Scripture Reading: John 15:18-25

Why Did They Crucify Jesus?

Intro.

1. Apostles preached Jesus as the Christ on Pentecost, Acts 2:36.

2. Rejection of Jesus Christ was Israel’s crowning act of rebellion against God, John 15:20-25.

3. Why did the house of Israel crucify the Messiah they claimed to anticipate? John 1:11

I. THEY CRUCIFIED JESUS BECAUSE OF UNBELIEF, Isa. 53:1-3.

A. The Rulers Did Not Believe Him, 1 Cor. 2:7-9.

1. Driven by self-interest and political survival, John 7:32, 45-52; 11:47-53.

2. Rulers refused to confess their belief in Him, John 12:42-44.

3. Hard hearts, stiff-necked, self-righteous.

B. The People Did Not Believe Jesus.

1. His words and His works, John 12:37-38.

2. Yes, many ran after Him, but for the wrong reasons, John 6:26-27, 66; Mark 10:17-22.

3. Mob mentality took over; “Crucify Him!” Matt. 27:20-25

II. THEY CRUCIFIED JESUS BECAUSE OF IGNORANCE, Acts 3:17.

-Ignorant = “lacking knowledge, information, or awareness” [Ignore]

A. They Ignored the Prophets, Acts 3:18.

1. Messiah’s salvation, Acts 2:21 (Joel 2:32).

2. Messiah’s resurrection, Acts 2:24-31 (Psalm 16:8-11).

3. Messiah’s exaltation, Acts 2:33-35 (30) (Ps. 110:1); John 6:15; Ps. 2:6.

B. They Ignored the Words of Jesus, John 7:46; John 8:37-40.

1. Word of God, John 1:1, 14.

2. Words of eternal life (John 6:68).

C. They Ignored the Works of Jesus, John 10:31-39 (12:37).

D. They Hated Jesus Because They Did Not Know the Father, John 15:20-25.

III. A WARNING TO THE CHURCH.

A. Beware of Unbelief, Heb. 3:12-13.

1. That refuses to discern good and evil, Heb. 5:12-14.

2. Hardening beyond the point of return, Heb. 6:4-6.

3. Willful sin, Heb. 10:26-31.

B. Ignorance Will Not Be An Acceptable Answer on Judgment Day.

1. Not acceptable for Israel, Acts 3:17-19.

2. Not acceptable for us, Acts 17:30-31 (Luke 12:47-48).

3. “But I didn’t know!” tries to deny free will and its responsibility toward God, Rom. 1:18-22.

4. Commanded to understand the will of the Lord (not to be foolish), Eph. 5:17. How? Eph. 3:3-5 (1 Tim. 2:4); 2 Pet. 3:18

C. Resisting Truth brings Condemnation, Acts 7:51-53.

1. They did not want to hear the truth, so they murdered the messenger.

2. Do we want the truth? Many still do not, 2 Tim. 4:3-4.

3. How do we react when truth cuts us to the heart?

Conclusion

1. Beware of hypocrisy that subverts truth and justifies immorality and false teaching, Matt. 23:30 (Luke 12:1).

2. Do not be guilty of crucifying and shaming the Son of God (unbelief, ignorance, refusing His gospel).

By: Joe R. Price

Posted June 5, 2022