WHO KILLED JESUS?

During the Middle Ages, some parts of the badly misguided church killed Jews on their way to free Jerusalem from the Turks. These religious wars are often called The Crusades. The crusaders thought the Jewish people were guilty of Jesus’ death and wrongly called them “Christ-killers”.

Feelings can run deep even today about the question of who actually killed Jesus. But what does the Bible say? According to Matthew’s retelling, it seems like that the Romans were responsible. The Roman governor Pilate allowed Jesus’ death, even while saying He was innocent. And Roman soldiers took Him to the cross and executed Him. Yet Peter, preaching several weeks later in Jerusalem, accused the Jews themselves of crucifying Him (ACTS 2:22-24).

But the bigger point is that we are all responsible for Jesus’ death. On the cross, Jesus paid the penalty for the sins of both Jews and Romans, as well as for ours (1 PETER 2:24). He died for every person who has fallen short of God’s holiness (2 CORINTHIANS 5:15). That is why people who trust Jesus as their Saviour need to remember this truth: it is because of us—personally—that Jesus died.

Jesus died for all of us. Our sins cost Him His life. But by trusting Him, we now have forgiveness, peace with God and unending life with Him.