John: “Jesus answered, Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above: therefore he [God] that delivered me unto thee hath the greater sin” ([xix, 11]).
Hon. Allan L. McDermott, in his memorable speech in Congress, in 1906, protesting against the persecution of Jews by Christians, said: “If an omnipotent God orders anything done, the human instruments selected to carry out his orders cannot be charged with the acts commanded. The doctrine of repondeat superior applies. If what happened could have been prevented by the Romans or by the Jews, then the New Testament is worthless. Let us assume that the Jews crucified Christ. Could they have done otherwise? Were they greater than God? According to the Bible, the crucifixion was arranged for by the Father. Why blame the Jews or the Romans or any other mortals? They did not know what they were doing. The Roman soldiers did not believe that they were crucifying the son of God; they did not know they were crucifying God himself. Why blame the instruments? Why persecute the descendants? According to the Synoptic Gospels and according to John, the arrangements for the crucifixion—every detail—were made by Almighty God, and were known to Christ.”
521
What was the character of his death?
Homicide. “Jesus of Nazareth, a man ... ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain” ([Acts ii, 22, 23]).
Regicide. “The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David” ([Luke i, 32]). “This is the King of the Jews” ([xxiii, 38]). “There they crucified him” ([33]).
Deicide. “The Word [Christ] was God” ([John i, 1]). “I and my Father are one” ([x, 30]). “They crucified him” ([xix, 18]).
Suicide. “I [Christ] lay down my life, that I might take it again. No man taketh it from me, but I lay it down of myself” ([John x, 17, 18]).