Everything we’ve just observed through the important events of the Lord’s suffering, death, resurrection, and ascension, followed by the sending of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost now culminates with giving praise, honor, and glory to our Triune God, the Three in One and One in Three, the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

Today’s Second Reading, in my mind, wraps everything up as Peter proclaims what happened and why. He focuses on who specifically crucified Jesus and the results.

A lot of people played a role in the crucifixion of Christ Jesus. We can think of Judas who betrayed Him for thirty pieces of silver. We can think of the enemies among Jesus’ own people who feared that the coming of the Son of God would lead them to lose their power over the people, and so they accused Jesus of blasphemy and rebellion, calling for His execution. Pilate tried to wash his hands of guilt (personally believing Jesus to be innocent) but Jesus couldn’t have been crucified without his approval (which Pilate gave for political reasons). Roman soldiers carried out the crucifixion at the command of their authorities.

In today’s Second Reading, Peter doesn’t point to any of the people I just mentioned as the accused in the crime of Jesus’ crucifixion. He is inspired by the Holy Spirit to consider the entire context and pin the real blame on anyone who is listening to his message—including you and me. Peter steadfastly declares: “This Jesus whom you crucified.” This Jesus I crucified. This Jesus we crucified. Peter doesn’t accuse only those who physically carried out the crucifixion. He points to anyone who may come across his message. He points at sinful human beings.

Jesus was crucified because of us and because of our sins. Jesus was crucified because we don’t love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. It’s far too easy for our sinful hearts to honor God with our lips while our heart, soul, mind, and strength are focused elsewhere. Our sinful thoughts, words, and deeds flow from our sinful desires. Sinful is the state of our condition, meaning that we aren’t sinners simply because we sin. We sin because we are sinners.

Because of our sins and sinfulness, Jesus was whipped and beaten. Because of our sins and sinfulness, Jesus was painfully mocked with a crown of thorns. Because of our sins and sinfulness Jesus was nailed to the wood of the cross until He breathed His last.

And yet… and yet… it’s not like Jesus was forced to the cross because of our sins and sinfulness. It’s not like our sins and sinfulness held Him hostage. As difficult of a pill as it is to consider (though it’s what we deserve) God’s justice would easily be served by condemning us to hell for the crime of our sins and sinfulness. But considering that bit of truth, what would be missing? What other important aspects of His own character and nature has the Lord God revealed to us? God’s grace, mercy, and compassion for the fallen creation that He once declared to be “very good,” and for the sinful human beings that the Triune God—the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit—created in His image and likeness. “God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

The Lord God ultimately sent Jesus to that cross. At His Baptism which initiated His earthly ministry, the Holy Spirit descended on Jesus in the form of a dove, while the Father proclaimed, “This is my beloved Son in whom I am well pleased.” When Jesus was transfigured in front of three disciples, and Moses and Elijah were talking to Him about His looming crucifixion, resurrection, and ascension, again the voice of the Father proclaimed, “This is my beloved Son with whom I am well pleased.” The Lord Jesus Himself declared, “I lay down my life that I may take it up again.” God sent Jesus to that cross because through the sacrifice of Jesus on the cross comes the forgiveness of sins, life, and salvation freely flowing to sinners—to you, to me, to all who believe.

Saint John declares in His first letter, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. But if we confess our sins, God who is faithful and just, will forgive our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” He declares God to be both faithful and just. God’s justice demands that sin can’t be overlooked. It can’t be ignored. It had to be dealt with somehow, someway. While at the same time God is faithful, which means that He atones for our sins on our behalf. Christ Jesus faithfully bore the wrath of God’s justice so that we may have life in His name.

The prophet Isaiah points out two realities—both true. Jesus was “wounded for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; upon Him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with His stripes we are healed.” He shed His blood because of our sins, but He did it to save us. The other reality: “It was the will of the Lord to crush Him.” Jesus was crucified by the Triune God’s design. Why? To save you, to save me.

Our heavenly Father is looked down on by many people because of the crucifixion of His only-begotten Son. But we heard a different take on things this morning. Peter preached, “Therefore know for certain that God has made Him both Lord and Christ.” It is true, God so loved the world that He gave His only Son. Jesus was sent to the cross by His Father. But that’s not the end of the story. God’s plan for our salvation involved Christ’s resurrection and ascension to His right hand. God made Him both Lord and Christ by exalting Him in resurrection and ascension.

Today, we specifically praise, honor, and glorify our Triune God. There is a unity of substance and will between God the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. None of the Godhead desires or does anything independent from any other person in our Triune God. So, let’s not forget that although the Father crushed His Son in crucifixion, Jesus also willed to save us in this manner. He obediently and willingly sacrificed Himself for us. He says, “The Good Shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” He says, “The Son of man came not to be served but to serve and to give His life as a ransom for many.” Christ Jesus went to the cross with the specific mission to redeem you.

Because Christ died for you, you possess—even now—by the power of the Holy Spirit forgiveness, life, and salvation. Why? Because God has made Him both Lord and Christ. Christ means Messiah, which means “chosen one.” God anointed Jesus as the Chosen One at His Baptism when He received the Holy Spirit in dramatic fashion.

God exalted Jesus as Lord when He ascended to the Father’s right hand with all authority in heaven and on earth. Lord means ruler. But, Martin Luther, in his Small Catechism, keenly identified “Lord” as having a more direct meaning in the context of Jesus. For Him to be our Lord means that He is our Redeemer. He is our Savior.

The authority of our Lord Jesus is at work through the Holy Spirit who calls, gathers, enlightens, and sanctifies Christians through the Gospel and the Sacraments. “No one can say Jesus is Lord except by the Holy Spirit… Faith comes by hearing the Word of Christ… The sword of the Spirit is the Word of God.” The Spirit has called you by the Gospel and washed you in the blood of Christ through Baptism to receive the forgiveness that comes through Christ Jesus.

Brothers and sisters in Christ, the will of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit is united in saving sinners. Yes, Jesus was crucified because of our sins and sinfulness. Yes, Jesus’ crucifixion was the great salvation plan of our gracious and merciful God. The heavenly Father sent Jesus to the cross out of His love for the world and then highly exalted Him; Jesus Himself went to the cross, laying down His life for the sheep He loves; and the Holy Spirit delivers the benefits of the cross through the call of the Gospel and Holy Baptism. The Holy Trinity works in unity to save you, me, and as many as receive and believe the Good News of Jesus. Amen.