There were many players in the plot to crucify Jesus. Some were in the forefront of the scheme…others in the background but…in actual fact…representatives of all the people groups of the world throughout all time…were responsible. 

The Jewish leaders were the prime movers. The gospels make this clear. John records, on more than one occasion, that the religious hierarchy wanted Him dead. They tried to have Him arrested many times but, for Him, the time wasn’t right. 

Jesus still had allies among the people…the many whom He had healed, delivered, and blessed with His love but…they were also fickle and unpredictable. The Jewish leaders still had to manage the unruly population, and turn the tide of opinion against Him. 

The Jewish expectation that the Messiah would rescue them from Roman occupation still ran high. The religious leaders had already decided that Jesus was not who He claimed to be. The situation was delicately poised. One miscalculation, one wrong move could ruin their chances of success. 

The Romans were also players in this game…headed by Pilate. Jerusalem during Passover was a powder keg. Jews came from every corner of the Roman Empire. Thousands swelled the population of Jerusalem. If they rioted…and it would not take much to set them off…the situation would be catastrophic. 

The Jewish leaders…the Roman occupiers…these were the main players in the death of Jesus. There were others behind the scenes…the Jewish people, followers, not leaders…but skilfully manipulated by their religious overlords. 

The entire scope of human life…from the first pair who jumped ship to side with evil… to the last person who ever lives on this planet…condemned Jesus to death. We are all guilty before God, alienated and condemned…and needing a sacrificial substitute to rescue us from eternal destruction. 

Strangely enough, it was the Father Himself who orchestrated this travesty of justice. It had to be to fulfil His plan. 

Predicted by the prophet…

“Yet it was the Lord’s will to crush him and cause him to suffer, and though the Lord makes his life an offering for sin, he will see his offspring and prolong his days, and the will of the Lord will prosper in his hand.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭53‬:‭10‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“Fellow Israelites, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know…”

…executed by the Jews…

…”This man was handed over to you by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him.”

‭‭Acts‬ ‭2‬:‭22‬-‭24‬

…and endorsed by the Father. 

…”by God’s deliberate plan and foreknowledge…”

So, what was the charge that ended Jesus’ life?

At the crux, the heart of the accusation…the charge…was this claim…not that He was the Son of God but that He was the Son of Man. At face value, the title “Son of Man” seems innocent. What was wrong with His calling Himself a son of humans…an ordinary man…which is exactly what the people of Nazareth thought He was when He claimed to fulfil Isaiah’s prophecy? 

“He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written: “The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him. He began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.” All spoke well of him and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his lips. “Isn’t this Joseph’s son?” they asked…”

 In the synagogue in Nazareth,  at the mention of the Gentiles, the mood changed…

“All the people in the synagogue were furious when they heard this. They got up, drove him out of the town, and took him to the brow of the hill on which the town was built, in order to throw him off the cliff.”

‭‭Luke‬ ‭4‬:‭16‬-‭22‬, ‭28‬-‭29‬ ‭NIV‬‬

So, what was the real issue for Jesus’ accusers?

This title “Son of Man”, which Jesus used of Himself more than any other title, represented the pinnacle of royal power, authority, and sovereign rule over the nations, according to Daniel’s vision. Jesus claimed the title for Himself…in the courtroom…in front of the judges…on trial for His life. What else could the Sanhedrin, the highest court in the land, do but declare Him guilty… but for one omission…evidence!

Across their entire Scriptures, from cover to cover, was the prophetic blueprint of the Messiah, the Son of Man. All they had to do was to match the evidence with the blueprint… but they refused…chose prejudice in place of justice and condemned Him to death and…by implication, condemned themselves. 

“But Jesus remained silent and gave no answer. Again the high priest asked him, “Are you the Messiah, the Son of the Blessed One?” “I am,” said Jesus. “And you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.” The high priest tore his clothes. “Why do we need any more witnesses?” he asked. “You have heard the blasphemy. What do you think?” They all condemned him as worthy of death.”

‭‭Mark‬ ‭14‬:‭61‬-‭64‬ ‭NIV‬‬

“The Son of Man”! Why was this title such a hot potato? 

Daniel!

“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.”

‭‭Daniel‬ ‭7‬:‭13‬-‭14‬ NIV

In the midst of the chaotic scenes of fearsome beasts…representing worldly kingdoms rising and falling, Daniel saw God’s throne room…and one who looked like a “son of man”, a human but with supreme authority and power…receiving from “the Ancient of Days” the authority to reign over the kingdom of God. 

The Jewish leaders were incensed. This was blasphemy, worthy of death, from Jesus’ own mouth…just what they needed to seal His fate. All their accusations of blasphemy came to a head in this one statement…and by His own admission. The gavel fell…guilty and condemned. 

Every other accusation…treason by Rome… rabble-rouser by the people…was swallowed up in His own words…

…and so He had to die!