Mar. 17, 2012

Luke 23:13-17

Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers and the people, and said to them, “You brought me this man as one who was inciting the people to rebellion. I have examined him in your presence and have found no basis for your charges against him. Neither has Herod, for he sent him back to us; as you can see, he has done nothing to deserve death. Therefore, I will punish him and then release him.”

Who crucified Jesus?

Technically, of course, the Roman government did. They had to. The religious leaders could not. Doing so would have broken one of the Ten Commandments, the one that says, “Thou shall not kill.”

But we’ve just read how Pilate felt he could not kill Jesus. He had found no reason for such harsh punishment. He would have him beaten but that is it.

Several years ago when the movie, “The Passion of the Christ” was released, the Jewish establishment was appalled. They felt the movie casted the Jewish religious leaders in a negative way and over stated their involvement in Jesus’ crucifixion. They wanted people to ban the movie and asked for an apology from the producer, Mel Gibson.

Diane Sawyer addressed this issue with Gibson in an interview. She asked who caused Jesus’ death. Whether you are a Mel Gibson fan or not, listen to his answer, “Read the book, Diane. Read the book and see what it says.”

Sawyer looked at him a little puzzled and asked, “What book?” Gibson replied, “The Bible.”

I think there is another answer to the question, “Who crucified Jesus?” It is probably even less popular than Gibson’s answer. Here’s my answer: you and I. Every human being who has graced this earth and who will. We sin and somehow, our sin needs to be accounted for. God looked at our sin and decided to take care of it, once and for all, through God’s own flesh, God’s Son, Jesus Christ.

Now it’s your turn to answer the question. “Who crucified Jesus?”

Let us pray: Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Oh! Sometimes it causes me to tremble, tremble, tremble. Were you there when they crucified my Lord? Amen.

Blessings –

Dianne