Two Reasons Why We Need to Know Who Killed Jesus

Why do we need to know who killed Jesus?

1. We live in a blame casting and credit gathering society. We need to be sure that we can pin all the blame for bad things on someone else and that we can claim all credit for the good things. The goal is for one other person to get the blame and for me to get the credit.
2. Number 1 is wrong. The tentacles of good and evil are so complicated that only a just, all-present, all-knowing God can sort it out. And he will.

Who killed Jesus?

Judas did. Jesus said that it would have been better for Judas if he were never born. (Matthew 2:24; Luke 22:22; John 17:12)

Jewish people who were there did. The accounts of the gospels and the preaching recorded in Acts declare Jewish guilt. (Matthew 27:24-25; Acts 2:22-24; Acts 3:13; Acts 4:27

Jewish leaders who were there did. Jesus and the preaching recorded in Acts spoke of the guilt of the Jewish leaders. (John 19:11; Acts 4:10; Acts 5:30)

Herod did. (Acts 4:27)

Pilate did. (John 19:11; Acts 4:27)

Gentiles who were there did. (Acts 2:22-24; 4:27)

Those who trust in Jesus for the forgiveness of their sins did. (1 John 2:2)

Satan did. Satan empowered Judas. (Luke 22:3; John 13:27)

God did. (Acts 2:22-24)

Jesus himself did. Jesus told his followers that he had received a command from God to lay down his life and that he was obeying that command. No one took Jesus’ life from him. He gave his life and he took it up again. (John 10:17-18)

Why does this matter?

We live in a world where good and evil are very complicated.

Jesus, and later his brother James, warned Christian leaders that they were responsible for actions of their followers. They would have a stricter judgment. Also, God would reward those who helped others in their service. (Matthew 10: 41-42; 18:6; James 3:1)

The tentacles of good and evil are so complicated that only a just, all-present, all-knowing God can sort it out. And he will.

When have you felt the effects of the actions of others in your life for good or ill?

When have others felt the effect of your actions for good or ill?