“They murdered Jesus.”

I keep seeing this phrase these days and I am extremely troubled. I am forced to ask questions such as, “Is this person angry at the people who murdered Jesus? Angry at the world? Are they trying to fight for Jesus? I hope they aren’t bitter.” Thoughts like this keep going through my head for a couple of weeks now.

The phrase, “THEY murdered Jesus” is so hypocritical. Who exactly are the “THEY?” The Jews? Because if we are to really sit down and think about this, You and I including the Jews back in Jesus’s time and even the unborn children are the “THEY.” Because what exactly did Jesus come to earth to die for? The sins of the WHOLE WORLD.

For all have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23).

So on that cross, it wasn’t just the sins of the Pharisees, Sanhedrin and the Jews that got him there but that of you and I. The whole world.

Nevertheless, Jesus went to the cross because he chose to. Because he is the good shepherd and the good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep (John 10:11). All his sheep. Jews, gentiles, the whole nation. 

This is why the Father loves me, because I lay down my life so that I may take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down on my own. I have the right to lay it down, and I have the right to take it up again. I have received this command from my Father.”

John 10:17-19

 

NO-ONE could have murdered the Son of God if God didn’t ALLOW it.

Peter tried to stop him but Jesus said, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; you do not have in mind the concerns of God, but merely human concerns” _ Matthew 16:23.

Peter tried to stop him again from being taken by using violence and cutting the servant’s ear, yet Jesus said unto Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?” _ John 18:11.

Jesus said, “It is NECESSARY for the Son of Man to suffer many things, and to be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes, and to be killed, and on the third day to be raised” _ Luke 9:22.
Jesus could have saved himself from “murder” or from being crucified but he chose to go on that cross, stay there, die there, get buried and rose on the third day for “THEY” and “US.”

“For God so loved the world, that he GAVE his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.”

John 3:16-17

Emphasis on “GAVE.” Yes, some people were instrumental in killing Jesus, because they were sinful and wicked people just like you and I (before we got saved) but they only succeeded in killing Jesus because God gave and allowed it and Jesus also chose to lay down his life for us. 

Look at what Peter also said when he first spoke to the Jews after the Holy Spirit came upon him and others on Pentecost day.

Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. ²³ This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. ²⁴ But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”

So again, this was God’s plan and foreknowledge. He was not shocked and astonished about the death of Jesus because God uses even the wickedness of man for good.

So, I am concerned that when we say or focus on “They murdered Jesus,” we miss the whole point. We miss the “why” he was murdered. And most importantly we miss and focus less on the fact that “He rose again.”  Death could not keep him down.

JESUS IS ALIVE. He is NOT dead.

So why are we angry?
Jesus is not angry or mad at anyone. In fact, he prayed for their (our) forgiveness before he died on that cross. “Father forgive them for they do not know what they are doing” _ Luke 23:34.

The only one who ought to be angry at Jesus’s murder was the one who tried all possible best to stop it, Satan. Not because he loves Jesus. But because He hates him and he hates you too. 

So, please don’t dwell on or try to fight someone for “murdering” Jesus.
Let’s focus on what is important.
We are not called to be an activist and fight for Jesus.
We are called to proclaim him and share the good news.

“That that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures,  that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures” (1 Corinthians 15:3-4).

This is the Gospel (The good news of Jesus).

God bless.

You are Eternally Loved.