They did not know who He was.
The crucifixion happened because neither Israel's leaders nor Rome recognized Jesus as the Son of God and Messiah. 1 Corinthians 2:8 says none of the princes of this world knew, for had they known they would not have crucified the Lord of glory. Les Feldick points out that Pilate came close but did not know, and Israel's high priest and Pharisees did not know either.
1 Corinthians 2:8 — This verse directly answers why the rulers crucified Jesus: they did not know Him, and had they known, they would not have done it.
In 1 Corinthians 2:6–7, Paul writes that he speaks the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom which God ordained before the world for our glory. Then verse 8 gives the direct explanation: "Which none of the princes of this world knew: for had they known it, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory." The Scripture does not say the rulers knew exactly who Jesus was and crucified Him anyway. It says the opposite — they did not know. Psalm 2:2 also pictures the kings of the earth and the rulers taking counsel together against the LORD and against His anointed, but it is 1 Corinthians 2:8 that reveals their ignorance as the reason the crucifixion could take place.
Les Feldick's answer is built on 1 Corinthians 2:8. He explains that the words "none of the princes of this world knew" mean more than not recognizing a man from Nazareth — they mean the rulers did not know Jesus as the Son of God and the Messiah of Israel. Had the high priest and the Pharisees known who Jesus really was, they would never have cried for His death. Pilate came close: he said he could find no fault in the man, and his wife's dream warned him not to touch Jesus, yet he still did not recognize Him. Israel's leaders could have known if they had gone back to the Book, but they did not. Les also stresses that the crucifixion was not the work of Israel alone; Jew and Gentile together consorted and put the Messiah to death, exactly as Psalm 2 describes. None of this caught God by surprise — it was all part of His eternal plan, and Jesus had told the Twelve in advance every detail, including His death and resurrection on the third day.
Les Feldick says Pilate came close to seeing the truth. Pilate announced that he found no fault in the man, and his wife's dream warned him not to touch Jesus. But he did not take that final step of recognition. Because Pilate did not know who Jesus was, he put his stamp on the crucifixion just as the Jewish leaders did.
Les Feldick says Israel could have known if they had simply gone back to the Book, but Israel did not know. Because they acted in ignorance, Peter later stressed to the Jews who it was they had murdered. The Jewish leaders and Rome simply did not know who Jesus was.
Psalm 2:2 depicts the kings of the earth and the rulers taking counsel together against the LORD and His anointed. Les Feldick says that is exactly what happened at the cross: the rulers of Israel and the kings of this earth consorted together to put the Messiah to death. He therefore objects to the idea that Israel alone is guilty. Jew and Gentile together rejected Christ, demanded His crucifixion, and shared in the guilt.
Les Feldick draws a parallel between Joseph and Christ. Joseph was rejected by his brothers, considered dead, restored to life, and exalted in a far country where he took a Gentile bride. When the brothers came to Egypt to buy grain, they did not recognize him even though he gave them clues. In the same way, Jesus was among His people and gave evidence of who He was, but the rulers and the nation did not recognize Him.
Les Feldick says God was not caught by surprise. Jesus told the Twelve in detail what would happen — that He would be scourged, beaten, put to death, and raised on the third day — and He knew it from eternity past. This wisdom was part of God's eternal plan for the ages, in order to purchase salvation for every human being who would respond.
Joseph's Brothers Did Not Recognize Him
Les shows that just as Joseph's brothers received grain from him and still did not recognize him, Israel could be face to face with their Messiah and not know who He was.
Pilate Came Close but Did Not Know
Les teaches that the leaders of Israel and Pilate did not know who Jesus was; had they known, they would never have cried for His death. Pilate was close, but he still put his stamp on the crucifixion.
Israel Could Have Known
Les says Israel could have known who Jesus was if they had gone back to the Book, but they did not; therefore Paul could say the rulers of Israel would not have crucified the Lord of glory if they had known.
Jewish Leaders and Rome Did Not Know
Les applies 1 Corinthians 2:8 to both the Jewish leaders and Rome: they did not know Jesus; in Acts, Peter used this ignorance as an escape route for the nation.
Jew and Gentile Rejected Jesus
Les describes the rulers of Jews and Gentiles rejecting Jesus, saying crucify Him; they cast off every opportunity for God to rule over them.
Psalm 2 and God's Foreknowledge
Les says Psalm 2 describes the rulers of Israel and the kings of earth consorting together against the Messiah; Jew and Gentile together crucified Him, yet God foreknew it all.
None of the Princes Knew Him as Messiah
Les explains that the word 'knew' means more than casual recognition; none of the princes of Israel or Rome knew Jesus as the Son of God and Messiah, and it was all part of God's eternal plan.
Why the Temple Veil Tore — Matthew 27 Explained
I think all of this will enter into why she couldn't comprehend at her first glance who it really was. But we'll come to that later. I'm always putting people off and letting you hang by a string, but maybe you have a reason for that. Come back with me again to Matthew, and as they crucified him, verse 37, "...they set up over his head his accusation written, This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.
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 is the central answer: the rulers did not know Jesus, and their ignorance made the crucifixion possible.
1 Corinthians 2:7: But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, even the hidden wisdom, which God ordained before the world unto our glory:
The hidden wisdom Paul speaks of is the truth about Christ that the rulers did not know.
Psalm 2:2: The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying,
Les points to this verse to show that Israel's rulers and the Gentile kings conspired together against the Messiah.
No. Both the Jewish leaders and Rome did not know Jesus as the Son of God. 1 Corinthians 2:8 says none of the princes of this world knew; if they had known, they would not have crucified the Lord of glory.
Pilate came close to recognizing Jesus — he said he found no fault in the man and his wife's dream warned him not to touch Jesus — but he did not know who He was. Les says Pilate put his stamp on the crucifixion just like the Jewish leaders.
The crucifixion was not an accident. It was all part of God's eternal plan to purchase salvation for every human being who would respond. Jesus knew from eternity past that He would be scourged, killed, and raised on the third day.
No. Les teaches that Jew and Gentile together consorted and crucified the Messiah, exactly as Psalm 2 describes. He rejects the idea that only Israel is guilty.
Watch the Teaching: Joseph as a Type of Christ: The Hidden Prophecy in Genesis 37-46