Games People Play

CLUE

“Who Really Killed Jesus?”

Easter, 2001

I have an old home video I made about 20 years ago of an episode of NOVA on PBS. It is narrated by Walter Cronkite, and the title is “Who Killed President Kennedy?” During the program they explore all the various theories about multiple gunmen, conspiracies and forensic evidence. They interview witnesses, doctors, and experts. All in an effort to find the truth.

The fact is human beings love mysteries. Some of the earliest dramatic productions were stories that featured a twist in the story line. Books, radio programs, television, movies, even board and computer games that deal with “Who done it?”

A good friend of mine has a young son who is attending a private Christian school. One day recently as they drove to the store, he asked his mother, “Is it because the Jews killed Jesus that so many people don’t like them?”

An interesting question from a 7-year-old boy. But before we think it a simplistic question, let me point out that during the early years of Adolph Hitler’s reign in Germany, one of the propaganda tools he used to insight the people of Germany against their Jewish neighbors was the “recent discovery” by German theologians that the Jews were responsible for Jesus’ death.

So is it true? Are the Jews responsible for the death of Jesus Christ, our Savior? Or are there other parties involved? Perhaps there was a conspiracy – lots of people who working behind the scenes.

In keeping with our series of “Games People Play,” we are going to examine the death of Christ today using the format of the board game Clue. Each of you has a Clue worksheet, and we are going to look at each of the suspects, the locations and the weapons that were used. I have placed the correct answers in this envelope.

What we are going to do is investigate four first-hand accounts of the night Jesus was murdered, and determine who the guilty person, or persons are.

First, take your Bibles and turn with me to Mark, chapter 14. Now Mark was not one of the disciples, but most experts agree he was there. Some scholars believe that the upper room was in the home of Mark’s father. After the Passover meal, when he noticed Jesus and the disciples leaving, this boy got up, quickly through a linen cloth around his body, and secretly followed them into the garden. When the soldiers showed up, with their torches clubs and spears, Mark tells us in 14:51 that “A certain young man followed Him having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body, and the young men laid hold of him, and he left the linen cloth and fled from there naked.” Who else would have had that kind of detail, except the young man himself?

In that same chapter, we see the first suspect, weapon, and location. Follow along as I begin reading at Mark 14:43:

And immediately, while He was still speaking, Judas, one of the twelve, with a great multitude with swords and clubs, came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. [44] Now His betrayer had given them a signal, saying, "Whomever I kiss, He is the One; seize Him and lead Him away safely." [45] As soon as He had come, immediately he went up to Him and said to Him, "Rabbi, Rabbi!" and kissed Him. [46] Then they laid their hands on Him and took Him. [47] And one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest, and cut off his ear. [48] Then Jesus answered and said to them, "Have you come out, as against a robber, with swords and clubs to take Me? [49] I was daily with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize Me. But the Scriptures must be fulfilled." [50] Then they all forsook Him and fled.

[51] Now a certain young man followed Him, having a linen cloth thrown around his naked body. And the young men laid hold of him, [52] and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked.

So here we have our first suspect, Judas, and it’s obvious we are dealing with a conspiracy. More than one person is involved in this case.

Judas used the cruelest of weapons. No, it did not pierce the skin, it did not draw blood, there was no cry of pain – but it did pierce the soul, and it broke the heart of Jesus. One of Jesus own, one of his closest friends, has betrayed Him to be killed. The thirty pieces of silver were not the motive. Most feel it was either disappointment that Jesus had not overthrown the Roman government, others think this was an attempt to push Jesus into action. The Bible says, Satan had entered his heart, and often times, Satan will make us think that even a wrong is somehow right.

So was it Judas, with a kiss, in the garden? Well, he seemed to think so. We read in Matthew’s account of the story that when Judas realized that Jesus was going to be put to death, he tried to take back the silver coins, and was so overcome with grief that he took his own life. Judas is certainly guilty, guilty of betrayal. But was he responsible? Let’s move on.

Turn to the written investigation we have from Dr. Luke, chapter 22, where we will find our second suspect. Beginning in verse 66, we read:

Luke 22:66-71

As soon as it was day, the elders of the people, both chief priests and scribes, came together and led Him into their council, saying, ⁶⁷"If You are the Christ, tell us." But He said to them, "If I tell you, you will by no means believe. ⁶⁸And if I also ask you, you will by no means answer Me or let Me go. ⁶⁹Hereafter the Son of Man will sit on the right hand of the power of God." ⁷⁰Then they all said, "Are You then the Son of God?" So He said to them, "You rightly say that I am." ⁷¹And they said, "What further testimony do we need? For we have heard it ourselves from His own mouth."

Here the conspiracy begins to come together. The Sanhedrin was the supreme court of ancient Israel, the elders of the people. It was made up of 70 men and one president, who was the High Priest. They were the best of the best. They all had to be full-blooded Jews, educated in the Law, with pervious legal experience. They had to be able to converse in Hebrew, Greek and Aramaic.

But like many who are well versed in legal matters, they had learned how to manipulate the system to get what they wanted. We are told that they used false accusations, and lies to try to build a case against Jesus, but none could be found. Finally, they asked the questions they knew would seal His fate. “Are you the Christ? Are you the Son of God?” And when He answered them, they accused Him of blasphemy. I know a few lawyers, and one of them once told me, “I never ask a question in a courtroom that I don’t already know the answer to.” The same is true here. They knew how Jesus would answer – He would tell them that He was the Christ, the Son of God, and they had already decided that they didn’t believe it, so that made Him guilty, in their eyes, of blasphemy.

I wonder what might have convinced them. They had witnessed His miracles. They had seen him heal the lame and sick, cause the dead to rise again, change water to wine, and feed 5000 with a few loaves and fishes. They had all the evidence they needed, but Jesus did not fit their pre-conceived notions of the Messiah, so their minds were made up on the matter. Was it the Sanhedrin, with their lies, in the temple? They are guilty all right, guilty of ignoring the evidence, guilty of refusing to believe the truth.

Our third suspect is found in the evidence that is presented by Matthew, in the 27^th chapter of his record. If you turn there, you will find the evidence against the Jewish crowd. Let me enter this testimony into the record for you to consider:

Matthew 27:15-23

Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. [16] And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. [17] Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" [18] For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy. [19] While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him." [20] 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!"

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.

After Judas, this is perhaps the most confusing of all to me, and probably the most painful to Jesus. Here is this same crowd of people who 5 days earlier were cheering him and honoring Him as the Messiah, “the King who comes in the name of the Lord!” and yet now they cry for his death. How it must have broken His heart. In fact, as we saw last week, when Jesus approached Jerusalem, he wept bitterly over the city, knowing that they had come so close to recognizing Him for Who He is.

But not today. Today their leaders have swayed them; they have been pressured by the politically correct. They have surrendered to the awful power of conforming to the rest of the crowd. Was there not one there who believed? Was there not one person who would say “No! Stop! I believe Him!”? Is my friend’s son right? Are the Jews to blame? Did they kill Jesus with their cries “Crucify Him!” in the courtyard?

Our fourth suspect is found in the same passage of Matthew’s evidence. In that passage we find Pilate, the Roman governor. A man who finds himself torn between his personal convictions and his professional well-being. Notice his story: He interview the victim, He finds no guilt in Him. He knows he should let Him go, and he tries to do so. But the crowd presses him. He tries to find the easy way out, offering a known murderer and rebel, an obviously guilty man, to be traded for this innocent one, but he crowd presses Him. He knows better! His wife has warned him, John tells us that when he hears that Jesus claims to be God, he was more afraid than ever, but still he feels the pressure of his career. The Jews tell him that Jesus is a traitor, challenging the government, but he doesn’t see Him as a threat. So he takes a neutral stand. He “washes his hands” of the matter. He says, in effect, “I won’t say I believe Him, I won’t deny I believe Him,” you deal with Him. Is Pilate guilty? Certainly he’s guilty of not sparing the life of an innocent man, but by doing nothing, is he guilty of murder? Is it Pilate, with water, in the Praetorium?

Our next suspect is the most obvious. The man’s fingerprints are still on the hammer! He is the Roman soldier, and his story is found in John’s record, chapter 19, beginning with verse 17:

John 19:17-24

And He, bearing His cross, went out to a place called the Place of a Skull, which is called in Hebrew, Golgotha, [18] where they crucified Him, and two others with Him, one on either side, and Jesus in the center. [19] Now Pilate wrote a title and put it on the cross. And the writing was:

JESUS OF NAZARETH, THE KING OF THE JEWS.

[20] Then many of the Jews read this title, for the place where Jesus was crucified was near the city; and it was written in Hebrew, Greek, and Latin. [21] Therefore the chief priests of the Jews said to Pilate, "Do not write, 'The King of the Jews,' but, 'He said, "I am the King of the Jews." ' " [22] Pilate answered, "What I have written, I have written." [23] Then the soldiers, when they had crucified Jesus, took His garments and made four parts, to each soldier a part, and also the tunic. Now the tunic was without seam, woven from the top in one piece. [24] They said therefore among themselves, "Let us not tear it, but cast lots for it, whose it shall be," that the Scripture might be fulfilled which says:

"They divided My garments among them,

And for My clothing they cast lots."

Therefore the soldiers did these things.

Well, there you have it! “Therefore the soldiers did these things.” They took Him up the hill, they tossed Him to the ground, they drove the spikes in his hands and feet, they dropped the cross into the ground, dislocating his shoulders, and tearing at the wounds. They watched him bleed, while the callously gambled for his clothes. Certainly the Roman soldiers, with their hammer and nails, killed him on the hill called Golgotha.

Well, it certainly seems like each of our suspects are guilty, but if you’ve ever played the game, you know that there’s only one person, place and weapon in the envelope. Who is it? Who done it?

Before I open this envelope, and tell you who our guilty party is, let me take you to one more bit of conclusive evidence. Please turn with me to Isaiah chapter 53.

This is indeed the most compelling evidence you will see this morning. For it does not come from the eyewitness testimony of those who were there, rather it comes from God Himself. One who cannot lie, who cannot bend to outside pressure. And, even more compelling, this testimony was written before the events took place. Almighty God was able to look across the centuries from Isaiah’s time to the time of Christ, and see what was going to happen, and tell Isaiah what to write. In this passage, God Himself will identify the guilty party.

Isaiah 53:

Who has believed our report?

And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed?

[2] For He shall grow up before Him as a tender plant,

And as a root out of dry ground.

He has no form or comeliness;

And when we see Him,

There is no beauty that we should desire Him.

[3] He is despised and rejected by men,

A Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.

And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him;

He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.

[4] Surely He has borne our griefs

And carried our sorrows;

Yet we esteemed Him stricken,

Smitten by God, and afflicted.

[5] But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him,

And by His stripes we are healed.

[6] 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.

[7] He was oppressed and He was afflicted,

Yet He opened not His mouth;

He was led as a lamb to the slaughter,

And as a sheep before its shearers is silent,

So He opened not His mouth.

[8] He was taken from prison and from judgment,

And who will declare His generation?

For He was cut off from the land of the living;

For the transgressions of My people He was stricken.

[9] And they made His grave with the wicked--

But with the rich at His death,

Because He had done no violence,

Nor was any deceit in His mouth.

[10] 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.

[11] He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.

By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,

For He shall bear their iniquities.

[12] Therefore I will divide Him a portion with the great,

And He shall divide the spoil with the strong,

Because He poured out His soul unto death,

And He was numbered with the transgressors,

And He bore the sin of many,

And made intercession for the transgressors.

Who killed Jesus?

[Open Envelope]

I did. You did.

the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all

In our rebellious, sinful hearts, we killed Him.

All we like sheep have gone astray;

We have turned, every one, to his own way;

With our sins he was slain.

But He was wounded for our transgressions,

He was bruised for our iniquities;

The chastisement for our peace was upon Him

In B.C., a cartoon in the newspaper, an Ant walks up and sees another ant with a clerical collar standing between a cave with a cross on top and a sign that says, "Good Friday Service Today."

The first ant says, "Sickos! If somebody killed my God on a Friday, I certainly wouldn’t call it Good Friday."

The preacher ant replies: "Nor should you, my son! Providing, of course, your God were able to stay killed."

That first ant has a good point. What IS so Good about Good Friday? Black Friday, as some call it, seems more appropriate. So, why do we call it Good Friday?

It has to do with the second ant’s response about a God who wouldn’t "stay killed." This story has to do not only with the events of Friday; but about what happened three days later.

You see, God had this all planned from the beginning of time. He knew we would sin, He knew we would betray Jesus and deny him with those same lips that kiss Him in praise. He knew we would reject Him, and be pressed by the world around us to deny Christ, He knew we would join the crowd. He knew we would try to remain neutral, and not make any decision, and by that be guilty. He knew all that, and yet He came. Because He loves me, even though I am guilty of the death of His Son!

Because He also knew that His Son would defeat death. He knew that this was the only way to ultimate victory. Listen to Isaiah’s words again:

[10] 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.

[11] He shall see the labor of His soul, and be satisfied.

By His knowledge My righteous Servant shall justify many,

For He shall bear their iniquities.