I KILLED JESUS

I Killed Jesus

Harry Stanek

(W.G.S.P.¹)

Who was the one killed? Jesus was killed; a humble carpenter, the son of a carpenter. ² Was he worthy of death? No! He was hated "...without a cause." ³

Jesus worked for the good of the people. He healed the lame, ⁴ made the blind to see, ⁵ made the deaf hear and the dumb speak. ⁶ He healed those afflicted with leprosy. ⁷ He even raised the dead. ⁸ But, who is Jesus in Truth? Jesus was, is, and ever will be, ⁹ "The Son of God." ¹⁰

Where was Jesus killed? Jesus was taken to a place outside the city of Jerusalem; a place "without the camp," ¹¹ as it were. Without the camp where the unclean were sent, so the camp (city) would not be defiled. ¹² The place they took the Lord Jesus to was called "Golgotha ... the place, of a skull,'' ¹³ and "He was numbered with the transgressors." ¹⁴ Ironic isn't it ? Think of it, the King of Glory where thieves and murderers were taken to be executed.

When did this murder take place? This happened over two thousand years ago. Yes, this happened a long time ago, but it also happened yesterday, today, and it will sadly happen on our tomorrow's - until the Lord comes again, of course. This was done, ironically, during a time of feasting the Jews call "Passover" - a time the Jews celebrate the Lord's sending the last plague on the Egyptians, when an angel of death did smite the first born of the Egyptians. It was a time when God's angel passed over and spared the Jewish people's first-born. ¹⁵ Ironic, because at the celebration of the same, the Jewish leaders and people would not spare the only begotten ¹⁶ SON OF GOD! The rejection of Jesus must end!

How was this death carried out and through what afflictions did Jesus pass? While the chief priests and elders questioned him, he was spat upon, pushed around, hit in the face repeatedly. ¹⁷ When Pilate questioned him he found no fault in him. ¹⁸ The Jews were not satisfied with Pilate's judgement and forced Pilate to offer a judgement of death! ¹⁹ While making this judgement, Jesus was sent to be scourged. (In those days the Romans took the victims and stripped, stretched, and bound them with cords on a frame then proceeded to beat them with cords; braided with pieces of metal and broken glass.) After he was scourged, the soldiers mocked His Deity, made a crown of thorns and placed it upon his head, and hit his head with a reed and spat upon him again. ²⁰ He was then taken to Calvary's hill and stripped of his clothing (the soldiers throwing lots for his clothing), ²¹ and nailed to a wooden cross (nailed through his hands and feet). He was then mocked again. And finally, as if this was not enough, he was pierced in his side; water and blood pouring out. ²² Jesus hung on that cross from the third until the ninth hour. ²³ Was the Holy One of God worthy of this torturous death? ²⁴

Now comes the reason why. Why was Jesus killed? The Jewish leaders believed Jesus to be a blasphemer because he said he was one with God, ²⁵ and they feared he would turn the people from their power; they were afraid that the Romans would displace them and their nation. ²⁶ The Jewish leaders considered that "...one man should die for the people, and not the whole nation perish." ²⁷ The truth is that without his death we could not be saved! ²⁸ He was born to die for all mankind. ²⁹ In accepting His death and believing he was and is Messiah, Savior, and Son of God; His death ³⁰ brings the death of ourselves - that is, the bondage of sin in our lives, to be replaced by freedom. ³¹ Freedom to enjoy the fruits of His Spirit, ³² to enjoy life abundantly, with and in Him. In believing Jesus as Messiah (Christ) ³³ Crucified, we must also believe Jesus Christ as Savior Resurrected; and His Holy Spirit as Comforter; ³⁴ sent to strengthen us through our trials and tribulations, to give us the hope of Eternal Life with Him.

Once again, Why did he die? He died to pay the penalty for our sins, ³⁵ for "the wages of sin is death." ³⁶ We cannot hope in this life to be worthy ³⁷ of the only True Life. We cannot work our way into this True Life, for, "by Grace are ye saved through Faith..." ³⁸ If it were by our works; we would fail most bitterly. Just look at the world we (mankind) are making for ourselves here and now. The world is getting worse, it seems as we try harder to better it. True, we can't change the world by ourselves because we are not of one mind and accord; but we ourselves can be changed, and we can be of one mind and of one heart in Jesus Christ! ³⁹

Now ... what will the consequences of this violent action against the King of Kings? On the one hand there is the distinct displeasure of God; and "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the Living God!" ⁴⁰ For, "of how much... punishment... shall he be thought worthy, who hath trodden underfoot the Son of God, and hath counted the blood of the covenant where with he was sanctified, an unholy thing..." ⁴¹ The word of God again states thus, "the wages of sin is death."  ⁴² And just as Adam and Eve, the first of mankind to sin, we in this life inherit sorrow and death. ⁴³ But hope in this life isn't all that there is; for "hope that is seen is not hope; for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?" ⁴⁴

We in this life, experience sorrows and pain and death (often painful death); but for the unbeliever, death is the beginning of sorrows and pains that will continue forever! ⁴⁵ Yes picture yourself in Hell: It isn't a friendly place, it isn't a fun place; your friends may be there but it won't change the fact that you're in Hell, and not in any way can it be compared to your life here and now.

Now on the other hand, there is the distinct pleasure of God, in the form of the very same act of violence. No, not in the sorrow, the pain or the death; but of the Love, Obedience, and Sacrifice of Jesus to the Father in Heaven, for mankind. "Greater Love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." ⁴⁶ We need that kind of Love, Obedience and Sacrifice that allows us/you to truly believe and give our hearts and lives to the Lord Jesus; to live to witness and Glorify His Being and His Truth; to live for Eternity in Heaven with Him.

We have now the rewards of the pro and con positions of the idea of belief in Jesus: Heaven or Hell; there are no other places. What exactly is Heaven? It is Freedom from want, the beauty and serenity of "Green Pastures, Still waters", absence of fear, the anointing and flowing over of goodness and mercy, assurance of dwelling with the Lord forever. ⁴⁷ There will be "no more hunger, no more thirst, no more tears." ⁴⁸ In a word, everlasting Peace. What exactly is Hell? It is a "furnace of fire." ⁴⁹ "Everlasting fire" ⁵⁰ "lake of fire" ⁵¹ "fire and brimstone." ⁵² In a word, Hell!!

How can one be assured of a place in Hell? It is simply but truly stated "for the wages of sin is Death." ⁵³ Surely Hell is a living Death: "... and there is no respect of persons." ⁵⁴

How can one be assured a place in Heaven? [1] Humble yourself, ⁵⁵ and understand that you can't make it without Jesus and His sacrifice; [2] confess your sins, ⁵⁶ thus acknowledging you are a sinner; [3] repent, ⁵⁷ or stated another way, turn around the living of your life with Christ in the center; [4] believe ⁵⁸ or trust in Jesus, that He is the way, the Truth and the Life, ⁵⁹ and there is none other; ⁶⁰ [5] "submit yourself therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."  ⁶¹ Remember. "Greater is He that is in you, than he that is in the world."  ⁶² As you do these, also continue  ⁶³ to "...press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus"  ⁶⁴ The reward? Peace in Heaven and joy with Jesus, forever!

Through the death of Christ we receive either one of these rewards. One might say that he or she was not there at the time of His death, so how can one be responsible. It is so because of the one thing we have in common with the Jews of that time: we all have at one time or another rejected God and His teachings; had hatred toward our parents, siblings or our fellow man; been guilty of lying, cheating or stealing, even of the smallest degree; have not trusted in God in all matters, and have just plain rejected Him. By each and every one of these acts we have hit the nails further into His body, thus producing more pain.

The facts are before you. What do you want to hear from the Lord on His day? "Come ye blessed of My Father, inherit the Kingdom,"  ⁶⁵ or "Depart from Me, ye Cursed, into Everlasting Fire." ⁶⁶

Yes, killed Jesus, but so did you! But we have the opportunity for Forgiveness, Salvation and Eternal Life. I choose Life; will you also? For, you see, I don't want to go to Heaven ... ALONE!

Harry Stanek © 1985
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