Jesus’ mission on earth was to die in propitiation for the human sin (1 John 2:2). If anyone could be held responsible for Jesus’ death, it is not only Judas and Pilate, but all humanity. The Bible says, “He Himself bore our sins in His body on the tree” (1 Peter 2:24) and “by His stripes we are healed” (Isaiah 53:5). Here are those who played their parts in the death of Christ:
Judas
In Matthew 26:24 Jesus says, “The Son of Man indeed goes just as it is written of Him, but woe to that man by whom the Son of Man is betrayed! It would have been good for that man if he had not been born.” The fact that the Scriptures predicted the betrayal of Judas in no way absolved him from his personal responsibility in the matter. God had not predestined him to betray the Lord. The decision of Judas was a deliberate choice on his part. While Judas played a part in the death of Jesus, he had many opportunities to avoid what he did.
Pontius Pilate
While Pontius Pilate was the Roman officer who legally sentenced Jesus, the Savior would have died anyway had not Pilate wrote it off. Christ was to die, how and by whom is besides the fact. His mission was to save us from our sins and He therefore had to pay the penalty of sin, which is death. ”Therefore he had to be made like his brothers in every respect, so that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people” (Hebrews 2:17)
The Human Race
All Humans are responsible for the death of the Son of God. “But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him” (Isaiah 53:5) that is, the chastisement necessary to make us at peace with God (Romans 5:1). Christ was the lamb that was to be that atonement for the sins of men (John 1:29). By the symbol of a lamb, John presents the suffering Messiah as the one in whom the sacrificial system of Old Testament times become fulfilled and has meaning. The Son of God was “the Lamb slain from the foundation of the world” (Revelation 13:8).
Satan
Satan is the the initial person who is responsible for bringing sin into the world and ultimately the death of Jesus. The Bible tells us of the final end of Satan (Matthew 25:41) and His followers. But for those that make the choice to follow the Lord (Joshua 24:15), He promises forgiveness, victory over sin and eternal life (1 John 1:9; John 1:12). “And it shall come to pass that whoever calls on the name of the Lord Shall be saved’” (Acts 2:21).
There are further insights on this question in the following link: God planned to send Jesus to die. Did Judas and Pilate have a choice?
In His service,
BibleAsk Team
