(Weekly pamphlet outreach ministry)
Our message for 12-09-23
Our message for 11-18-23
“Who Nailed Jesus to the Cross?”
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Before Jesus was born there were hundreds of prophecies about the coming Messiah. One is from Isaiah 9 which says, “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder.”
From the beginning of His life, Jesus, the promised Messiah, had the government upon his shoulder. King Herod killed all the babies aged two and under to try to eliminate Him. God warned Joseph in a dream to flee to Egypt to avoid the massacre.
And it didn’t stop there. Throughout His years of teaching, Jesús was rejected by most of His own people, the Jews. He was born at the time of Roman occupation, and they were no friend to Him either. Ultimately, the Jewish leaders had Jesus arrested. He went through a mock trial, was beaten, and brought before the people where they cried out “Crucify Him!” Finally, the Roman leader Pontius Pilate washed his hands of the matter and Jesus carried His own cross upon His shoulder and was crucified. Does this mean that the Jews nailed Jesus to the cross? Does it mean that the Romans nailed Jesus to the cross? Was Jesus merely a victim?
The answer to all these questions is NO! Neither the Jews nor the Romans nailed Jesus to the cross and Jesus was NOT a victim.
Jesus planned for the cross. He went willingly.
He was born into the world specifically at that time of Roman occupation because of the cross. The cross was not a Plan B but was always THE plan. Jesus gave His life willingly. Let’s look at some scriptures to prove this: John 10:18 Jesus said, “No man taketh it (my life) from me, but I lay it down of myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again.”
John 10:11 Jesus said, “I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.”
1 John 3:16 “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.”
1 Peter 2:24 “Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed.”
No, it wasn’t the Jews or the Romans that nailed Jesus to the cross. It was the sins of mankind. We all had a part in nailing Jesus to the cross. He died willingly for you and for me to take away sin and shame and give us a new and abundant life. Why? Because of Love. Jesus said, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” (John 15:13) and, of course, John 3:16 “God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”
The Jews were not ‘Christ Killers” as it was said on banners at concentration camps during World War II. Jesus willingly gave His life for all of us!! He gave His life and then rose again thereby conquering death once and for all. He was no victim. Do you see how much Jesus loves you? Do you believe this? Are you a follower of Jesus? Put your trust in Him today!