It is very important for a person to know who put Jesus Christ to death, and why He was put to death. Why ? First of all it is in the Bible, and it is a good thing to study the scriptures, and second of all, because the cross of Jesus Christ is at the very heart and center of the Christian Gospel. If you take away the cross, then there would be no hope for any person in this world in which we live today.
There might be some who would be reading this article who would say that we all put Jesus to death because we are all sinners. There is absolutely no question about it that every single one of us is in need of that blood atonement which took place on the cross, but in this article I will talk about the part that Israel played in this whole thing. It is most important that we understand this because the cross is most definitely connected with the Old Covenant (Old Testament), which most Jewish people would agree is scripture. First of all I would like to share a passage from the New Covenant (Testament) where Peter stood up to the Jewish religious rulers of his day, and where he implicated them in the crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
Be it known unto you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom ye crucified, whom God raised from the dead, even by him doth this man stand here before you whole. This is the stone which was set at nought of you builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. (Acts 4:10-12)
What I want you to see here is that the cross of Jesus Christ eliminates all false “gospels” and any other “religion” or “faith” which would seek salvation elsewhere! The apostle Peter was bold in his proclamation here, and he was speaking to the people of Israel. Did you notice the words “whom YE crucified”? Peter was well aware, that it was the Jewish leaders who were behind the death of Christ! If you go back a couple of chapters in the book of Acts (read it) you will see that Peter once again was speaking directly to the men of Israel.
Ye men of Israel, hear these words; Jesus of Nazareth, a man approved of God among you by miracles and wonders and signs, which God did by him in the midst of you, as ye yourselves also know: Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Whom God hath raised up, having loosed the pains of death: because it was not possible that he should be holden of it. (Acts 2:22-24)
Peter brought out the fact that Jesus had performed miracles in their very midst, along with signs and wonders, and yet they (the men of Israel) took Him by their “wicked hands” and crucified Him! Peter also pointed out the fact that all of this happened by the “determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God.” That is most important because it is plainly speaking about the prophecies of the Old Covenant (Testament) which included one regarding the death of Jesus Christ. You can read Isaiah 53 and you find an accurate prophecy about the death of Christ which was given about 700 years before the event actually happened!
Peter spoke about Christ being “raised up” (the resurrection) because the pains of death could not hold Him, and that is the great victory for the believer in Jesus Christ. So on the one hand we have Israel being held responsible for the death of Jesus Christ, while on the other hand they can also benefit from that same death by repenting of their sins and trusting Jesus Christ! Listen to Peter preach his heart out here:
Men and brethren, let me freely speak unto you of the patriarch David, that he is both dead and buried, and his sepulchre is with us unto this day. Therefore being a prophet, and knowing that God had sworn with an oath to him, that of the fruit of his loins, according to the flesh, he would raise up Christ to sit on his throne; He seeing this before spake of the resurrection of Christ, that his soul was not left in hell, neither his flesh did see corruption. (Acts 2:29-31)
Peter made it clear to the people of Israel that the (famous) David of the Old Covenant was dead and buried in the ground. In other words, Peter was making the point that David died, just like any other flesh and blood human would have died. Then Peter made it clear that this same David, prophesied that God would raise up a descendant of his (from his loins) to sit on his throne. Peter then made it clear that the person whom David was prophesying about was Jesus Christ. Peter said that David was speaking (prophesying) about the resurrection of Jesus Christ! Peter was contrasting the earthly David who died, and whose bones remained in the grave, against the Christ (Messiah) Jesus (who came from above), who would be killed but who would also be raised up again from the dead.
This Jesus hath God raised up, whereof we all are witnesses. Therefore being by the right hand of God exalted, and having received of the Father the promise of the Holy Ghost, he hath shed forth this, which ye now see and hear. For David is not ascended into the heavens: but he saith himself, The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou on my right hand, Until I make thy foes thy footstool. Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly, that God hath made that same Jesus, whom ye have crucified, both Lord and Christ. (Acts 2:32-36)
This is the third passage of scripture that I have given you that mentions the people or (house) of Israel crucifying Jesus Christ. Peter points out the truth that they (Israel) crucified Him, but God has made Him (Jesus) both Lord and Christ! It is most important for you to understand this, because we are living in a day when the false Gospel of Zionism is being propagated on a very wide scale. I remind you that this Gospel is not about a piece of property over in the Middle East, but it is about the souls of men (and women) throughout the world, who need to repent and believe the Gospel to be saved from the wrath of God. (John 3:36) The Old Covenant flows beautifully into the New Covenant, and the modern day TRUE Church is made up of people, both Jewish and Gentile, who recognize Jesus to be their Lord, and Christ (Messiah).
The “Christian Zionist” people will make the accusation against people (like myself) that we preach a “replacement theology” which is totally false accusation. I tell people, that the Gentile believers (like myself) have been grafted (Romans 11:17-24) into the “good olive tree” (of true Jewish believers) who are also in the only TRUE VINE (John 15:1) which is Jesus Christ Himself. I (as a Gentile) have become part of the ONLY TRUE ISRAEL (OF GOD) which is made up of both Jewish and Gentile, BIBLE BELIEVING CHRISTIANS, (Galatians 6:14-16) This same “Israel of God” is the ONLY Israel that the Lord recognizes as His people! Every person on planet Earth has the opportunity to become part of this “Israel of God” through FAITH in Jesus Christ! The apostle Paul made it clear that it does not matter at all whether a person is circumcised or not. The only thing that matters is whether a person is a new creation in Jesus Christ! If a person has not the SPIRIT of God dwelling inside them, then they are still lost and dead in their sins! If you are reading this and you are Jewish, then you need Jesus Christ! If you are reading this and you are Gentile (non-Jewish) then you need Jesus Christ too!
But God forbid that I should glory, save (except) in the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world. For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature. (creation) And as many as walk according to this rule, peace be on them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God. (Galatians 6:14-16)
If any group of people could be accused of preaching a “replacement theology” it would be the “Christian Zionist” people who have replaced the wall of partition between Jew and Gentile, which was “broken down” when Christ was slain on the cross! (Ephesians 2:14, Galatians 3:28, Colossians 3:11) The FALSE GOSPEL of “Christian Zionism” will sometimes lead to very extreme views such as those of John Hagee of San Antonio, Texas, who has called for an attack on Iran in recent years. That is what is known as SPIRITUAL INSANITY! I have read articles, which were written by Christians, about John Hagee’s “Night To Honor Israel” meetings where Jewish religious people are honored, but there is not a trace of the Gospel being preached to them. That is from true Bible believing Christians (with discernment) who attended the meeting to see for themselves.
The term “Non Conversionary Meetings” is what is used to describe these meetings from what I hear. In other words they are not going to preach the Gospel to the Jewish people,and try to convert them. Sorry folks but that is truly a sign that Satan is at work, because it is only the Gospel that will set a soul free. (John 8:32, 2 Timothy 4:1-5) Satan knows that too, and he will do all that he can to divert attention away from the truth that can set a soul free! The spirit of anti-christ was described by the apostle John several times, (1 John 2:22, 4:3, 2 John 1:7) and it includes those who do NOT believe that Jesus Christ has come in the FLESH! Unbelieving “Israel” fits that description to the very letter, and they are the people who are being honored on those nights! Can you imagine what would happen if a man anointed with the Spirit of God, stood up in the pulpit at one of those “Non-Conversionary” meetings and preached the Gospel to the unsaved Jewish people who were being honored? Folks, that is what is supposed to happen. There is a GREAT DECEPTION in the land, especially in this country, and many have been swept away by it!
Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace, who hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make in himself of twain one new man, so making peace; (Ephesians 2:11-15)
How dare any preacher or Pastor (man or woman) stand in their pulpit and tell people (including Christians) that they are under a curse if they do not support Israel! My Bible tells me that the wall of separation between Jew and Gentile has been knocked down by the greatest event in human history, and that was by the death of Jesus Christ! My Bible tells me that I was once an alien separated from the commonwealth of Israel, and without hope, until the BLOOD of Jesus Christ brought me near to Him (Hallelujah!). How dare any Pastor or preacher try to put people under a bondage from which Jesus Christ has set them free! Not only that but if any group of people are under God’s curse, it would be in truth, the Jewish people who reject Jesus Christ as Lord and Messiah! And that is according to the scriptures! Why? Because it is only the death of Jesus Christ that nullified the Law itself! So the people from “Christian Zionist” crowd (including their followers) are telling people that they are under a curse if they do not bless Israel, but I tell people that the unbelieving Jew (and the unbelieving Gentiles) without Christ are under a curse, because it is only His blood that can redeem a soul! If anybody should be blessing anybody else it would be the other way around. The people who believe in Jesus Christ are doing the very thing that He called them to do, and that is to preach the Gospel to all people, and that most definitely includes the Jewish people throughout the world! (Matthew 28:18-20) Jesus told us that He would be with us until the very end, and He also tells us that He possess ALL power in both Heaven and Earth!. (Matthew 28:18-20) What greater BLESSING could their possibly be if you know that the Lord Jesus Christ is on your side until the very end! Folks, it is time to wake up and flee from the false Gospel of “Christian Zionism” and get back to basics, and preach the Gospel to both Jew and Gentile in EXACTLY the same manner!
Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 3:19-25)
The Old Covenant along with the teaching on the Passover Lamb and the shedding of blood pointed forward to the perfect Lamb of God who was slain for our sins. (Exodus 12, John 1:29) The teaching on the Day of Atonement also pointed forward to the sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross for our sins. It is only the blood that will atone for or sins! (Leviticus 17:11, Hebrews 9:22) Jesus Christ came to redeem us from the curse of the Law! Plain and simple, every person in Israel, (and the rest of the world) whether Jewish or Gentile, are without the ONLY BLOOD ATONEMENT for SIN that Almighty God Himself will honor, if they REJECT Jesus Christ! If a person tells you otherwise, you can rest assured that they are not preaching the one TRUE Gospel of Jesus Christ! It is only through the BLOOD Of Jesus Christ that a person can be JUSTIFIED in God’s Sight! (Romans 5:6-10)
For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them. But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith. And the law is not of faith: but, The man that doeth them shall live in them. Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree: (Galatians 3:10-13)
So as I end this article let us go back to the original question. Why did Israel crucify Jesus Christ? Israel crucified Jesus Christ because they (most) did not believe that He was the Messiah, and obviously they did not believe that He was their Lord either. Is it still that way today? Unfortunately yes. The majority of Jewish people as well as the majority of Gentile people still reject the counsel of God, which is found in the Bible. Where does that leave them? It leaves them (and any other person Jew or Gentile) still in their sins and under the Law of God, which will ultimately judge (and damn) them one day. The Law of God silences every person from justifying themself before God, and it is most unfortunate that most people (both Jew and Gentile) refuse to accept that simple and basic truth!