Jesus died?

When people say that Jesus was killed, slaughtered, finished, did in, snuffed out, assassinated, slayed, or any variation of “murdered”; and that we, humans, did it- I cringe. Jesus was the one who said, “It is finished” (John 19:30). We didn’t finish Him off--it was in HIS timing and HIS control. It wasn’t an execution as when Herod had John the Baptist beheaded; John had no say when he would breath his last… that, unfortunately, was decided for him. But the Son of God has a different ending. Look at what the gospels record…

Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. (Matthew 27:50)

Then Jesus uttered another loud cry and breathed his last. (Mark 15:37)

Then Jesus shouted, “Father, I entrust my spirit into your hands!” And with those words he breathed his last (Luke 23:46)

 “…he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit. (John 19:30)

Yes--we beat Him, we mocked Him, we clubbed Him, we ridiculed Him, we assaulted Him, we shamed Him, we bashed Him, we degraded Him, we whipped Him, we cheapened Him, we stabbed Him, we dishonored Him, we brutalized Him. But we did NOT take away His last breath.

How stupid, and yes I mean stupid, are we to think that we could murder the Son of God? And for those that believe it really went down that way, hard lesson coming. We, in animalistic manner, rioted to see Jesus flogged and torn apart--as our human flesh deceived us, as it always does deceive us…  But even at the end of Jesus’ earthly life, the flesh lost, and the flesh will lose again once and for all when Jesus returns for those whom have trusted and lived in His saving grace.

“…you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good, to bring it about that many people should be kept alive…” (Gen 50:20)

Bottom line: no matter what I decide to do, Jesus has got the final say. Period.