The Crucifixion: God's Predetermined Plan (Tuesday)

Acts 2:23

"this Man, delivered over by the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God, you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death."

As Peter is preaching in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost he stomps on some toes. He says, “This man (Jesus)… you nailed to a cross by the hands of godless men and put Him to death.” This was quite the indictment on Rome and the religious leaders of Israel.

Additionally, at first glance, a statement such as this might have invalidated His messianic claims, because it sounds as if the crucifixion appears to be solely something that Romans and Jewish authorities conspired to accomplish. But Peter makes it clear that Jesus was not killed because He was a victim of His enemies. He was killed because of “the predetermined plan and foreknowledge of God.” Isaiah 53:10 prophesied, “But the Lord was pleased to crush Him, putting Him to grief.” And so rather than invalidating Jesus as Lord and Messiah, His death actually validated Him, since it was a fulfillment of God’s eternal decree.

Does this mean that since God determined it, men are not responsible? No, Peter says, “You (Jesus) nailed Jews to a cross by the hands of lawless men [the Romans] and put Him to death.” Without violating their will, God used evil men to accomplish His eternal purpose. It was the religious leadership of Israel that unjustly sentenced him to die. It was the Romans that physically nailed him to a cross. The actions of these two groups of men are despicable, but we must remember it was our sins that required the Lord Jesus to sacrifice himself. We took him there, and it pleased the Lord to crush him.

Octavious Winslow, commenting on Acts 2:23, once said, “Who delivered up Jesus to die? Not Judas for money; not Pilate for fear; not the Jews for envy; But the Father, for Love!”

Take a moment to think about how your sins sent Jesus to the cross. What were his motivations in sacrificing himself?


Heavenly Father, your divine plan was to save sinners and that is what I am. I sent Christ to the cross, but you made sure his act of obedience to your will secured my salvation. I praise you for your sovereignty and also for your love and grace. Amen.