The Death of the Messiah: Who killed Him

(By Henry Mate)

A couple of years ago ,I was asked a very pertinent question.
*Who killed Yehshua the Meshiach?”

My head swagged. If you were me, what would have been your answer?

I imagined going back some 1985 years ago and outside Jerusalem gazing at the saviour hanging crucified. Roman soldiers gambling for His garments. Suddenly one picks a spear thrusts it on Yehshua’s side. Blood trickled down.

John 19:34,”But one of the soldiers with a spear pierced his side, and forthwith came there out blood and water. 35 And he that saw it bare record, and his record is true….”

Dr.Luke mentioned the same in his book in chapter 13:

Acts 13:20-23 ;”And after that he gave unto them judges about the space of four hundred and fifty years, until Samuel the prophet. 21 And afterward they desired a king: and God gave unto them Saul the son of Cis, a man of the tribe of Benjamin, by the space of forty years. 22 And when he had removed him, he raised up unto them David to be their king; to whom also he gave testimony, and said, I have found David the son of Jesse, a man after mine own heart, which shall fulfil all my will. 23 Of this man’s seed hath God according to his promise raised unto Israel a Saviour (Yehshua).”

Earlier the Jewish leaders had accused Yehshua of sedition and blasphemy before the Governor:

Matthew 27:1-2,”When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death: 2 And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor”.

Have ever wondered why Pontius Pilate?. The answer may be in the meaning of his name in Greek.

Pontius -Greek pontios means bridge. Pontius was a bridge from one hill to another. One hill is Israel to another which are gentiles

Nb:It was a family title which was later Pilate -Gk pilatos=>meaning close and pressed= firm.This shows that the Governor was ‘strong willed’.

Matt.27:19-25 When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. 20 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. 22 Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. 23 And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. 24 When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it. 25 Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children”.

That was that. Now Yehshua is dead. Who is to blame?

Acts 4:24-28 “And when they heard that, they lifted up their voice to God with one accord, and said, Lord, thou art God, which hast made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is: 25 Who by the mouth of thy servant David hast said, Why did the heathen rage, and the people imagine vain things?
26 The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the Lord, and against his Christ. 27 For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together, 28 For to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel determined before to be done”.

How do you interpret verse 27? “For of a truth against thy holy child Jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both Herod, and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles, and the people of Israel, were gathered together”.

Let’s take a look at this verse:

Acts 2:23 “Him(Yehshua), being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain”.

Wao!

Not even the Jews and Gentiles, but Satan also.

John 14:29,”And now I have told you before it come to pass, that, when it is come to pass, ye might believe. 30 Hereafter I will not talk much with you: for the prince of this world cometh, and hath nothing in me”.

Those were clear words from the Master Himself.

The prince (Strong’s G758) of the world mean Satan was the ruler. He was the first in rank.

G758 ἄρχων archōn ar’-khone Present participle of G757; a first (in rank or power): – chief (ruler), magistrate, prince, ruler.

2 Timothy 2:26 And that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil (Strong’s G1228), who are taken captive by him at his will.

Who is he?

G1228 διάβολος diabolos dee-ab’-ol-os
From G1225; a traducer; specifically Satan (compare [H7854]): – false accuser, devil, slanderer.

Prone to slander, slanderous, accusing falsely, a calumniator, false accuser, slanderer, metaphorically applied to a man who, by opposing the cause of God, may be said to act the part of the devil or to side with him.

Now we have seen who and who was involved. In Acts 2:23, again we read that even Yehovah Himself foreknew it.

We read in Isaiah:

Isaiah 50:10 Who among you fears Jehovah, who obeys the voice of His servant, who walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of Jehovah and rest on his God. 11 Behold, all you who kindle a fire, who are surrounded with sparks; walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks which you have kindled. This you shall have of My hand; you shall lie down in sorrow. MKJV

I fear you have heard.

Zechariah 13:7, “Awake, O sword, against my shepherd, and against the man that is my fellow, saith the LORD of hosts: smite the shepherd, and the sheep shall be scattered: and I will turn mine hand upon the little ones”.

John 10:17b-18, “.. I lay down my life, that I might take it again”.

John 14:31 also says that Yehshua by laying His life was a command from the father; “But that the world may know that I love the Father; and as the Father gave me commandment, even so I do. Arise, let us go hence”.

Here, He is telling us not to keep arguing who killed Him, but to ‘arise’ and think about the primary need for His death.

His precious offer(death) brought redemption as 1 Peter 1:18-21 affirms,

“Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: 20 Who verily was foreordained (G4267) before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, 21 Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God”.

We need to thank Yehovah for this gift. Alelluya!
Yes, this offer was foreordained even before the world was made?

G4267 προγινώσκω proginōskō prog-in-oce’-ko
From G4253 and G1097; to know beforehand, that is, foresee: – foreknow (ordain), know (before).

The word foreordained in Greek is pro-ginosko.

pro=before ginosko=planned

The thing was known to happen, before it was physically planned.

But then, “Who is to blame for His death?”
We ALL were!
📣📣john 3:16📣📣

“For Elohim so loved the world that He gave His only brought-forth Son, so that everyone who believes in Him should not perish but possess everlasting life”.