“Purposeful Encounter with Chad Archbold”
Turks and Caicos, April 18, 2025 – It is the middle of Holy Week. The triumphal entry has passed, the temple has been cleansed, and Jesus is just hours away from sharing His final meal with His disciples. But before we move forward, we must pause and address the elephant in the upper room.
Each year, the question resurfaces with renewed intensity: Who killed Jesus?
For centuries, the easy answer has been Judas Iscariot—the one who betrayed the Son of God for thirty pieces of silver. (Matthew 26:14-16) His name is synonymous with treachery, his legacy stained with shame. But is Judas solely to blame?
The death of Jesus is not the product of one man’s greed or one council’s conspiracy. It is the culmination of generations of rebellion, a web of human sin and divine purpose interwoven across time. Judas was a key figure, yes—but he was not the central instigator.
The Gospel of John pulls back the veil on Judas’ heart, describing him as a thief and one who cared little for the poor, even as he pretended to (John 12:4-6). His motives were wrapped in personal ambition and perhaps a misplaced nationalism. He wanted a kingdom on his terms—not the suffering Savior Jesus came to be.
But Jesus’ death cannot be attributed to Judas alone. It includes the cowardice of Pilate, the envy of the Sanhedrin, the indifference of Herod, the bloodthirsty demands of the crowd, and the release of a known criminal—Barabbas (Luke 23:13-25). All of them, each in their own way, played a role. Yet even deeper than these historical players lies a darker, more sobering truth.
Jesus wept over Jerusalem not just because of what was to come, but because of what always had been. “O Jerusalem, Jerusalem… how often I would have gathered your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!” (Luke 13:34)
His death was necessary not merely because of their sin—but because of ours.
Scripture makes it clear: “He was pierced for our transgressions, crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds we are healed.” (Isaiah 53:5)
So, who killed Jesus? …We did!
All of us. Humanity’s sin, from the Garden of Eden to today’s headlines, demanded a sacrifice. Romans 3:23 declares, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” The cross was not a momentary betrayal—it was the culmination of every betrayal.
But maybe we’ve been asking the wrong question all along. Instead of asking who killed Jesus, maybe we need to ask: Who is still crucifying Him today? (Hebrews 6:6)
Every time we choose pride over humility, vengeance over forgiveness, compromise over conviction—we echo the sins that nailed Him there. We trade Christ for convenience, truth for tolerance, righteousness for relevance.
The elephant in the upper room is not Judas—it’s us. It’s the unrepentant heart that still sells Jesus for the approval of men. It’s the believer who proclaims His name on Sunday and denies Him in practice Monday through Saturday.
But here is the beauty of Passover: even in the face of betrayal, Jesus still breaks bread. He still invites us to the table. He still washes feet. He still gives Himself.
So as we walk this sacred road to the cross, let us stop pointing fingers at Judas, Pilate, or the crowd. Let us examine our own hearts. Are we still crucifying Christ in our choices? Are we still putting Him to open shame?
Let the Spirit search us. Let the Lamb redeem us.
“Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, scorning its shame…” (Hebrews 12:2)
Shalom!
