Christians, explain this to me please?

Question

Jesus was sent to Earth specifically to die for our sins, do I have that right? However.. it was regular men that killed him. And, furthermore, wasn't it men that didn't believe him? So, they weren't killing him for the sins of all humanity, they were killing him because they didn't believe in him, right? (this confuses me, because I thought God wanted men to believe in him..except he must have known we were going to react that way, because the whole reason Jesus came to the planet was to be killed.) So, is it true that in order for this whole plan to work, regular men had to murder Jesus?

I know I'm probably not writing this as best as it could be worded, but obviously I'm confused. Can anyone make this more clear to me? Can you see why I have a problem with this?

I guess what I'm really asking is, why would God's plan require men to commit murder AND blasphemy?? Its as though because we are sinners, we had to sin some more in killing Jesus in order for him to serve as our savior. I just don't get it.

Answer 1

That is a great question in so many levels.

You address one of the most important attributes of Christian God. He is love and love is based on free will. Sure God could have hard wired us so that belief in God does not arise from one's choice but force of nature. But also God knows the future, thus Christ's death was a fulfillment of the old testament written thousands and hundreds years prior. He knew some will not believe and some will. From the old testament it was very clear that sinless and perfect God cannot accept sinfulness and one could only temporally cover one's sinfulness through blood of sacrifice (if you read the story of Adam and Eve you will see that after their violation if you will they felt shame and God had made covering for them with animal skin, this was a foreshadow of what's to come in perfect sacrifice in Jesus Christ, covering our sins through faith.

Answer 2

Jesus was sent to earth to die for our sins, He knew the whole time that men would hate him(that's the real reason why they killed Him) , not believe in Him, and whatever else, but He still loved us, so that's why He came and died. anyone could of killed Jesus, (for some reason regular men did it) but someone had to do it, so that He could die, and that the Scriptures would remain true. I hope this helps you understand

Answer 3

Roman cruxifiction was the cruelest form for criminals today, yesterday, tomorrow. Romans were a cruel race. John the Baptist wasn't exactly the best man in terms of sins to baptize Jesus. Contrast the criminal that was on the cross the same time that Jesus was. He asked for paradise and Jesus granted it to Him. Jews don't think that Jesus was the Messiah that they were looking for; they think He was (various fillins), but the Jews were only looking for someone to fight off their enemies. Jesus rose again after three days of taking on our sins. We live longer by only having our sins every so often (more like continously) but not from everyone on the planet all at once. Noone actually killed Him, noone was to touch Him, he finally died of a broken heart. There's a spiritual side as well as a physical side. Jesus didn't die for Himself, He died for us. We however are the Gentiles, but He died for both Gentile *AND* Jew.

Answer 4

Scripture says that the wages sin pays is death. Jesus committed NO sin...that's just it....He didn't deserve to die. Some one put him to death, just like the High Priest and other Priests of Israel would put to death sacrificial animals to atone for sins of the people, the High Priest and other priests had Jesus put to death, sacrificed. The odd thing is, in doing so, they were doing the exact thing that would or could atone for the sin they themselves were committing at the time. But, they were actually sealing their own fate. By putting to death a man they KNEW was innocent, blameless, without sin, they did commit murder and will suffer the consequences of their actions since no record of their repentence shows otherwise, they never accepted Jesus as their Savior.

It goes further......just the death of Jesus wasn't quite enough. For sins to be forgiven, blood must be shed. A soldier pierced Jesus as he was dying causing blood to be shed. Then after his resurrection and ascention into heaven, Jesus offered his sacrificial blood to atone for our sins in the same manner as the High Priest and Priests would do with the animals' blood after killing them.

Also, Jesus didn't have to let them kill him. Remember in the Garden, Jesus said he could call down myriads of angels. he willingly allowed his death, he willingly, just like Isaac, allowed himself to be sacrificed.


There were alot of things that occured prior to Jesus birth, during his life and death that were accomplished by "regular men" that Jesus had no control over that actually fulfilled prophecies regarding the arrival of the Messiah.

Example: While Mary was pregnant, King Herod (?) made a law that all Jews were to register in their homeland. Joseph and Mary went to Bethleham to do so, and that's when and where Jesus was born. So this regular man, caused God's plan to happen just as prophecied.

I hope this helps at least alittle to clear things up. If not, you can email me and we can discuss details further.

Answer 5

Jesus came to set an example and expel the excessive traditions of men of worship and obedience. The covenant (agreement) was always simple - The 10 Commandments - a universal standard for good. In one form or another. The Jews got so caught up in their own thing that they forgot the big picture. Kinda of like people today. They lost sight of the truth. In serious trouble.

The pharisees (Jewish leaders) were men of religious stature. They feared that the teachings of Jesus would take away from them that seat of power and prestige. Also like many people today. So Jesus was killed because of the evils of men. Out of selfishness, fear, and jealousy. Because He kept it simple.

They KNEW who He was. But this is the character of man. And how bad of a position he has gotten himself into. When faced with the Son of God Himself some would STILL deny Him. Jesus came to save the very people who would kill Him. To save a people so addicted to sin that it would literally kill HIM to pry their fingers off of that which was killing THEM.

He came to "set the record straight". For Jews and ALL men. To lead by example. Some men could not follow that example and He was crucified for it. People will always destroy the truth if it gets in the way of their own selfish desires.

But some will listen. So it was to Him worth it.
For even those few. I hope you will be one of them.

God bless

Answer 6

You've got the basic idea, however, there are important things that you are leaving out.
1. Jesus was executed by order of the religious establishment, not murdered. He was executed because the religious (Jewish) leaders believed that He blasphemed God by claiming that He could forgive sins and other similar things that only God can do.
2. Jesus had the power to keep it from happening, but He loved mankind and gave Himself up to do that which would allow men to be permanently reconciled to God. His innocent blood was shed so that the sins of men could be forgiven, because God cannot tolerate sin, and the punishment is death and hell -- eternal separation from God when a person dies, and spiritual damnation to live in everlasting fire.
3. Jesus and the apostles preached that this sacrifice must take place, but that it would mean nothing without physical his resurrection. Jesus appeared to many people for many days after His execution, proving that He has power over death, validating his claims to have the same power as God.
4. After appear to many, Jesus ascended to heaven in plain view of a large number of disciples so that there would be no doubt of his resurrection.
5. Jesus proving His power to give life physically also reinforces His claim to give life spiritually to all men when they die, if they believe in Him, trust Him, and follow His commands. Who, but God can raise others from the dead and Himself conquer death in His own physical body.
6. The apostles of Jesus who were mostly common, uneducated men, ran away at His execution for fear of the same fate (execution), but after they saw alive Him who once was dead, they came out of hiding and boldly preached the good news that Jesus is the Jewish Messiah, the forgiver of sins, and the High Priest to God by which all men can be reconciled to God, living and dying in His favor!

Answer 7

It is true that regular men killed him, but why? Jesus claimed to be the son of God. In fact he even claimed to be more than that he claimed to be God. He also claimed that if you want to follow Gods ways you had to follow his example. For these reasons and more Jesus death was set up by those that believed they knew God's will better and that Jesus was a blasphemer. Romans killed Jesus at the insistence of the religious leaders. It was all about sin.


If you think about it regular men (priests) were called to sacrifice offerings to atone for sin and God honored their offerings. They did not know why God wanted each offering type they just had to obey. God also said through his prophets a perfect sacrifice would one day come and be offered up. As before people did not know how when or why only that God would provide it, not unlike he did for Abraham and Issac I might add.

I did not back this up with scripture, but I can if you like. Isaiah covers a lot of the prophecies of the Messiah.

Answer 8

>So, is it true that in order for this whole plan to work, regular men had to murder Jesus?

No, I don't think so. God didn't need more sins (i.e. an unjust sentence and murder of someone innocent) at all. What probably should have happened was that Jesus was taken into the temple and after a somber ceremony of praise for what God was doing for us, his human life simply would have ended. There was absolutely no need for men to kill him. And the reality is, he himself told us that no man took his life, he gave it voluntarily. (John 10:17-18).

Answer 9

I am sure that when God sent Jesus into the world, He knew that he would be killed. He knew that Jesus would die for the sin of the world. There are unconfirmed stories that the men than killed Jesus were so amazed at the way that Jesus died, that some of them eventually were believers.

God has given all of us free will. What kind of worshipers would be be if we had to worship God. God wants our love and our faithfulness but not at the cost of making us love Him. He knew that there would be those who would hate His son and eventually kill Him.

I hope this helps.

Answer 10

I don't have all the answers, but here's what I can tell you. Sorry, because it may take a bit of reading/frustration (hopefully not! :( ) before I get to the point.

Yes, Jesus' primary mission was to die for our sins.

However, as I understand it, no man took Jesus' life. Jesus said it Himself.

John 10:17-18 (ESV)

"For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.

No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father."

And it makes sense, right? Jesus is not just man, but God. How could any man kill Him if He was unwilling to die? It would be impossible.

On "they weren't killing him for the sins of all humanity, they were killing him because they didn't believe in him, right?"...

Yes, one reason that people wanted Jesus dead was that He claimed to be God, which they thought was blasphemy. But these people's motivation was not really consequential. It doesn't matter what reason they gave for wanting Jesus dead, because they were not the primary actors in the situation. God was.

On "I thought God wanted men to believe in him..except he must have known we were going to react that way, because the whole reason Jesus came to the planet was to be killed."...

Yes, God knew exactly what would happen. God ordained that Jesus would die, and for what purpose. So in a sense, you could say that men did not kill Jesus. Ultimately, God did. Sorta paradoxical, right? Jesus is God, God killed Jesus. For us. What? :|

But it's exactly that... in order for men to be saved, a substitute must have died for men. Jesus became that substitute. Only a perfect substitute would be suitable, so only Jesus, who was sinless and entirely obedient to God, could do it. And His righteousness is then given to us that believe, 'imputed' to our accounts.

"So, is it true that in order for this whole plan to work, regular men had to murder Jesus?"

I'm not sure whether this has become clear, or whether you see things differently now so that you no longer need to ask this question. But I guess the answer could be yes. I'm not sure. Seems like more of a question of perspective. But I'd always go back to the Bible, and what Jesus said Himself.

John 10:17-18 (ESV), again...

"For this reason the Father loves me, because I lay down my life that I may take it up again.

No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down, and I have authority to take it up again. This charge I have received from my Father."

So, I guess you can say that if regular men DID kill Jesus, they only did it because He allowed it. If they DIDN'T, then God DID. Either way, God is still in control, and the plan (of course) worked. :)

Hopefully that sheds a bit of light... thank God if it did.

May God bless you.