Who Killed Jesus?

This past week one of my young Chinese ESL students asked me "Who killed Jesus?"  I told her the story from the gospel accounts as I remembered it.  I told her of the various parties involved: the pharisees and their jealousy and hatred, Judas and his betrayal, the crowds of Jews who wanted Barabbas freed instead of Jesus, Pontius Pilate who handed him over to the Jews, and the Roman soldiers who carried out the sentence of death.  I didn't think to mention all his other friends who deserted him. And at the time I didn't think to tell her that I had, that she had, that we all had killed Jesus.  The song I learned in music camp, the summer after 8th grade, pretty much says it all.

Who Killed Jesus?

Chorus 

Who killed Jesus many years ago?
Who is guilty of a crime so low?
Why did He have to die?
What is the reason why?
Who killed Jesus?
I would like to know!

Verses

 Was it Roman soldiers
With their tools of war
Driving nails thru hands that did no wrong?
Mocking and abusing
Crowning Him with thorns . . .
All the evidence is very strong!

Was it Pontius Pilate?
He was governor
Trying to decide the case that day,
Finding that the Savior
Had no fault His own
Was he guilty when he turned away?

Was it Hebrew children,
Proud of who they were,
Shouting crucify Him at their King,
Trading their Messiah
For a common thief,
Turning down the kingdom He could bring?

When I think of Jesus
And the way He died
How upon Him all my sin was laid
All the other people
Fade away from view
It's for me the sacrifice was made!

I no long wonder anymore.
I have found what I've been searching for.
My sin demanded hell!
On Him the judgment fell!
I am guilty!
Now it's plain to see
That it was really me!

© 1970 New Spring
Mickey Holiday