What would have happened to Israel if they knowingly demanded the crucifixion of Jesus?
Had Israel known who the Messiah was and still demanded His crucifixion, they would have had to be put to death like a common murderer. But they escaped that judgment because they did not know what they did, so the Lord could say, Father forgive them.
Les explains that the cities of refuge provide the backdrop for Israel's response to their Messiah. Under that system, a person who killed someone without premeditation could flee to a city of refuge, tell his case to the city fathers, and if they judged that he had not committed premeditated murder, he was set free because he acted in total ignorance. Likewise, if Israel had known who He was and then demanded His crucifixion, they would have been guilty like a common murderer and would have had to be put to death. But they escaped that because they did not know what they did. Les ties this to 1 Corinthians 2:7-8, where Paul speaks of the hidden wisdom and says none of the princes of this world knew, for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Because they were ignorant, the Lord could rightfully say, Father, forgive them; they do not know what they are doing.
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What would have happened to Israel if they had knowingly crucified their Messiah?
If Israel had known that Jesus was the Messiah and had still demanded His crucifixion, they would have had to be put to death like common murderers.