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Who Fault was it Anyway?
Mel Gibson's film "The Passion" caused a real stir. One of the criticisms has been that it was anti-Semitic because, opponents said, it blamed the Jews for the murder of Christ. Others who have seen the film said that this was not true.
The events concerning the betrayal and execution of Jesus Christ are a complex human drama, and the question remains "Who's fault was it?"
The Roman Soldiers
The
Roman Soldiers had a key role on that historic day. They where responsible for
carrying out all executions, physically nailing their victims to a cross. They
certainly seemed to enjoy their job. They mocked and sported with Jesus, adding
insult, shame and humiliation .
Through these men so much spite and venom was hurled at Christ. What possessed these men to behave so cruelly against this man from Nazareth?
Religious Leaders
Another group of people very
involved in the death of Christ were the religious leaders.
These men were supposed to be the representatives of God, to give moral leadership and guidance. They were supposed to be holy and pious. But they found themselves in conflict with this new teacher / prophet called Jesus. He accused them of fraud, self-indulgence and sham. Further more the general populous seemed to love this man because of the miraculous powers he displayed.
Eventually so great was the leaders’ desperation and fear that they broke their own laws to produce witnesses to lie about Jesus at two bogus trials they instigated. Normally these men where seen as deeply religious and upstanding citizens, but now they compromised everything for political expediency.
When there is real pressure and the looming possibility of failure, how many of us would still be led by our morals? Or would we sell out?
Pontius Pilate
The Roman governor Pontius Pilate was famed as being a clever but ruthless leader, a man capable of holding down sedition in that troubled Roman province. Then one day he finds himself in the middle of an historic argument. The Religious leaders had brought Jesus to Pilate, because only he could legally have him executed. They accused Jesus of various crimes, but Pilate quickly realised that envy was their real motive (Mark 15:10).
John 19:6-12 Therefore, when the chief priests and officers saw Him, they cried out, saying, "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" Pilate said to them, "You take Him and crucify Him, for I find no fault in Him." The Jews answered him, "We have a law, and according to our law He ought to die, because He made Himself the Son of God."
Therefore, when Pilate heard that saying, he was the more afraid, and went again into the Praetorium, and said to Jesus, "Where are You from?" But Jesus gave him no answer. Then Pilate said to Him, "Are You not speaking to me? Do You not know that I have power to crucify You, and power to release You?"
Jesus answered, "You could have no power at all against Me unless it had been given you from above. Therefore the one who delivered Me to you has the greater sin." From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, "If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar's friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar."
Pilate could find no way out of that argument. He seemed to be afraid of Jesus and the inner strength that he displayed, but he was more afraid of Caesar.
The Crowd
Another big factor in the events of that day was the attitude of the crowd that had gathered. Hundreds of people had come to watch Christ's trial. A week before these same people had held a procession as Jesus had entered into the city. They had waved branches and shouted praises “Hosanna to the Son of David! 'Blessed is He who comes in the name of the LORD!' Hosanna in the highest!" (Mat 21:9).
But the leaders of the day knew how to manipulate a fickle crowd. Those who had been singing this man's praises , where now baying for his blood.
Mark 15:13–14 … they cried out again, "Crucify Him!" Then Pilate said to them, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they cried out all the more, "Crucify Him!"
How dangerous mob law is. How unruly and unpredictable. Had they gone to see justice done? Where they interested in right or wrong? To them it was only sport, the fashionable thing to do.
Jesus
Someone else who played a part that day was Christ himself. Three times in the preceding years he had predicted his death by crucifixion.
He willingly submitted himself to the events of the day. He could have avoided it all, he had opportunity to escape, but instead he stayed and waited for his betrayer and arrest.
It was his love that made Jesus go through with the events of the day, that and his obedience to his heavenly Father.
Jesus believed there was purpose in his death, that he was being sacrificed so that God could forgive people their sins. He believed that his death would open a way for people to get to heaven - if they believed in him.
John 3:36 "He who believes in the Son has everlasting life; and he who does not believe the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abides on him."
God
The events of that day may show human nature at its worse. But what part did God, Christ's Father play in it? Peter the apostle explained:
Acts 2:22-24 "... Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know; {23} "Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death; {24} "whom God raised up, having loosed the pains of death, because it was not possible that He should be held by it.
Yes, God had allowed it, this was part of a divine plan, foretold centuries before by the prophets (Isa 53, Psa 22). The life of Jesus was given as a offering for sin. Your sin and my sin.
God's involvement didn't end there, three days later he proved his acceptance of the sacrifice by raising Christ from the dead.
You & Me
What part do you and I play in this event. Is it something confined to history or does it have a meaning for today? Are we responsible and accountable for our reactions to this event?
John 3:16-17 For God so loved
the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him
should not perish but have everlasting life. {17} "For God did not send His Son
into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be
saved.
It was for our sin that Christ died, as much as the bystanders of that day. Will we jeer with the crowd? Will we simply compromise in life and take the path of least resistance? Will we fear what others say and allow them to rule our lives? Or will we humble ourselves before the Son of God, confess our sins and ask his forgiveness. It was our sins that drove the nails in. It was his love for us that held him there.
The Roman officer on duty that day saw how different the death of Christ was compared to all the other people he had executed. He cried out: (Mat 27:54) "Truly this was the Son of God!"
Everyone else involved that day has since died. They all saw Jesus again, seated on his judgement throne. They were on trial for what they did with God's Son. One day you and I will also stand in that judgement hall. Let us prepare for that day now.
Let’s Pray
Father God, thank you loving me. Thank you for sending your Son Jesus to die for me. Sorry for the things that I have done wrong.
Please forgive me as I ask you to forgive those who have hurt and wronged me. Show me how you want me to serve you. Amen.
