Why did they kill Jesus even though everyone knew he was innocent?

Answer 1

There are really two s, depending on which perspective you use. From one perspective there are the human players such as Pilate and the Jewish leaders who arrested Jesus and brought Him to Pilate. On the other hand is God's eternal purpose and plan to save the world.

Firstly, Pilate was known as being one who was very cruel to the Jews and also very stubborn. At Jesus' trial he is seen as being weak and bowing to pressure, which some have interpreted as being out of character. However on one previous occasion when he had caused gross offense to the Jews by allowing some votive shields to be placed where they should not be (according to the Jews religion) and would not yield to their pleas to remove them, they threatened and then actually did send a report to Caesar, who swiftly rebuked Pilate and ordered their removal. When at Jesus' trial the Jews said 'if you let this man go you are no friend of Caesar,' Pilate understood their meaning. This was a thinly veiled threat to do the same again - probably with dire consequences for Pilate. (Pilate of course knew the Jews wanted the Romans out and were themselves not great lovers of Caesar).

Further to this and concurrent with it was the fact that Pilate was himself a personal friend of one Sejanus who was implicated in a plot against Caesar. His political position at the time of Jesus' trial was thus rather weak, hence his willingness to give in even against the normal Roman sense of justice.

Secondly, as Jesus Himself stated a number of times it was 'necessary' that He suffer and die to redeem mankind. This was part of God's purpose, although of course men who rejected their Messiah were also involved as instruments.

John 3:14-16 (King James Version)14And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of man be lifted up:

15That whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

16For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

John 12:32-33 (King James Version)32And I, if I be lifted up from the earth, will draw all men unto me.

33This he said, signifying what death he should die.

Mark 10:32-34 (King James Version)32And they were in the way going up to Jerusalem; and Jesus went before them: and they were amazed; and as they followed, they were afraid. And he took again the twelve, and began to tell them what things should happen unto him,

33Saying, Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man shall be delivered unto the chief priests, and unto the scribes; and they shall condemn him to death, and shall deliver him to the Gentiles:

34And they shall mock him, and shall scourge him, and shall spit upon him, and shall kill him: and the third day he shall rise again.

Matthew 17:22-23 (King James Version)22And while they abode in Galilee, Jesus said unto them, The Son of man shall be betrayed into the hands of men:

23And they shall kill him, and the third day he shall be raised again. And they were exceeding sorry.

Answer 2

back in those days, they had maybe 3-4 kings going and trying to out do each other . when jesus came into the scene, the other kings found out he could perform miracles and raise the dead. they had a great fear for this new person who was better than they were. there was a lot of jealousy and they had to get rid of this super saint.