Why Did They Kill Jesus?

Mark 15:1-15

April 5, 2009 – ©Rev. Dr. Linnea E. Carnes

Introduction

On Sunday they waved palm branches and shouted, Hosanna! Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord! [Lk. 19:38]. On Friday, they shouted, Crucify him! Then they nailed him to a cross with a sign above him that proclaimed, This Is the King of the Jews! Hosannas on Sunday and Crucify on Friday. What happened? Why did they kill Jesus?

Many people wanted Jesus to be killed. Each had their own reasons. Each played a part in getting Jesus nailed to the cross. Who do we blame for this? Why did they kill Jesus?

Pilate’s Reasons

It would be easy to blame Pilate. He was the Roman governor who ruled over this territory. He had the authority to put a person to death even if they were not guilty.

When “the chief priests with the elders, the teachers of the law and the whole Sanhedrin … handed Jesus over to Pilate” [Mk.15:1], Pilate wondered why they brought Jesus to him? Why the rush?

Since the religious leaders couldn’t put Jesus to death, they had to convince Pilate to have him killed. Since they finally captured Jesus, thanks to Judas, they didn’t want him to sit in prison even for a day. They wanted Jesus put to death immediately.

Yet, Pilate couldn’t find a reason to sentence Jesus to death. In his eyes, Jesus was not guilty, especially something deserving crucifixion. Jesus didn’t say anything to indicate his guilt. So Pilate asked the crowd what he should do with Jesus.

They shouted “Crucify him!” Pilate knew Jesus was innocent, but he did what they demanded. Pilate gave in to satisfy the crowd. He agreed to have an innocent man killed because he didn’t want the crowd to start a riot.

It was the easiest solution to this problem. Jesus was just a nobody to Pilate. So he did what the people wanted him to do–had Jesus crucified.

Religious Leaders’ Reasons

Perhaps we should blame the religious leaders. They were the ones who brought Jesus to Pilate. They were the ones who demanded that Pilate have him killed. But why?

Mark 15:10 tells us that Pilate knew “it was out of envy that the chief priests had handed Jesus over to him.” Envy. The religious leaders realized that Jesus was more popular than they were. People followed Jesus everywhere. They talked about Jesus’ healings, his casting out of demons, his teachings, his feeding of thousands, and even his raising the dead. Jesus had become a super star.

In John 12:19 it says that some Pharisees said to one another, “You see, you can do nothing. Look, the world has gone after him!” They wanted Jesus killed because of envy. But there was another reason.

Several times in the gospels we read that the chief priest, the teachers of the law and the elders looked for a way to arrest Jesus … but they were afraid of the crowd. [Mk.12:12]. They wanted to kill him, but they were afraid because the crowd loved him. [Mk.11:18].

Two days before the Passover, “the chief priests and the teachers of the law were looking for some sly way to arrest Jesus and kill him.” [Mk.14:1-2]. Jesus spoke and acted with great authority and power and were afraid of him.

They heard Jesus speak of being the Son of Man, of God being his Father. If Jesus was the Son of God, they should be afraid. Yet they were willing to take the risk that he wasn’t. So if Jesus were dead, they wouldn’t have to be afraid of him.

Pilate wanted Jesus killed to satisfy the crowd. The religious leaders wanted Jesus killed because of envy and fear. Yet there was more to this story.

Jesus’ Reason

Consider for a moment the part Jesus played. When Pilate questioned Jesus, he said nothing. Pilate asked if Jesus was the king of the Jews. Jesus said, “You have said so.” [Mk. 15:2]. He admitted nothing.

As was prophesied in Isaiah 53:7, Jesus was silent.

He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.

When Jesus was brought before the high priest and all the religious leaders he said nothing. The high priest stood up before them and asked Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. [Mk.14:60-61].

Jesus never defended himself or spoke until the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?”

Then Jesus said, “I am. And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” [Mk.14:62].

Those are somewhat confusing words for us, but very revealing to those listening to him that day. These words are from Daniel 7:13-15, which describe a vision of what was to come.

“There before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”

One that appeared to be human, but was more than human. His authority came from God. All peoples worshiped him, and his kingdom will never end.

We hear these words and think of Jesus, God’s Son, the Messiah. I think that the chief priest and other leaders also heard Jesus claiming to be God’s Son, who came by God’s power and would rule with God’s authority.

Jesus’ words to the Jewish leaders were blasphemy. No human could claim such a thing. Therefore, Jesus must be killed.

Remember that Jesus answered no questions, and refused to respond to all accusations. Yet when asked if he was the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One, Jesus said “yes.”

Jesus could have kept silent. He could have refused to answer that question. Then they would have no evidence of his guilt. They would have had no grounds for seeking his death.

So, I wonder if Jesus realized that he had to give them a reason to accuse him of blasphemy.

· Did he know that he had to say the words that would force them to have him killed?

· Did Jesus speak up, not just because he was truthful, but so that they would have a reason to have him killed?

· Did Jesus realize that unless he went to the cross his mission couldn’t be fulfilled?

Once he spoke those words, his fate was sealed. We can blame the religious leaders or Pilate. But it was Jesus who gave them what they needed to put him to death. They killed Jesus because Jesus knew he had to die.

The reason Jesus had to be killed, had to be nailed to that cross, is because of us, because all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. [Rom.3:23].

Jesus spoke those words so that God could make it possible for us to be forgiven – even though not one of us deserves to be forgiven.

Jesus spoke those words so that our sins would be laid on him, and we could be freed from sin.

Jesus spoke those words so that one day we will be reunited with our God and Father.

· Jesus had to be killed for you and for me.

· Jesus had to be killed for all people who have yet to turn to him for forgiveness.

· Jesus had to be killed because it was the only way for God to show us how much he loves us.

· Jesus had to die so we can live.

In a few moments we will come to the Lord’s Table and share the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. We remember that he gave his life for us.

Jesus shared the bread and wine with his disciples, knowing that Judas would betray him and Peter would deny him three times that night.

He told them that this was his body broken for them and his blood shed for them. Yet every one of them ran away when the soldiers came to arrest him.

You and I do not deserve to come and receive this gift of grace at God’s table. Our sins also were the reason Jesus was killed. Yet we come and partake, just as the disciples did.

We come, forgiven, grateful, knowing that Jesus died for us.

We come and receive because in eating and drinking we know once again that Jesus loves us. Amen.

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This sermon is copyright ©2009 by Rev. Dr. Linnea E. Carnes, Immanuel Evangelical Covenant Church, Chicago, Illinois.