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WHO KILLED JESUS? (2)
Victor M. Eskew

 

INTRODUCTION

 

A.    Last week, we began a two-part lesson entitled:  “Who Killed Jesus?”

 

B.      In that lesson, we found that at least five people or groups of people were involved in putting Jesus to death.

1.      The Roman soldiers

2.      Pontius Pilate

3.      The Jews/The Jewish leaders

4.      Judas Iscariot, one of Jesus’ apostles

5.      Satan

 

C.     There are at least four others who were involved in Jesus death as well.

 

I.                   ADAM AND EVE

 

A.    In the last section of our lesson last week, we noted several ways we could find Satan in the crucifixion events.

 

B.      He is closely tied to this point as well.

 

C.     God created Adam and Eve.

1.      They were created without sin.

2.      God put them in the garden to dress and keep it.

3.      He allowed them to have access to all of the trees of the garden, except one, the tree of the knowledge of good and evil.

4.      He warned them of what would happen if they partook of the fruit of that tree (Gen. 2:16-17).

 

And the Lord God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat:  but of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it:  for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.

 

D.    Satan, however, entered the picture and tempted the woman by denying the truthfulness of God’s Word (Gen. 3:4-5).

 

And the serpent said unto the woman, Ye shall not surely die:  for God doth know that in the day ye eat thereof, then your eyes shall be opened, and ye shall be as gods, knowing good and evil.

 

1.      There is no doubt Satan is an extremely powerful force.

2.      He will pull out all stops and will entice every desire to tempt man to sin.

3.      But, all he can do it tempt.  He cannot force one person to transgress God’s will.

 

E.      This is where the first couple becomes culpable in the death of Jesus Christ.

1.      The man and woman had a choice to make once they were tempted.

2.      We know the choice they made (Gen. 3:6).

 

And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.

 

3.      Sin had now been committed. 

a.      Remember, the sentence against sin is death (See Ezek. 18:20).

b.      Someone had to die. 

1)      It could have been the sinner himself.

2)      It could be a substitute.

a)      A comparable victim, that is, a human being

b)      A perfect sacrifice, one without sin

c)      NOTE:  That one was Jesus Christ the Son of God. 

 

F.      Had Adam and Eve never sinned, Jesus would have never died on the cross of Calvary.

 

II.                GOD

 

A.    This is the first individual on the list of those responsible for the death of Christ that comes as a shock to us. 

1.      God is holy and would do no evil.

2.      How could God be responsible for the death of Jesus?

 

B.      When God created men, three things were involved.

1.      God knew that man could commit sin.

2.      God knew the price for sin had to be paid.

3.      God loved man dearly.

4.      God did not want Satan to have ultimate victory over His creation.

 

C.     Thus, before the foundation of the world, God devised a plan that would enable man to be saved if he did transgress the will of God.

1.      Acts 2:23

 

Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God…

 

a.      God foreknew of Jesus’ death.

b.      It was a part of God’s “determinate counsel.”  In other words, it was determined, ordained, or appointed by God.

2.      Ephesians 3:10-11

 

To the intent that now unto the principalities and powers in heavenly places might be known by the church the manifold wisdom of God, according to the eternal purpose which he purposed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

3.      I Peter 1:18-20

 

Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:  who verily was ordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you.

 

D.    Because the death of Jesus was planned by God,

1.      It could be predicted beforehand by the prophets (Ps. 22:16; Isa. 53:1-12).

2.      Jesus could speak of the event during His sojourn on earth (Matt. 20:18-19).

E.      The Bible tells us that God “gave” His Son to us and “sent” Him into the world.

1.      John 3:16

 

For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son…

 

2.      John 3:17

 

For God sent not his son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world though him might be saved.

 

3.      I John 4:10

 

Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

 

III.             JESUS CHRIST

 

A.    God sent His Son to die for us, but He did not force Him to die. 

 

B.      Jesus said that He had the power to lay down His life for us (John 10:18).

 

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.

 

C.     When the multitude came from the chief priests to arrest Jesus in the garden, Peter pulled his sword and was willing to fight to save the Lord.  Jesus told him to put his sword up.  Now, listen to the full comment of Jesus (John 18:11).

 

Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath:  the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?

 

D.    There are several passages of Scripture that tell us that Jesus “gave himself” for us.

1.      Matthew 20:28

 

…and to give his life a ransom for many.

 

2.      Galatians 1:4

 

Who gave himself for our sins…

 

3.      Ephesians 5:2

 

…and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

 

4.      Ephesians 5:25

 

…even as Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.

 

5.      Titus 2:14

 

Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity…

 

IV.             ALL SINNERS

 

A.    When Adam committed sin, sin entered into the world (Rom. 5:12a).

 

Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin…

 

B.      Sadly, no man would be able to withstand the temptations of Satan.  In other words, all would sin.

1.      Romans 3:9

 

What then?  are we better than they?  No, in no wise:  for we have before proved both Jews and Gentiles, that they are all under sin.

 

2.      Romans 3:10

 

As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one.

 

3.      Romans 3:23

 

All have sinned, and come short of the glory of God.

 

C.     Again, the only remedy for sin is the shedding of blood (Heb. 9:22).

 

...and without shedding of blood is no remission.

 

D.    For any person who has committed a sin to be able to live, Jesus had to die. 

1.      Therefore, we are to blame for the death of Jesus.

2.      Yes, we should make this very personal.  I am responsible for the death of Jesus Christ.

 

CONCLUSION

 

A.    In this lesson, we have seen others who are responsible for Jesus’ death.

1.      The first couple, Adam and Eve

2.      God

3.      Jesus Christ

4.      All sinners

 

B.      Yes, deity planned the death of Jesus, but it was done out of love humanity, out of love for the enemies of God (Rom. 5:8-9).

 

But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him.

 

1.      It was the only way for God to be just.

2.      It was the only way for God to be just and justify the guilty.

 

C.     This kind of love is too deep for us to fully comprehend.  However, if our hearts are honest and sincere His love should produce love within our hearts.  This love should cause us to obey Him and receive the benefits of His death in our lives.