Many people, today, say that the Romans murdered Jesus. Many say the Jews murdered Him. Even Peter and Paul said the Jews killed Jesus. But, I'm always left with this question when I hear anyone blaming the Jews or Romans of murdering Jesus: is it possible to murder the Son of God, aka God Incarnate?
Now, I am aware of the circumstances and events and players in the crucifixion of Jesus. The Sanhedrin were actively involved in trying to kill Jesus. In fact, there were several instances where the mob of Jews tried to kill Him, but He always escaped. And, I am aware that it was Roman soldiers who actually nailed Him to the cross. Pilate was reluctant to put Jesus on the cross, having said to the people gathered when Jesus was brought before Pilate: "I find no fault in this Man."
But, my point is that even though there was a conspiracy to murder Jesus and even though the Romans nailed Him to the cross, did they really kill God Incarnate? Did they have the power to kill the Son of God? I don't think they did. The Bible tells us, in John 19:30, "When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, He said, "it is finished: and He bowed His head, and gave up the ghost." It surprised the Romans when they went to break His legs so that He would die to find that He was already dead. Why? Because Jesus had not hung on the cross long enough to die from the effects of the cross and the beatings. Death on the cross took days, not hours. Jesus was only on the cross a few hours.
I also have to think about the fact that Jesus' death was prophecied many, many years before He was born. And we all know that Jesus was born to die and be resurrected because that was the only way to pardon the sins of all mankind and offer eternal life to us. Without His death and His resurrection, we would have no hope of salvation. So, was He really murdered?
I don't believe He was murdered. Murder involves killing someone, taking their life from them. Jesus gave up the ghost, willingly and at a time of His determining. While there was a conspiracy and there was a crucifixion, Jesus, Himself, appointed the time that He would die. He had accomplished what He came for: to be the blood sacrifice for the sins of mankind. When He had done that, He declared "it is finished," and He voluntarily released His spirit from His body. After all, He is God Incarnate, the Son of God and held the power of life and death in His hands. He raised Lazarus from the dead to prove that He held the power of life and death.
I hold that my Lord and Savior, the King of all kings, Emmanuel, Son of God voluntarily gave His life for the remission of my sins. And He rose again to give me eternal life with Him in Heaven. If I allow that He was murdered then I have to say that He did not give up His life willingly, therefore there would be no eternal remission of sin. He would have been just like other sacrifices where the victim did not die willingly and sins would have only been forgiven up to the point of the sacrifice. Any sins committed after the sacrifice would need to have another blood sacrifice to cover those sins.
So, even though murder was the intent of the Sanhedrin, the chief priest and even the Roman soldiers. They did not have the power to kill the Son of God. Only Jesus had the power to give up His life. He died willingly because He loved the world so much that He wanted the world to know there was eternal salvation available to have a true, lasting, honest relationship with Almighty God. And I'm so grateful that He did.
