In the most direct sense, the Roman soldiers crucified Jesus. They mocked and struck him (Mt. 27.29-30); they beat the crown of thorns into his scalp (Jn. 19.2); they drove the spikes through his wrists and ankles (Mk. 15.24); they pierced his side to be certain that he had died (Jn. 19.34). The soldiers were the ones who did “the dirty work” (Acts 2.23) but they were obeying orders.
Pilate ordered the soldiers to torture and crucify Jesus (Mt. 27.26). He bore the responsibility for his decision, and thus is guilty of crucifying the Lord, despite his feeble attempt to salve his conscience and dodge the blame (Mt. 27.24). He can be counted among the rulers of that age who did not realize whom they were killing (I Cor. 2.8). But the buck doesn’t stop with Pilate: he ordered the crucifixion in response to the demands of a rioting crowd (Mk. 15.15).
The crowd of Jews stood outside of Pilate’s porch and chanted “Crucify him! Crucify him!” They demanded the death of Jesus and denied his authority (Jn. 19.15). Fifty days later in the very same city, Peter addresses the Jews as a nation and accuses them of killing Jesus (Acts 2.23, 36). Still, the idea didn’t start with this crowd.
The Jewish leaders stirred the crowd into a frenzy (Mk. 15.11). This ruling group (elders, priests, scribes – Mt. 26.57) paid Judas to betray Jesus (Mt. 27.3-4); they mocked him and beat him (Mt. 26.67); they procured false witnesses to condemn him (Mk. 14.55-59); they asked for the release of a murderer and the death of the Messiah (Mk. 15.6-11); they scoffed while he died in pain (Lk. 23.35). They also fell under Peter’s condemnation (Acts 4.10) and could also be included among the rulers of the age who killed the Lord of glory without fully understanding what they were doing (I Cor. 2.8).
Of course, the crucifixion was not a purely human event: spiritual forces were at work as well. Satan’s hatred of Christ was shown in his motivation of human enemies (Jn. 13.27). The crucifixion is regarded by many to be Satan’s weak attempt to bruise the heel of the woman’s seed (Gen. 3.15); Christ’s effective atonement and triumphant resurrection crushed Satan’s head, however!
And ultimately, one cannot escape the heart-wrenching fact that God the Father crucified the Son. This deliberate plan to slay the Lamb was made before creation (Acts 2.23 I Pet. 1.19-20). Christ went to the cross in obedience to the Father (Phil. 2.8), not to Satan or sinful men!
It is commonly preached, sung and said that we also killed Jesus. “My sins nailed him to that cross.” “I was the one pounded the nails through his hands.” “We were the ones who crucified him.” In saying this, people usually mean that Jesus died for “my sin” as an individual and that “my sin” is really bad because it sent Jesus to such cruel death. While what those people mean is correct, I would maintain that such statements are biblically inaccurate.
First, I think it’s quite clear from our survey that many people had a part in the crucifixion. Those people, however, were all historically present. They played real roles in the crucifixion event itself. And the apostles clearly held those people responsible for their actions (Acts 2.23, 26; 4.10; I Cor. 2.8). I’m not aware of any passages that blame Jesus’ death on people who were not present on that specific occasion. Why does this matter? It matters because the wrong perspective (“I crucified Jesus; my sins nailed him there.”) elevates me and my sin to a level of actually causing the crucifixion. Wrong! God loving chose to send his Son to make atonement for sinners (Jn. 3.16); he was not obligated to do so. It would have been just to let each of us suffer the consequences of our sin, but God graciously provided a way for sinners to live. I didn’t nail Jesus to the cross with my sin; he chose to go to the cross.
Do you see the difference? It’s a difference of who’s making things happen. Jesus even told Pilate that Pilate wasn’t in charge of the crucifixion – Jesus was (Jn. 19.10-11; 10.17-18)! To put the contrast in other words, my sin did not directly cause the crucifixion; the crucifixion was God’s response to my sin. Jesus died for my sins, but my sins didn’t nail him to the cross.
Look at Paul’s perspective on what role our sins played in Jesus’ death: “And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross” (Col. 2.13-14). God did the nailing; the record of my sin was fixed to the cross!
Second, it’s important to note that the cross does not show us how awful our sins are. Yes, death is the awful consequence of sin; the Levitical sacrifice laws showed sin’s wages in a graphic way as well. [Rabbit trail: for those who talk about declaring biblical truth as propositions only and rejecting visual ways to convey God’s words, you’re trying to live up to a higher standard than the Holy Spirit held when he breathed out God’s words!] However, the real measure of sin’s terribleness is found in God’s character. He is perfect and holy and pure and righteous; he is almighty and sovereign and all-powerful. Sin rejects his character and refuses his authority.
How does God respond to the anarchy of each of us little humans? With the cross. Jesus took our sins on himself and made an acceptable sacrifice to satisfy the wrath of his holy Father! Even though the cross is gruesome and powerfully moving, the crucifixion is not the measure of “how bad our sin is.” Sin is awful because it is rebellion against the infinitely holy and sovereign Creator; the crucifixion is the means by which our pardon is provided.
Christ’s crucifixion was an amazing event! It was his love for me, his obedience to his Father, his knockout-blow to Satan, but most importantly, his satisfaction of divine justice and his atonement for my sin. I am so thankful for that – God has done a wonderful thing! My rebellions (like the sins of everyone) deserved that crucifixion; God graciously chose to let his Son bear our punishment. My rebellions (like the sins of everyone) were slaps in the face of the holy King; on the cross he made possible forgiveness for me and for you!
Just as the psalmist predicted, the crucifixion “is the Lord’s doing; it is marvelous in our eyes” (Ps. 118.23; cf. Mt. 21.33-42)!