Enemies

1. Who were the real enemies of Jesus?

Right from the start Satan tried to jeopardize God’s plan. He lured humans into sin. After the mother-promise about a Savior (Gen. 3:15) Satan tried to destroy the “Seed” of Eve that would crush the serpent. The holy lineage was continuously attacked, from Abel to Jesus. When the Son of God came to earth as a human being Satan suspected it was to break his power. Apparently he did not know exactly how it would be done. Herod’s child massacre was part of Satan’s desperate efforts. When Jesus started His ministry Satan mobilized the religious leaders to stop Him. People would not easily suspect that they were on the wrong side. Satan even infiltrated the Twelve by using Judas as a mole. His most dangerous onslaught was on the human nature of the Son of God in the wilderness and in Gethsemane.
 

2. What were the real motives of the religious leaders for turning against Jesus?

The Christian Bible is the only source of information on Jesus Christ.

Jesus' popularity with the Jewish nation filled their leaders with envy (Matt. 27:18, Mark 15:10). Therefore, they portrayed Him as someone who undermines the law of Moses (Mark 7:5, John 8:5). Jesus turned their attacks in defeat by His simple logical and Scriptural answers (Matt. 12:1-14). Then anger started to grow on top of their envy (Mark 3:6). It reached a breaking point when Jesus cleansed the temple and interfered with their lucrative business in the temple court. They decided to get rid of this Man as soon as possible (John 11:53).

The Sanhedrin condemned Jesus to death but could not execute Him themselves (Matt. 26:63-66, John 18:31). By the time they reached Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, their envy and anger had turned into vicious hatred. It was not the whole Jewish nation, only a small elite group. They shouted repeatedly "Crucify! Crucify!" (Matt. 27:22-23). The apostles accused the Jewish leaders of being accomplices to the death of Jesus (Acts 4:10. 1Thess. 2:15). God used the Jewish leaders and the Romans to fulfill His purpose. Therefore, Jesus prayed on the cross that the Father forgive those responsible for His death.

God gave His Son to save sinners (John 3:16, Rom. 8:32). In the final analysis Jesus was not crucified by the Jews, Romans, or Satan, but by God. In His justice, He could not leave sin unpunished, and in His love, He could not leave man unsaved. At a high cost, God and His Son completed the plan of free salvation.