Himself says He alone has the power to lay His life down and take it back up again. Theologically speaking, Jesus has existed from eternity as the “crucified Lord” so in that sense one can argue that Jesus Himself is responsible for His suffering and death. He is the One who set these events in motion. He is the One who was bringing His plan to completion. Rather than cast blame, we should pause and marvel again at His great love and faithfulness.
Readings for tomorrow: Matthew 27:32-66, Mark 15:21-47, Luke 23:26-56, John 19:17-42, Psalm 22