No — if the leaders had known who Jesus was, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Scripture says the princes of this world did not know Him, and because they did not know, they crucified the Lord of glory. Their rejection of Jesus was an act of ignorance, not a fully informed decision. Les Feldick emphasizes that this ignorance is exactly what allowed the crucifixion to happen, and yet God was never caught by surprise.
1 Corinthians 2:8 — This is the key verse that directly answers the question: had the rulers known who Jesus was, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
The Bible directly answers this question in Paul's teaching on God's hidden wisdom. In 1 Corinthians 2:8 Paul writes, “Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.” This verse makes plain that the crucifixion did not come from a full understanding of Jesus' identity; it came from ignorance. Psalm 2:2 shows that the kings of the earth and the rulers took counsel together against the LORD and against His anointed, but that was prophetic of their conspiracy, not a sign that they truly understood who He was. In Acts 3:17, Peter tells the Jewish people, “And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.” Jesus Himself prayed from the cross, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do” (Luke 23:34). So Scripture consistently presents the leaders' lack of knowledge as the reason the crucifixion could be carried out.
Les Feldick focuses on 1 Corinthians 2:8 and applies it directly to both Rome and Israel. He teaches that had the Roman rulers really known who Jesus was, they would never have put Him on the cross, and had the high priests of Israel known He was the Creator of the universe, they would not have allowed it. The crucifixion happened because they did not know who He was. Les also points out that Israel should have known. When Jesus came presenting Himself as the King of Israel, the Old Testament had already made it plain, but Israel refused to search the Scriptures. Even when Herod asked where the King of the Jews would be born, the priests had to go dig out the book of Micah to find the answer. They should have known by heart. At the same time, Les shows that their ignorance did not derail God's plan. Psalm 2 had already prophesied that the rulers of Israel and the kings of the earth would combine to put the Messiah to death, and Jesus Jesus Himself told the Twelve in detail what would happen to Him. Their ignorance was real, but God used it to accomplish His predetermined purpose. Peter later used this same ignorance as what Les calls “God's loophole for the nation of Israel” — because had they known who they were killing, God would have had to destroy them.
Les teaches that the Jewish leaders ought to have known. When Jesus came on the scene and presented Himself as King of Israel, the information was already in the Old Testament; Israel simply refused to search the Scriptures. When Herod asked the priests and scribes where the King of the Jews would be born, they had to go look, and they found it in Micah. Les concludes, “They should have known… but they didn't know.”
No. Les emphasizes that it was all in God's foreknowledge. God knew exactly what was going to happen. Jesus told the Twelve in detail that He would be scourged, beaten, put to death, and raised on the third day. Psalm 2 had already described the rulers of Israel and the kings of the earth taking counsel together against the LORD and His anointed. In Les's words, “God was not caught by surprise.”
Les highlights the Bible's answer through Peter's words in Acts 3. Peter told the men of Israel, “You killed him, but you were ignorant; you didn't know what you were doing.” Jesus asked the Father to forgive them because they knew not what they did. Les describes Peter's emphasis as “God's loophole for the nation of Israel.” Had they known who they were killing, God would have had to destroy the nation. Because they acted in ignorance, mercy could be extended and the nation could be given another chance.
This is the key verse. Paul says none of the princes of this world knew; if they had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Les applies it directly to both the Romans and the Jewish leaders. He says, “Had the Romans really known who Christ was, do you think they'd have put him on that cross? No way.” The same is true of the high priests. Their lack of knowledge is the only reason the crucifixion happened.
The Hidden Wisdom of God — 1 Corinthians 2:6-9 Explained
he didn't. Why? Because God wants to keep him as far from the Twelve as He possibly can, because He doesn't want the revelations He is going to give to Paul mixed up with what the Twelve of course had already understood. So he makes the point, I conferred not with flesh and blood, and to make sure that we understand what he is saying, the next verse qualifies it.
The Conditional — If They Had Known
Les reads 1 Corinthians 2:8 and applies it to both Rome and Israel: had the Romans and high priests truly known Jesus was the Lord of glory, they would never have crucified Him.
Israel Could Have Known
Les says Israel could have known who Jesus was by searching the book, but they failed to do so; had the rulers known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Rulers Ignorant — Peter's Escape Route
Les repeats that the Jewish leaders and Rome did not know who He was, and then explains that Peter used this ignorance in Acts 3 as an escape route for Israel, though Israel still suffers.
God's Foreknowledge and Prophecy
Les notes that the crucifixion was not a surprise to God; Psalm 2 predicted rulers conspiring, and Jesus had told the Twelve in detail what would happen.
Jew and Gentile Together Rejected Their King
Les traces the rejection of Christ's kingship to both Jews and Gentiles, with Pilate carrying out the crucifixion while Israel and Rome shared in the guilt.
The Old Testament Made It Plain
Les says Israel should have known from the Old Testament that Jesus was the King; even the priests had to search out Micah's prophecy when Herod asked where Messiah would be born.
Forgiveness Because They Did Not Know
Les explains that Jesus asked forgiveness from the cross because the leaders did not know what they were doing, and Peter later told Israel they were ignorant — Les calls this God's loophole for the nation.
1 Corinthians 2:8: Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
This verse directly states that the rulers' ignorance of Christ's identity is the reason they crucified Him.
Psalm 2:2: The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
This psalm prophesied that the earth's rulers would combine against God's anointed King.
Acts 3:17: And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers.
Peter told the Jewish people that they and their rulers killed the Messiah in ignorance.
Luke 23:34: Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
Jesus' prayer from the cross shows that He attributed the Jews' and Romans' action to ignorance.
No. According to 1 Corinthians 2:8, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Les Feldick teaches that both Rome and Israel acted in ignorance of Jesus' true identity.
God's plan was not derailed by their ignorance. Psalm 2 had already prophesied that the rulers would conspire, and Jesus told the Twelve in detail what would happen. Their ignorance was real, but God was never caught by surprise.
Les says Peter used Israel's ignorance as a loophole. Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them,” and Peter told them they acted in ignorance. But this did not mean there were no consequences — Les says Israel is still suffering to this day, though God's mercy will return to the nation.
Yes. Les says Jew and Gentile together consorted and crucified Him. Psalm 2 mentions both the kings of the earth and the rulers of Israel, so the whole human race falls under the guilt of the crucifixion.
Watch the Teaching: The Hidden Wisdom of God — 1 Corinthians 2:6-9 Explained