Saturday, 8^th April 2023

Alex Buabeng-Korsah

TOPIC: WHO KILLED JESUS?

THEME SCRIPTURE: “Therefore do my Father love me, because I lay down my life, that I might take it again.” – John 10:17

PREPARATORY QUESTION:

1. Really, who killed Jesus?’
2. What should be done to the one who masterminded the death of Jesus?

Many years ago I came across a Youtube documentary titled ‘Who Killed Jesus?’ The video sought to investigate the murder case of our Lord and the murderer behind it. Among the suspects the investigator brought out were, Pontius Pilate, The High Priests, Judas and a fourth suspect without a name. According to the documentary, Pontius Pilate was a suspect because Caesar had warned him that the next time commotion will break out in Jerusalem, he will be removed from post. The high Priest (Annas and Caiaphas) felt threatened by the ministry of Jesus. Judas, of course, sold him.

Interestingly, along the line, the investigator unveiled the fourth suspect. He queried, ‘What if Jesus masterminded His own death’.

Precious One, Jesus has died and everywhere is quiet. When there is no hope ahead, people begin to analyze the past, to see if they could have done something different. But in the case of our Lord, we have hope. Many times Jesus’ disciples had thought that the Master will be arrested and stoned to death but He assured them that the hour is not yet come. The night that soldiers came to arrest Him in Gethsemane, He said to the soldiers, “When I was with you in the temple, you stretched forth no hands against me: but this is your hour, and the power of darkness” (Luke 22:53).

By this, Jesus signified that his arrest and death is the will of the Father. For none can lay hands on Him except the Father has permitted.

Precious One, even though it was the will of the Father that Jesus should die, He had a choice, just as Adam had a choice. The Father has His will yet He gives Jesus a choice; Jesus has a choice yet He seeks the Father’s will. There is nothing as beautiful as the will of God uniting with the selfless obedience of His people. ‘Therefore do the Father love Me’, Jesus said. In the next verse to the theme scripture, Jesus continues by saying, “No man takes it [My life] from Me but I lay it down of Myself. I have the power to lay it down and I have the power to take it again…” (John 10:18).

Who killed Jesus? No one; it was Jesus who offered Himself as a perfect sacrifice for our sins.

It was a Just and Loving God, whose nature wouldn’t allow Him to be just without being loving, and loving without being just. So He chose to be just by demanding the payment for our transgressions, and also to be loving, by making the payment for us. Sometimes people feel so sorry and guilty that their sins brought suffering and death to Jesus. Yeah, to some extent they may be right. But the suffering of Jesus was a result of the quality of the Father’s love for you and I. Love is the drive.

Precious One, you are loved, so much that it is time to give honor unto this Lover of your soul. Hallelujah!

 

FURTHER READING – Matthew 26:53-56

Call to Salvation: If you have not received salvation yet by turning over your life to Jesus Christ, today is your day. Click here to do so. 

 

QUESTIONS TO HELP YOU MEDITATE ON THE WORD:

1. In what ways can we honor the love of Christ?

 

CONFESSION

Heavenly Father, thank you for my redemption through His blood, the total forgiveness of my sins. I affirm that I am the object of the love of God. So then, there is nothing good the Father will withhold from me. Therefore am I blessed beyond measure. Glory to God!

 

1-Year Bible Reading Plan

Numbers 26; Proverbs 18; Philippians 1; Philippians 2