Why did people want to kill Jesus, and why did God let them?
Here's the answer:
The people's plan was to get rid of Jesus, but God's plan was for Jesus to die for believing sinners.
While Jesus lived on earth, His miracles and teaching proved that He was God's Son sent to seek and save lost sinners. But not all sinners believe in Jesus. In fact, some people during Jesus' time hated Him! These people wanted to kill Jesus because they refused to believe that Jesus was God's Son and then turn from their sins.
Why did God let these people hurt Jesus? Actually, Jesus' death on the cross was God's plan! God let the people crucify Jesus because He planned for Jesus to die and take the punishment for sin—death (see Romans 6:23). Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, God said in His Word, the Bible, that His Son would suffer and die to pay the punishment that sinners deserve.
Read about God's perfect plan in the Bible Truth verses below.
Bible Truth
"Men of Israel, listen to this! Jesus of Nazareth was a man who had God's approval. God did miracles, wonders and signs among you through Jesus. You yourselves know this. Long ago God planned that Jesus would be handed over to you. With the help of evil people, you put Jesus to death. You nailed him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead" (Acts 2:22–24a).
"God was pleased to bring all things back to himself because of what Christ has done. That includes all things on earth and in heaven. God made peace through Christ's blood, through his death on the cross" (Colossians 1:19–20).
