Journey of the Word

You’re watching the scene unfold. The betrayal. The consultation. The feast. The noise of the crowds. The verdict.

And of course, you’re on the sidelines because you see the bigger picture. You would never be one to shout, “Crucify him!”

If you had to decide who was to blame for Jesus’ death, you’d probably accuse Pilate. After all, Pilate was the one who ordered the soldiers to carry out the execution. Pilate was the one who chose Jesus over Barabbas. Pilate’s fault.

So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. Mark 15:15

Pilate wouldn’t have released Barabbas if the crowd hadn’t pressured him to do so. Crowd’s fault.

But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. Mark 15:11

The crowd shouted, “Crucify him!” only because the chief priests knew what it would take to win Pilate. Chief priests’ fault.

Then Judas Iscariot . . . went to the chief priests in order to betray him to them. Mark 14:10

The chief priests had no opportunity to seize Jesus without Judas’ help. Judas’ fault.

Then Satan entered into Judas called Iscariot, who was of the number of the twelve. He went away and conferred with the chief priests and officers how he might betray him to them. Luke 22:3

But how can we blame Judas, when Satan was using him to get what he wanted? Satan’s fault.

It seems we’ve reached the bottom line. Judas wasn’t truly at fault, nor were the chief priests, the crowds, Pilate, or even the soldiers who nailed Jesus on that cross.

It all comes back to that deceptive serpent.

Yes, this little blame game sounds familiar.

The man said, “The woman whom you gave to be with me, she gave me fruit of the tree, and I ate.”
The woman said, “The serpent deceived me, and I ate.”
Genesis 3:12-13

So tell me. Who really killed Jesus?

 [image credit: pixabay.com]