Who Condemned Jesus? | Westside Eagle Observer

"So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified." Mark 15:15 (read v. 1-20)

Who condemned Jesus? Who found Him guilty and condemned Him to be put to death by crucifixion? Consider Mark 15:1-20.

It was, of course, Pontius Pilate. He examined Jesus, sought to release Him but ultimately commanded that He be crucified (cf. Matt. 27:11ff.). Yes, the Jewish chief priests, scribes and council accused Jesus and persuaded the people to demand He be crucified, but Pilate had the authority and issued the judgment!

But who was the real cause of Jesus' condemnation? Jesus was innocent -- without sin and righteous in His thoughts, words and deeds -- but our sins cried out, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" Though Jesus, the sinless Son of God, should have been acquitted and we condemned, God released us, laid our sins and their guilt upon Christ Jesus and condemned Him in our stead -- and not only to a horrible death by crucifixion, but to be condemned and forsaken of God Himself (cf. v. 34; Isa. 53:4-6,10; 1 Pet. 1:18-21; 3:18).

And because of this, God justly passed over and forgave the sins of all people who went before the Christ, and God justly has forgiven the sins of all who have lived since Christ's atoning sacrifice (cf. Rom. 3:21-26; 2 Cor. 5:18-21; 1 John 2:1-2). Because God the Father laid our sins upon Jesus and punished Him in our stead, you and I are pardoned and forgiven. We are made acceptable to God and forgiven for the sake of His blood shed for us upon the cross.

The Bible tells us: "He made us accepted in the Beloved. In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace" (Eph. 1:6,7).

Instead of condemning us to the punishment we have deserved, God condemned and punished His own Son and reaches out to us with pardon, forgiveness, mercy. He would have us accept and receive in faith His pardon and forgiveness. He would have us look to Him in faith and believe that in Christ Jesus we have forgiveness for all our sins and everlasting life! Cf. John 3:16, 18.

Dearest Jesus, holy Son of God, it was our sins that brought about Your condemnation. Our sins cried out, "Crucify Him! Crucify Him!" Thank You for bearing the condemnation for our sins -- for taking our place and suffering our just punishment -- that we might be pardoned and have everlasting life. Amen.

Community on 04/01/2015