Traditional Christianity teaches that Jesus Christ, the Son of God was crucified for the sin of mankind. While this is an absolute truth on God's Plan for the salvation of mankind, there are more to the reasons and circumstances that led to His crucifixion.
When God redeemed Israel out of slavery from Egypt, He entered into a covenant with them to bless them as long as they obey His commandments. This was ratified with the blood of animal sacrifices (Exodus 24:6-8). Since the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin (Heb 10:4), God has to establish a better covenant and with better promises (Heb:8:6) that came in the Person of Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the world (John 3:16; John 6:54).
Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of virgin Mary in Bethelem. He was the God of the Old Testament (1 Cor 10:4) and came unto his own, and his own received him not (John 1:11). During His first advent, thousands heard Him speak and teach, saw Him casting out demons and healing the sick. The Pharisees and Sadducees - the religious elites of that time - demanded proof from Him of His identity with a sign from heaven. But none will be given except that of the prophet Jonah, when He will be in the grave for three days and three nights after His crucifixion.
These religious elites felt threatened by His teaching and popularity as they could lose their the support of the Jews. Besides, their power and authority were derived from the Roman authorities from where they were given some minor governmental roles. If they allow Christ to preach the true Gospel of the kingdom of God - a higher authority than that of the Roman emperor - these religious leaders could be implicated with sedition and treason which demand the death penalty. These prompted the religious leaders to plot the death of Christ in order to save their own skin (John 11: 45-53).
The Pharisees knew that Christ came from God the Father (John 3:2) and the Gospel of the kingdom that He proclaimed is about the coming supergovernment of God on planet earth. But to safegurard their interests and positions, they were determined to undermine Jesus Christ at every opportunity to stop Him in His track! They attempted to trap Him with His words so that they can accuse Him of sedition or treason before the Roman government. (Matt 22:15). But Christ saw through their intention (verse 18) and silenced them with His wisdom (verse 21).
Christ performed many miracles and spoke of strong words that the masses found difficult to stomach. After feeding the 5,000 with five loaves and two fish, Christ went over to Capernaum. The masses continue to follow Him hoping for more physical food to feed their stomach. But Christ told them to feed on spiritual food that will eventually lead to eternal life. When He spoke to the crowd that He is the Bread of Life and told them to feed on Him (the Passover symbols), many of His disciples turned away and walked with Him no more (John 6:66). Little wonder that Jesus said to His country folks, 'A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house' - Mark 6:4.
It was one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot who betrayed Him to the religious leaders for thirty pieces of silver and Christ was delivered to the Roman governor Pilate to be tried. It is commonly believed that the Jewish leaders have no power to sentence Him to death based on John 18:31, 'It is not lawful for us to put any man to death'. However, this is true only for charges involving sedition or treason - for which Jesus Christ was accused of since He preached the Gospel of the kingdom of God - the very Gospel message sent from God the Father. The religious leaders accused Christ of blasphemy, but they falsely charged Him of treason to let Pontius Pilate put Him to death. In this way, they could wash their hands off (and so they thought) and yet have Christ crucified. Jesus Christ came to preach the Gospel (Luke 4:43: John 18:37) and to set up the church (Matt 16:18) so that mortal human beings could be born again as immortal spirit beings in the Family of God to inherit God's kingdom (Rom 8: 16-17, 29-30; Heb 2:10). He died doing the Father's will!
When God redeemed Israel out of slavery from Egypt, He entered into a covenant with them to bless them as long as they obey His commandments. This was ratified with the blood of animal sacrifices (Exodus 24:6-8). Since the blood of bulls and goats cannot take away sin (Heb 10:4), God has to establish a better covenant and with better promises (Heb:8:6) that came in the Person of Jesus Christ as the Saviour of the world (John 3:16; John 6:54).
Christ was conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of virgin Mary in Bethelem. He was the God of the Old Testament (1 Cor 10:4) and came unto his own, and his own received him not (John 1:11). During His first advent, thousands heard Him speak and teach, saw Him casting out demons and healing the sick. The Pharisees and Sadducees - the religious elites of that time - demanded proof from Him of His identity with a sign from heaven. But none will be given except that of the prophet Jonah, when He will be in the grave for three days and three nights after His crucifixion.
These religious elites felt threatened by His teaching and popularity as they could lose their the support of the Jews. Besides, their power and authority were derived from the Roman authorities from where they were given some minor governmental roles. If they allow Christ to preach the true Gospel of the kingdom of God - a higher authority than that of the Roman emperor - these religious leaders could be implicated with sedition and treason which demand the death penalty. These prompted the religious leaders to plot the death of Christ in order to save their own skin (John 11: 45-53).
The Pharisees knew that Christ came from God the Father (John 3:2) and the Gospel of the kingdom that He proclaimed is about the coming supergovernment of God on planet earth. But to safegurard their interests and positions, they were determined to undermine Jesus Christ at every opportunity to stop Him in His track! They attempted to trap Him with His words so that they can accuse Him of sedition or treason before the Roman government. (Matt 22:15). But Christ saw through their intention (verse 18) and silenced them with His wisdom (verse 21).
Christ performed many miracles and spoke of strong words that the masses found difficult to stomach. After feeding the 5,000 with five loaves and two fish, Christ went over to Capernaum. The masses continue to follow Him hoping for more physical food to feed their stomach. But Christ told them to feed on spiritual food that will eventually lead to eternal life. When He spoke to the crowd that He is the Bread of Life and told them to feed on Him (the Passover symbols), many of His disciples turned away and walked with Him no more (John 6:66). Little wonder that Jesus said to His country folks, 'A prophet is not without honour, but in his own country, and among his own kin, and in his own house' - Mark 6:4.
It was one of His disciples, Judas Iscariot who betrayed Him to the religious leaders for thirty pieces of silver and Christ was delivered to the Roman governor Pilate to be tried. It is commonly believed that the Jewish leaders have no power to sentence Him to death based on John 18:31, 'It is not lawful for us to put any man to death'. However, this is true only for charges involving sedition or treason - for which Jesus Christ was accused of since He preached the Gospel of the kingdom of God - the very Gospel message sent from God the Father. The religious leaders accused Christ of blasphemy, but they falsely charged Him of treason to let Pontius Pilate put Him to death. In this way, they could wash their hands off (and so they thought) and yet have Christ crucified. Jesus Christ came to preach the Gospel (Luke 4:43: John 18:37) and to set up the church (Matt 16:18) so that mortal human beings could be born again as immortal spirit beings in the Family of God to inherit God's kingdom (Rom 8: 16-17, 29-30; Heb 2:10). He died doing the Father's will!
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