WHO CRUCIFIED CHRIST?
By Mike Gurganus
Adapted from The Mystery Of Redemption, James Burton Coffman, PP. 80-83

1. GOD DID.

1. John 3:16, ""For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…"

2. II Corinthians 5:21, "For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us…"

3. Hebrews 2:9, "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone."

4. Isaiah 53:4,6,10, "Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You make His soul an offering for sin, He shall see His seed, He shall prolong His days, And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in His hand."

5. Sin is so horrible that it separates man from God (Isaiah 59:1,2) and man must face its consequences (Romans 6:23). The cross upon which Christ was nailed became a necessity. God knew of this need and was willing to give his son as the sin sacrifice for mankind. Without this sacrifice man would have no hope. Of a relationship with God.

2. JESUS CHRIST DID.

1. I Peter 2:24, "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."

2. Philippians 2:6-8, "who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross."

3. Hebrews 2:14,15, "Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage."

4. Jesus willingly went to the cross, "Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father" (John 10:17,18

5. Because of sin man must face its consequences (Rom. 6:23). Therefore, an atonement was necessary to redeem man from sin. Men are not able to accomplish this task, so there was a need for someone who was able and willing to die in their stead.

1. II Corinthians 8:9, "For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich."

2. We sing, "He could have called ten thousand angels to destroy the world and set him free. He could have called ten thousand angels, but he died alone for you and me"

3. I can not even begin to imagine what agony and distress came form the mouth of my Lord when he cried with a loud voice saying, "My God, my God, why has thou forsaken me." Mt. 27:46

4. Jesus had taken on the sins of all men. Having been made "…to be sin for us…" (2 Cor. 5:21) and because God can not look upon sin (Hab. 1:13), the Father turned away from His beloved son so covered with the stains of sinful man. Our sins caused the Father to turn his face away from his son.
    

3. SATAN DID.

1. Genesis 3:15, "And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her Seed; He shall bruise your head, And you shall bruise His heel."

4. THE JEWS DID.

1. Matthew 27:22-26, "Pilate said to them, What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ? They all said to him, Let Him be crucified! Then the governor said, Why, what evil has He done? But they cried out all the more, saying, Let Him be crucified! When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it. And all the people answered and said, His blood be on us and on our children. Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified."

2. Acts 2:36, "Therefore let all the house of Israel know assuredly that God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ."

5. THE ROMANS DID.

1. Pilate. Matthew 27:18, 24, " For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it."

2. The Roman soldiers. Matthew 27:27-35, "Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him. And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him. When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head. And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified. Now as they came out, they found a man of Cyrene, Simon by name. Him they compelled to bear His cross. And when they had come to a place called Golgotha, that is to say, Place of a Skull, they gave Him sour wine mingled with gall to drink. But when He had tasted it, He would not drink. Then they crucified Him, and divided His garments, casting lots, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet: "They divided My garments among them, And for My clothing they cast lots."
    

6. THE WORLD DID.

1. John 3:16, ""For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life."

2. Hebrews 2:9, "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone."

3. John 1:29, ""Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"
    

7. I DID.

1. I Corinthians 1:21-24, "For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God."

2. Until I realize that because of my sins I have crucified Christ, his death will have no meaning to me.

3. It is only through the heartfelt acceptance and belief of " I crucified Christ" that salvation comes

CONCLUSION:

1. "When I Survey The Wondrous Cross"

When I survey the wondrous cross On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss And pour contempt on all my pride.
Forbid it, Lord that I should boast, Save in the death of Christ, my Lord;
All the vain things that charm me most I sacrifice them to His blood.
See, from His head, His hands, His feet, Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e’er such love and sorrow meet, Or thorns compose so rich a crown?
Were the whole realm of nature of mine, That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine, Demands my soul, my life life, my all.

2. It is my hope that you will not let Christ’s death upon the cross have been in vain.

3. That you will realize that Jesus loved you so much that he was willing to die in your stead.

4. And that seeing the love Jesus has shown for you. You will be willing to show your love for Him (Jn. 14:15) and ever live for Him (II Corinthians 5:14,15).