They Didn’t Know

“We do, however, speak a message of wisdom among the mature, but not the wisdom of this age or of the rulers of this age, who are coming to nothing. ⁷No, we declare God’s wisdom, a mystery that has been hidden and that God destined for our glory before time began. ⁸None of the rulers of this age understood it, for if they had, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” – 1 Corinthians 2:6-8

Good Friday was a battle of wits and of wisdom. According to Paul, the death of Jesus Christ on the cross was God’s idea.

At the time, this event didn’t look like a smart move. The Romans reserved crucifixion to execute the most miserable of criminals. Often, it took victims two or three days to die. Hanging suspended between life and death, they served as warnings against anyone who would threaten the empire.

When Paul wrote his first letter to the Corinthians (about twenty years after Christ’s crucifixion), public opinion hadn’t changed. The cross still appeared foolish to most people. A crazy way for the divine mind to achieve anything beneficial for society.

God’s wisdom, displayed at the cross, battled the world’s authorities.

Who were they? And what were they fighting about?

The apostle posited God’s intelligence against the ignorance of “the rulers of this age.” Jesus wasn’t crucified on a whim; those in charge of government wanted Him dead.

The Jewish leaders sought Christ’s death.

“Then the chief priests and the Pharisees called a meeting of the Sanhedrin. ‘What are we accomplishing?’ they asked. ‘Here is this man performing many signs. ⁴⁸If we let him go on like this, everyone will believe in him, and then the Romans will come and take away both our temple and our nation.’ ⁴⁹Then one of them, named Caiaphas, who was high priest that year, spoke up, ‘You know nothing at all! ⁵⁰You do not realize that it is better for you that one man die for the people than that the whole nation perish.’ ⁵¹He did not say this on his own, but as high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the Jewish nation, ⁵²and not only for that nation but also for the scattered children of God, to bring them together and make them one. ⁵³So from that day on they plotted to take his life.” – John 11:47-53

Amazing, isn’t it? Caiaphas berated the members of the Sanhedrin as obtuse. All they have to do is kill Jesus and–problem solved! The Romans hold back and Israel stays safe. Yet Caiaphas never grasped the depth of his own words. In spite of himself, the high priest foretold the redemptive power of Christ’s death. The cross was more than an execution; from God’s perspective, it was a sacrifice.

Only the religious leaders didn’t know that.

Neither did the secular officials. Pilate vacillated about Jesus. At first, he thought the Lord was innocent.

“Then Pilate announced to the chief priests and the crowd, ‘I find no basis for a charge against this man.’” – Luke 23:4

And he saw through the machinations of the religious authorities.

“For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over.” – Matthew 27:18 (NASB)

But Pilate had worries of his own. More concerned with job security than with justice, he caved in and allowed an innocent Man to die.

“From then on, Pilate tried to set Jesus free, but the Jewish leaders kept shouting, ‘If you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar.’ ¹³When Pilate heard this, he brought Jesus out and sat down on the judge’s seat at a place known as the Stone Pavement (which in Aramaic is Gabbatha). ¹⁴It was the day of Preparation of the Passover; it was about noon. ‘Here is your king,’ Pilate said to the Jews. ¹⁵But they shouted, ‘Take him away! Take him away! Crucify him!’ ‘Shall I crucify your king?’ Pilate asked. ‘We have no king but Caesar,’ the chief priests answered. ¹⁶Finally Pilate handed him over to them to be crucified. So the soldiers took charge of Jesus.” – John 19:12-16

It’s a question of authority and security. Pilate envisioned the loss of his governorship. The priests feared the end of their world. Given those stakes, Jesus didn’t have a chance.

But that was God’s plan all along.

They didn’t know.

Fighting to preserve their power, the rulers contributed to their own undoing.

The name of Jesus overshadows all others.

“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death–even death on a cross! ⁹Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” – Philippians 2:8-11

And no ruler on earth can provide what Jesus alone offers–salvation!

“Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to mankind by which we must be saved.” – Acts 4:12

You can look at Good Friday as a power struggle. Jesus went to war with the forces that govern this world and, by all appearances, He lost. Except He didn’t! He won! And now His death and resurrection grant us the blessing of a relationship with God.

“For if, while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to him through the death of his Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through his life!” – Romans 5:10

They didn’t know; but you do. Honor Jesus, trust Him, and serve Him.