1. Who Killed Jesus? The Cross – Part 2 1 Peter 2:21 - 24

2.   To be “saved” means: the receipt of forgiveness for my sins so that upon my death my soul spends eternity with God; and, my salvation is the experience of abundant life on this side of death’s door.   James 1:21, John 10:9-10, 17:3, Colossians 2:13-14

4. Who killed Jesus?   Candidates? 1. 1.Pilate, Roman Governor of Judea, who gave the order? John 19:6-16 2. 2.The Jewish Religious leaders who delivered Christ to Pilate?   John 19:11; 11:47-53; Matthew 23:29-35 3. 3.??

5. Who Killed Jesus?

6. If Christ was the victim? Why antagonize those who could kill him? 1. 1.Blasphemy – Lev 24:16: Authority to forgive sins. Matt 9:2 Son of God. John 10:33; 19:7; Luke 22:69 2. 2.Messiah. Matt 26:64 3. 3.Accused of making the Temple a den of thieves. Mark 11:15-18 4. 4.Challenged the authority of religious leaders. Mark 11:16

7. If Christ was the victim? 5. 5.Religious leaders were a “brood of vipers” going to hell. Matt 23:33 6. 6.Why silent before Pilate? John 19:8-10 Beg for his life? Give Pilate respect? Deny he was king of the Jews? Deny he was a threat to Caesar? 7. 7.Perform a miracle? Rally his followers?

8. Suppose Pilate nor the Jewish leaders killed him? Then who did?   What does the Bible say about who killed Jesus? 1. 1.Pilate was “given authority” by God over Jesus. John 19:11; 10:39 (eluded) 2. 2.Religious leaders had greater sin. They did what those before them had done – they killed the prophets. John 19:11; Matt 23:29-36 (predictability of evil)

9. Suppose Pilate nor the Jewish leaders killed him? Then who did? 3. 3.Christ predicted his death. He told Peter his words were from satan when he tried to talk him out of it. Matt 16:23 4. 4.Decision to go to the cross was Christ’s own choice, own initiative. John 10:17- 18 5. 5.Christ said to lay down one’s life for his friends was the greatest testament of love. John 15:13

10. Suppose Pilate nor the Jewish leaders killed him? Then who did? 6. 6.Jesus said and did only what the Father told him to say and do, including being given the authority over his own death. Pilate had what had already been given to Christ. John 5:30; 8:42 7. 7.Jesus entrusted himself to God – even to death on the cross. Matt 26:39; 1 Peter 2:21-24

11. Who killed Jesus? God did. 1. 1.He prophesied of his death, even the method of his death. Isaiah 53; Psalm 22   He models it. Gen 22:8-18 2. 2.He planned it before the foundation of the world. Ephesians 1:4 3. 3.He gave his Son over to it. Romans 8:32 4. 4.He knew what the powerful religious leaders would do when given the chance. Matt 23:29-36

12. God killed His Son. Why?   God allowed the predictable, free will of evil in the hands of the religious leaders to go its own way; to sow to the flesh and from the flesh reap the fruit of evil, death. Then, God took the consequence of that evil, the death of Christ, and used it to serve His good purpose – to save sinners from death. God redeemed humanity by redeeming Christ’s death. Isaiah 53.

13. God People

14.   God planned his death before it all began.   God prophesied his death so we would know he was behind it.   Christ accepted it, in spite of its cost   Christ freely embraced it trusting himelf to God.   God gave him over to it.   God redeemed it, turning it into good so that we might be redeemed.