My short answer to this question is: “neither is to blame.” If we find it necessary to place blame on someone for the death of Jesus, perhaps we should blame ourselves, because of our own sinfulness. After all, isn’t that why he came? To die for our sins?
The Bible teaches that God sent His only son, once He had all the events and governments of the world fully orchestrated and positioned for His birth. Galatians 4:4-5 says it this way, “When the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.”
Let’s not forget that the Cross is central, and essential, to all we believe. The Cross of Christ is the turning point of all of history and is the very reason He came to earth. Jesus is the only person ever born whose mission was to die.
Jesus said in John 10:17-18, “The reason my Father loves me is that I lay down my life—only to take it up again. No one takes it from me, but I lay it down of my own accord. I have authority to lay it down and authority to take it up again. This command I received from my Father.”
I believe that when He says, “[This is] the reason my Father loves me,” He means that He was committed to following the will of His father, and His father’s will was that He, “lay down [His] life.”
Therefore, if you’re ever tempted to place blame on anyone for the death of Jesus, your personal savior, remember He came to die for your sins and mine. If anyone is to blame it is us—no one is exempt!
He came “because of his great love for us” (Ephesians 2:4) as He emphasized by saying, “No one takes [my life] from me, but I lay it down of my own accord.”
What great love, indeed!