3/13/2016 10:15 a.m. Let me make four statements as we ask this most important Rainsville First Baptist Church question - "Who Killed ?" Killing Jesus Series #1 I. The death of Jesus was not an accident or suicide. Who Killed Jesus - God Did His death was planned and was not an accident. Luke 9:22, 43-45, 51-56; 13:31-35; 18:31 Becuase Jesus said, "I lay down my life..." some have said His Bill O'Reilly, a host, has been writing a series of books death was a sucide. But it was not. with the "Killing" theme. If these people were not already dead (all except one) then we'd be concerned about his motivation. But Suicide has no meaningful purpose. Jesus’' death was purposeful. he has written books entitled "," "," "," "." Suicide is selfish, Jesus' death was selfless.

I thought it was funny there is a 99 cent entitled "Killing O'Reilly." Suicide leaves a wake of grief and despair. Jesus' death leaves a Some of you might want to buy that book. haha wake of rejoicing, forgiveness and hope.

But he has also written a book entitled "Killing Jesus." This short He was killed.... series of messages that I've chosen to entitle "Killing Jesus" is not a book review of Bill O'Reilly's book. 2. The death of Jesus was purposeful

Instead, I just want to borrow that title to share with you in these It was his vocation. The cross was his vocation. three messages about the death of our Lord as expressed through the eyes of Luke. It was for this reason for He came.

There are at least eight different passages in Luke referring to the 9:51 "set his face" death of Jesus: Luke 5:35; 9:22, 43-45, 51-56; 12:50; 13: 31-35; 17:25 and 18:31. Note - every note of his death in chapter 9 (9:22 and 9:51) is followed with Jesus' challenging his disciples to "take up their Then Luke 9:51 through 19:44 has no parallel in any other cross" and "to follow Him at all cost." We will deal with this in where Luke shares how Jesus was traveling to . Almost the fall when we talk about discipleship from Luke, but the call to half of Luke is about the last six months of Jesus' life and all surrender all to Christ and to follow Him with no reservations is focused toward Jerusalem. The death of Jesus was not an accident always in light of Jesus' ultimate sacrifice of giving all for us. and He was not a victim. John 6:38 "For I have come down from heaven, not to do My own will, but the will of Him who sent Me." But the question remains....who killed Jesus? If this was a murder In the context of Jesus' death Hebrews 9:9 "then He said, 'Behold, I series on TV or a book series, we would ask, "Who did it?" If this have come to do Your will, O God." was a court of law, we would want to know who is responsible for the death of this man so we can hold him accountable. And when Jesus was anguishing in the Garden just hours before His death, it was this He turned "not my Will, but Yours, be done." Who Killed Jesus? (Luke 22:42). The possible answers:

3. The death of Jesus was necessary. 1. The Jewish officials

9:22 There are five stomach punches Jesus gives his disciples. On It was the Jews who arrested Jesus and delivered Him to the the heels of this great confession that Jesus is the Christ Jesus tells Roman official for execution. Jesus went through three religious them your view of the Messiah is not the view of God's. trials and three civil trials.

The popular or American view of Jesus may not always be the First he went to Annas, then to , then the trial before the Biblical one. Sandrehein. Then He went to Pilate, then Herod and back to Pilate. "He must" speaks of a moral, spiritual and logical necessity. Caiaphas, the high priest, declared, “His blood shall be on us and "He must suffer" - necessary. It was no accident - but a divine on our children.” (Matthew 27:25). necessity. Acts 2:23 b “you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and "Be rejected" - to repudiate. to refuse to accept or be associated put to death;” with. The verb means to reject on scrutiny or trial, and therefore implies deliberate rejection. Acts 2:36 “Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord "Be killed" - to kill, to slay, to destroy. He was killed....no doubt and Christ.” of the extreme nature of his death. He did not just go into a comma. 2. The crowd

"Be raised" succumbed to the influence of yet a third party who contributed to the death of Jesus, the crowd in Jerusalem who kept Suffering always precedes glory. shouting, “Crucify Jesus!” (Matthew 27:23). Death always precedes life. 3. The Romans

The Romans were the only authority that could officially crucify Isaiah 53: 4 "Surely He took up our pain and bore our suffering, people. It was in Pilate’s hand but he wanted to give up a criminal. yet we considered him punished by God, stricken by him and He figured that the crowd that had hailed Jesus as their King just afflicted." days prior, that they would want Jesus released. Instead, they wanted Jesus crucified. So, Pilate conceited to it. Isaiah 53:10 “Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise (crumble, crush) Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an But the answer is...... offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, 4. God did...The death of Jesus was at the hands and heart of a And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand. loving and gracious God. Romans 5:8 “God showed His great love for us by sending Christ The staggering theological truth is that in addition to His to die for us while we were still sinners.” willingness to go to that dreaded tree, Jesus’ crucifixion was part of God’s decree before the dawn of creation that the Son should John 3:16 “God so loved the world….” make this sacrifice. What God did not permit Abraham to do with his only son, I Peter 1: 20 “He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of Isaac,...God did not show that restraint with Himself. the world, but was manifest in these last times for you

Revelation 13:8 “book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.”

Thus it would not be inaccurate to say, God, the Father, killed God, the Son.

Peter said at Pentecost that Jesus “was delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God.” (Acts 2:23) and in his second sermon Peter further underscores the divine role: “But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.” (Acts 3:18)

Further after Peter’s arrest and in the believer’s prayers clearly acknowledges the Father’s role by noting the human agents of His crucifixion did “whatever Your hand and Your purpose predestined to occur.” (Acts 4:28)