As I write this, it is Holy Week. I am in full preparation mode for three different services to celebrate the resurrection of our Savior. Easter Morning is always such a wonderful day, but I love our Good Friday service just as much. One question I frequently get is, “Who really killed Jesus?” Some say the Romans, and others say the Jews. I always reply that God used both to accomplish what He sent His Son to do. Did you know Isaiah prophesied about it 750 years before it happened?
Isaiah 53:10
Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.
Suffering Servant
Isaiah 53 is one of the four servant songs. This final one is known as the “suffering servant.” It vividly describes the suffering that Jesus endured while on the cross. The fact that Isaiah foretells it hundreds of years before it happens is mind-boggling. It wasn’t until the 12th century AD that Jewish rabbis acknowledged it and then tried to say the servant was Israel. We won’t go into those flaws, but suffice it to say the servant talked about here is Jesus. He fulfilled every one of these prophesies.
The Will of the LORD
It was the will of the LORD to crush Him. When the name LORD is in all caps, it refers to God the Father. God purposely sent His Son to be a substitute sacrifice for all humans. His one-time death was enough to cover every human who came after the cross. While the Jews and Romans played a role in this brutal death, it was God’s will for it to happen. He was a guilt offering for your sin.
Who Really Killed Jesus?
As you ponder the cross and empty tomb, I want you to think about who really killed Jesus? The Jews yelled crucify Him, the Romans nailed the spikes into His hands and feet, but it was His Father who sent Him. Some may see this as child abuse, but those who the Blood of Jesus has redeemed see it as amazing grace.