WHO REALLY CRUCIFIED JESUS?

Who really crucified Jesus? The Bible tells us that the Messiah, who was to come to earth the first time, would be from everlasting, meaning He would be God, for no one but God is Everlasting. The Jewish prophet Micah foretold that this Messiah would also be King or Ruler in Israel. (See Micah 5:2).

Though He would be from everlasting He would empty Himself and humble Himself, to be born into humanity in the city of Bethlehem. It was predicted that He would be of Israel but His own people, as a nation, would reject Him as their Messiah-King. God foretold through the Jewish King David, and other Jewish prophets, that this Messiah would die a shameful, agonizing death at the hands of sinful men, and that God would count the entire world as being guilty of this sin.

"Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord, and against His anointed,..." (Psalm 2:1,2)

At the time this prophecy was given, the word "heathen" referred to the Gentiles. The Hebrew word is "goyim." They were strangers to God. The word, "people" refers to Israel. God called them many times by the term: "My people." The Kings and rulers during the fulfillment of this prophecy, were Gentiles. The word, "anointed," from the Hebrew, is "Messiah," and from the Greek is "Christ." We read this prophecy again as a quote in the second half of the Bible.

"Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things? The Kings of the earth stood up, and the Rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against His Christ. For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the gentiles, and the people of Israel; were gathered together, For to do whatsoever Thy hand and Thy counsel determined before to be done." (Acts 4:25-28)

So we discover that both Gentiles and Jews were to be against God's Messiah, Jesus. Since the Gentiles were mentioned first in this prophecy, let us consider them first. At the time of Christ, Rome, a Gentile government, ruled the world. She controlled all the laws and governments, and had the power to sentence slaves, criminals, foreigners and traitors.

Centuries before Rome came into power, two hundred years before the method of crucifixion was known, and one thousand years before it was fulfilled, the Messiah, through David prophesied how He would die!

"My God, my God why has thou forsaken me? Many bulls have compassed me: strong bulls of Bashan have beset me round. They gaped upon me with their mouths, as a ravening and a roaring lion. I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels. My strength is dried up like a potsherd; and my tongue cleaveth to my jaws; and thou hast brought me into the dust of death. For dogs have compassed me: the assembly of the wicked have inclosed me: They pierced my hands and my feet."  (Psalm 22:1,12,18)

Here, the "wicked" were the Gentiles who were the unbelievers at that time. It was predicted that they would pierce Messiah's hands and feet. The Hebrew translation of this last part is: "Like lions at my hands and feet" showing violence as if a lion attacked. We read in another Scripture that when Messiah returns, the people will look upon Him whom they have pierced or thrust through. But the Lord also gives a promise:

"And I will pour upon the House of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon Me Whom they have pierced (thrust through), and they shall mourn for Him, as one mourneth for his only son..."   (Zechariah 12:10)

The Messiah gave another prophecy of His death and the part the Jews and Gentiles would have in it:

"And Jesus going up to Jerusalem took the twelve disciples apart in the way, and said unto them, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of Man shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver Him to the gentiles to mock, and to scourge and to crucify Him: and the third day He shall rise again."(Matthew 20:17-19)

What part were the Gentiles to have in this death of Messiah? The words of the prophecy answer the question: They were the ones who would mock Him, scourge Him, and actually crucify Him! This was fulfilled exactly as Messiah predicted. There was no Jew in the army of Rome - all were Gentiles and these Gentile soldiers did what Messiah said they would: They mocked Him, scourged Him and committed the actual deed of crucifixion!

What part were the Jews to have? Messiah said they were to betray Him, condemn Him, and turn Him over to the Gentiles. This took place exactly as Messiah prophesied. Judas, one of the twelve disciples of Jesus, who were all Jewish, betrayed Jesus and turned Him over to the Gentiles. Messiah predicted that the Jews would condemn Him to death by crucifixion, and this they did when they cried out: "Crucify Him! Crucify Him:!

The Gentiles committed the actual act of crucifixion. The Jews turned Him over to the Gentiles to do this, for this was not a Jewish method of execution. Therefore, both Jews and Gentiles were guilty! God concludes all mankind was responsible for the death of Jesus because all mankind is sinful and needs a Saviour.

The plan of God, from before the foundation of the world, points to a pure, innocent blood sacrifice. God used man to carry out His plan for their redemption. God gave His Son. The Son of God, the Messiah, willingly gave up His life, and the Holy Spirit gave His ability to Christ to lay down His life for the world. But, thank God, Messiah Jesus did not remain dead; He arose according to the prophecy in the Hebrew Scriptures. HE IS ALIVE TODAY AND IS COMING AGAIN VERY SOON!