Would the leaders of Israel have demanded Jesus' death if they had known who He really was?
No. Had the leaders of Israel—the high priest and Pharisees—known that Jesus of Nazareth was truly the Son of God and Messiah, they would never have demanded His death. They did not recognize Him, nor did Rome’s rulers, and so they crucified Him, though it was part of God’s eternal plan.
Les explains that the wisdom Paul refers to was unknown to the princes of this world. The word “knew” means more than casual recognition; they did not know Him as the Son of God, the Messiah of Israel. None of the princes of this world, not of Israel nor of Rome, knew who Christ really was. If the leaders of Israel, the high priest, and the Pharisees had known who Jesus of Nazareth really was, they would never have cried for His death. Pilate came close—he found no fault in Jesus and was warned by his wife’s dream—but he did not fully see it and also put his stamp on the crucifixion. Consequently, they went ahead and crucified Him, though it was all part of God’s eternal plan to purchase salvation for every human being who would respond.
Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
More Questions
Did Pilate know who Jesus really was?
Pilate came close to seeing who Jesus really was — he said he found no fault in Him and was warned by his wife's dream not to touch Him — but he did not.
How close did Pilate come to recognizing who Jesus really was?
Pilate came close to seeing who Jesus was, since he found no fault in Him and his wife received a dream warning him not to touch this man, but he fell short, and so he also put his stamp on the crucifixion.
Did the Roman and Gentile rulers who crucified Jesus know who he was?
Paul's statement in 1 Corinthians 2:8 shows the same ignorance principle applies to Rome and the Gentiles, not just Israel, because the princes of this world did not know and therefore would not have crucified the Lord of glory if they had known.