“Lord Jesus, Your plans are far beyond our comprehension. Though man has crucified You, deliberately, it was all done according to Your preordained plans and purposes. Your ways and Your wisdom are too high for us. In Your name, we pray. Amen.”
Acts 3:13 The God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of our fathers, glorified His Servant Jesus, whom you delivered up and denied in the presence of Pilate, when he was determined to let Him go.
Peter and John pinned the responsibility firmly on their audience that they delivered, denied, and had Jesus crucified. We find that Pilate tried his best to release Jesus but was not successful.
Matthew 27:20-26 But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. (21) The governor answered and said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” They said, “Barabbas!” (22) Pilate said to them, “What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said to him, “Let Him be crucified!” (23) Then the governor said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they cried out all the more, saying, “Let Him be crucified!” (24) 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.” (25) And all the people answered and said, “His blood be on us and on our children.” (26) Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.
John 19:15 But they cried out, “Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!” Pilate said to them, “Shall I crucify your King?” The chief priests answered, “We have no king but Caesar!”
Pilate’s first approach was to question the Jews about their ethics in killing an innocent person. The Jews claimed to know the ways of God. This method did not work.
He then asked them if their King should be put to death. This was a political strategy. The Jews were always revolting against the rule of Rome. Pilate hoped they would choose their King to overthrow Rome. This political line too did not work.
Then Pilate tried the personal approach. He presented before them a vile and evil person, Barabbas. It was to contrast Barabbas against Jesus. Even a fool would choose Jesus.
All of Pilate’s attempts failed in dissuading the Jews from asking for Jesus to be crucified. Instead, they made the most damning statement, “His blood be on us and on our children.”
Even after the ridiculousness of the Jews in wanting Jesus to be crucified, Pilate still had the power to deny the death of Jesus but he sought to pacify the crowd. Mark 15:15 So Pilate, wanting to gratify the crowd, released Barabbas to them; and he delivered Jesus, after he had scourged Him, to be crucified.
Though this was what took place in human history. Humanity, both Jews and Gentiles, was responsible for taking Jesus through the most painful, long-drawn, humiliating and bloodthirsty method of death on the cross.
Yet, these were all ordained and predetermined by God.
Acts 13:27-28 For those who dwell in Jerusalem, and their rulers, because they did not know Him, nor even the voices of the Prophets which are read every Sabbath, have fulfilled them in condemning Him. (28) And though they found no cause for death in Him, they asked Pilate that He should be put to death.
Humanity was fulfilling what was foretold in the Scriptures. Acts 2:22-23 “Men of Israel, hear these words: Jesus of Nazareth, a Man attested by God to you by miracles, wonders, and signs which God did through Him in your midst, as you yourselves also know— (23) Him, being delivered by the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God, you have taken by lawless hands, have crucified, and put to death;
All that took place was according to the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God. Acts 3:17-18 “Yet now, brethren, I know that you did it in ignorance, as did also your rulers. (18) But those things which God foretold by the mouth of all His prophets, that the Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled.
The church was able to comprehend that what took place was according to the determined purpose of God. Acts 4:26-28 THE KINGS OF THE EARTH TOOK THEIR STAND, AND THE RULERS WERE GATHERED TOGETHER AGAINST THE LORD AND AGAINST HIS CHRIST.’ (27) “For truly against Your holy Servant Jesus, whom You anointed, both Herod and Pontius Pilate, with the Gentiles and the people of Israel, were gathered together (28) to do whatever Your hand and Your purpose determined before to be done.
We read that Jesus was slain before the foundation of the world. Revelation 13:8 All who dwell on the earth will worship him, whose names have not been written in the Book of Life of the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world.
The Lord is the Husband, who is preparing for Himself, His bride, the Church. We must know that we are chosen even before the foundation of the world for God. Ephesians 1:4 just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before Him in love,
Do we see ourselves as His bride, set apart for God from before the foundation of the world?