Why Did Jesus Die on the Cross? Sinful Humans Put Him There

1. Read: 1 Corinthians 2:1-8

2. About the Text:

1) God’s wisdom is often hidden from men.

2) This was the case in Jesus’ death on the cross.

3) The rulers of Jesus’ day would not have crucified Him if they knew God’s wisdom.

4) Of course, in their human sinfulness, they did crucify Jesus.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. “Then the chief priests and the Pharisees gathered a council and said, ‘What shall we do? For this Man works many signs. If we let Him alone like this, everyone will believe in Him, and the Romans will come and take away both our place and nation’” (John 11:47-48).

2. “Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death” (Matthew 26:59).

3. “Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, ‘He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! What do you think?’ They answered and said, ‘He is deserving of death.’” (Matthew 26:65-66).

4. “Likewise the chief priests also, mocking with the scribes and elders, said, ‘He saved others; Himself He cannot save. If He is the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, and we will believe Him.’” (Matthew 27:41-42).

5. But it wasn’t just the Jewish rulers that put Jesus on the cross.

1. “And one of them, Caiaphas, being high priest that year, said to them, ‘You know nothing at all, nor do you consider that it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish.’” (John 11:49-50).

2. Read Matthew 27:20-23.

3. “And all the people answered and said, ‘His blood be on us and on our children’” (Matthew 27:25).

4. But it wasn’t just the Jewish people that put Jesus on the cross.

1. The chief priests, elders, scribes, and council delivered Jesus to Pilate (Mark 15:1).

2. Pilate put Jesus on the cross.

1) “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).

2) John 19:12-16

3. Roman soldiers put Jesus on the cross – Matthew 27:27-31.

4. But it wasn’t just the Romans who put Jesus on the cross.

1. Judas was one of Jesus trusted disciples.

2. He was trusted enough to keep the money-bag (John 12:6).

3. “Then Judas Iscariot, one of the twelve, went to the chief priests to betray Him to them. And when they heard it, they were glad, and promised to give him money. So he sought how he might conveniently betray Him” (Mark 14:10-11)

4. “And while He was still speaking, behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, ‘Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?’” (Luke 22:47-48).

5. But it wasn’t just Judas Iscariot that put Jesus on the cross.

1. “Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad” (John 11:51-52)

2. “For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures” (1 Cor.15:3).

3. Isaiah 53

4. “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” (1 Peter 2:24).

1. Why did Jesus Die on the Cross?

1) The Jewish Leaders Put Him There

2) The Jewish People Put Him There

3) The Romans Put Him There

4) Everyone Put Him There

2. Invitation