The Blame for Jesus' Death

The saints in Acts 4 recited clearly who it was that rebelled against the Lord Jesus and put Him to death: Herod, Pilate, the Gentiles, and the people of Israel.

We like to claim that we are not responsible for the actions of our nation, but all throughout Scripture, God imputes the wicked acts of rulers and kings to the whole people. This is an example of "federal headship."

In our own land we have embraced national responsibility by adopting democratic procedures. Now we are literally responsible for the criminal acts of our nation, because we select the rulers that carry out those acts.

Notice that God's people did not allow the people of Israel to avoid responsibility for Christ's death by shifting the blame off on the Romans, or even on the wicked Jewish rulers, the priests and princes of Israel.

At His trial, Jesus was betrayed by the whole nation of Israel. They cried out for His blood, and attempted to persuade Pilate to condemn Him to be crucified when Pilate had found Him to be a righteous man! They assured Pilate that Christ's blood would be on their hands, not his, and upon their children.

Pilate still bore responsibility for Jesus' murder, because he had the duty to do justice, but allowed the mob to overturn justice.

The Apostles were not hesitant to assert the culpability upon their Jewish audiences, pleading with them to repent for the murder of their Messiah.

Peter and John rubbed their noses in the fact that, despite their wicked killing of the Savior, God had raised Him up and made Him King and Ruler anyway!

Stephen went further, pointing out the nation's historical crimes against God's servants, and against Christ.