I Crucified Thee

We believe in penal substitutionary atonement. Jesus died as your personal substitute to pay the legal punishment for your sins to make peace with God. Here is a survey from Isaiah to Peter of some Bible proof. The doctrine and its implication is that your sins killed Jesus Christ.

1. 1 Cosmic Glory of Cross · Nov 1, 2026AM
2. 2 I Crucified Thee · Nov 1, 2026AM

And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering;
and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD:…
Leviticus 1:4-5

My faith would lay her hand on that dear head of thine,
While like a penitent I stand, and there confess my sin.
My soul looks back to see the burden thou didst bear,
When hanging on the curs-ed tree, and knows her guilt was there.

Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon thee?
Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee!
‘Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee;
I crucified thee.

Theme: Jesus was crucified, killed, as your substitute by imputation, so your sins, or you, crucified Him.

Preparatory Reading: Leviticus 1; Leviticus 3; Leviticus 4; Isaiah 53; Hebrews 9.

Related Links:
Jesus Died for Me (2024).
Ah, Dearest Jesus (2025).
Isaiah 53: Servant to Son (2025).
Doctrine of Satisfaction (2015).
The Day the Universe Shook Part 1 of 2 (2022).
Bear Our Sins on the Tree (2024).
Redemption By Blood (2015).
For What Did Jesus Die? (2017).
A Lake, A Book, A Lamb (2021).
The Cross at Judgment Day (2018).
Who Shall Declare His Generation? (2015).
The Blood Dowry (2015).
The Cup of Christ (2018).
Facets of Salvation (2024).

Related Songs:

Introduction:

1. Communion by its design directs focused attention to the death of Jesus Christ for us (I Cor 11:23-27).
2. Remembering and showing His death is more than an historical fact, it is our own personal salvation.
3. He said at the Last Supper, This is my body, which is broken for you; this do in remembrance of me.
4. He did not die a martyr. He did not die an example. He died as your personal substitute for your sins.
5. The reason He died was you. The cause was your sins. The fatal punishment was what you deserved.
6. It is common, and good, for believers to say their sins drove the nails through His hands and His feet.
7. But we can take it further by considering stronger yet true terminology, I killed Him … I crucified Him.
8. Of course, God did not spare His Son and delivered Him up for us, but it was our sins that required it.
9. We want to make His death as personal and substitutionary as possible to fully appreciate our Savior.
10. For us to fully grasp the divine transfer of guilt to Him and His obedience for us, we must slow down.
11. We crucified Him. Our sins had to be paid for by His death. We brought God’s wrath down on Him.
12. We are the criminals in the greatest cosmic event that made Him the sacrificial victim for atonement.
13. Stop thinking about sin in general – grasp that each of your sins, past, present, and future killed Him.
14. Stop thinking of His death in general – grasp that each aspect of trial, torture, and end was your fault.
15. Only then will we have the right view looking back, only then will we be best motivated for holiness.

Penal Substitutionary Atonement (PSA)

1. Penal. Of, pertaining to, or relating to punishment. Having as its object the infliction of punishment, punitive; the punishment to be inflicted for an offence or transgression.
2. Substitute. A person acting in place of another. A person standing in for another person.
3. Atonement. The action of setting at one. Reconciliation or restoration of friendly relations between God and sinners by their previous enmity being taken out of the way.
4. We believe penal substitutionary atonement (PSA): Jesus Christ died as your personal substitute to pay the legal punishment for your sins to make peace with God for you.
5. Jesus did not die as a martyr, as an example, or for any other reason than this right here.
6. Scripture has plenty of proof (Isaiah 53:5-6,8,10; Zech 12:10; Matt 20:28; John 11:50-52; 15:13; Romans 5:19; II Cor 5:21; Gal 3:13; Hebrews 2:9; 9:28; I Peter 2:24; 3:18).
7. There are many more reference texts (Matt 1:21; John 6:37-39; 10:14-16,26-29; 12:24; 17:1-2; Romans 5:6-11; 8:29-30; I Cor 11:27-29; 15:3; Gal 4:4-6; Eph 1:3-6; II Tim 1:9; Heb 1:3; 2:13; 9:12; I Peter 1:18-21; I John 4:10; Rev 1:5; 5:9-10; 13:8; 17:8; etc.).
8. For much more detail about imputation and all other facets of eternal salvation.
9. For much more detail about atonement and about Israel’s Day of Atonement … Facets of Our Salvation, here.

Isaiah 53; Verse 5 … But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.

1. His cruel death by crucifixion, divine punishment, was not for any fault or sins in Him.
2. You wounded Jesus by your transgressions … God had to wound Him as your substitute.
3. You bruised Jesus by your iniquities … God was pleased to bruise Him instead of you.
4. You scourged Him for peace with God … as Pilate chastised by scourging (Luke 23:16).
5. You put the stripes on His back to be legally healed … since you deserved them yourself.
6. He was the substitute for you, the Lamb to die in your place, by cruel, crucifixion death.
7. For much detail explaining this fantastic chapter about Jesus’ death for your sins … here.

Isaiah 53; Verse 6 … All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.

1. You foolish and wicked rebel chose to run from God and go astray into sin’s wilderness.
2. You arrogantly chose your own way of life against the eternal wisdom of Creator God.
3. It was your iniquity and your guilt that Jehovah put on Jesus to pay for by a cruel death.
4. You caused this horrible enmity between God and yourself that required death to heal.

Isaiah 53; Verse 7 … He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

1. You oppressed and afflicted Him in the terrible abuse of justice of His trial and torture.
2. You brought Him as a helpless lamb to the slaughter (or sheep to shearing) of His life.
3. He went passively and quietly without noise or complaint to die a cruel death for you.
4. He could have called twelve legions of angels to save Him, but you would not let Him.

Isaiah 53; Verse 8 … He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.

1. You denied Him a fair trial and protection of the law by your profane sins against God.
2. Justice should have protected Him, for He was innocent, but He died for you, a criminal.
3. You killed Him in the prime of life without any opportunity for marriage or descendants.
4. You struck Him and overwhelmed Him with pain by your transgressions against God.

Isaiah 53; Verse 9 … And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.

1. You made Him die a common death of common criminals to pay for your many crimes.
2. He did much more than pay a fine for you; He had to die for you, slow and most painful.
3. You killed an innocent victim, even Jesus the Son of God, without any violence or lies.
4. Even Pilate, as pagan and political as he was, knew that Jesus was not worthy of death.

Isaiah 53; Verse 10 … Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.

1. You bruised Jesus of Nazareth, causing His grief, by God punishing Him for your sins.
2. It pleased God to torture His Son for your sins; it brought out His wrath and vengeance.
3. Jesus was offered up like a Levitical lamb, with your sins cutting its soft throat for death.
4. Jesus saw you do it to Him, rose from the dead, and did all God’s pleasure to save you.

Isaiah 53; Verse 11 … He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.

1. You caused the enormous grief and pain to the soul of Jesus to satisfy God’s justice.
2. You killed God’s faithful and righteous servant, bearing your iniquities to justify you.
3. The travail (painful and oppressive trouble) was horrific; you deserved it; Jesus paid it.
4. There is no salvation, no atonement, no justification, no adoption without this travail.

Isaiah 53; Verse 12 … Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.

1. God rewarded His Son with honors for what He did for you in your place (Is 52:13-15).
2. You forced Him to pour out His soul in death in order to rescue you from your sin mess.
3. You treated Him like a common criminal to pay the penalty of death for your crimes.
4. He bore your sins and guilt before the thrice-holy Jehovah, who should have killed you.
5. For much detail explaining this fantastic chapter about Jesus’ death for your sins … here.

Zechariah 12; Verse 10 … And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.

1. We understand this prophecy to be fulfilled at Pentecost by early Jew converts to Christ.
2. The Romans literally pierced Jesus by instigation of the Jews, who bear the greater guilt.
3. You pierced Jesus of Nazareth legally by your sins, with greater cruelty than the soldier.
4. And if born again and in possession of the Spirit, you should mourn as much as possible.

Matthew 20; Verse 28 … Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.

1. Ransom. Price paid to free a captive or prisoner from the claims and power of another.
2. You chose legal damnation by willful sins for eternal judgment and wrath of Jehovah.
3. You forced Jesus to give His own life to save your wretched life from just execution.
4. For much more about a ransom in general and as it relates to salvation … I Have Found a Ransom, Jesus Christ Our Ransom, I Gave Egypt for Thy Ransom.

John 11; Verses 50-52 … Nor consider that it is expedient for us, that one man should die for the people, and that the whole nation perish not. And this spake he not of himself: but being high priest that year, he prophesied that Jesus should die for that nation; And not for that nation only, but that also he should gather together in one the children of God that were scattered abroad.

1. Caiaphas prophesied by power of God that Jesus should die to save Israel from Rome.
2. In order for you not to perish under God’s great wrath, you killed Jesus in your stead.
3. Jesus did not die as the sacrificial Lamb for elect Jews only, but also for your salvation.
4. For much more of this fabulous prophecy by God overruling Israel’s high priest.

John 15; Verse 13 … Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

1. Men of great love only lay down their lives for friends when friends are doomed to die.
2. You chose death in Eden and every day since, by which you forced Jesus to crucifixion.
3. You were not His friend; you were His enemy; He ended His life for you while young.
4. In some very rare cases men might die for good men, but He for enemies (Rom 5:6-8).
5. For much more of our Lord’s words to His apostles before His death for them … here.

Romans 5; Verse 19 … For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one shall many be made righteous.

1. Imputation is an incredible legal fact and holy doctrine by transfer of charges to another.
2. Adam’s disobedience was imputed – accounted, counted, reckoned – to each person.
3. You chose sin and death by rebelling against God, forcing Jesus to obey by crucifixion.
4. For much more about the doctrine of imputation and Adam’s assigned sin guilt.

II Corinthians 5; Verse 21 … For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

1. The transaction of imputation charges sins to sinless Jesus and His righteousness to us.
2. You made sinless Jesus a sinner in God’s sight so He could make you fully righteous.
3. But making Jesus sin for you brought darkness, God forsaking His Son, and His death.
4. For much more about the details of this transaction and the gospel declaring it.

Galatians 3; Verse 13 … Christ hath redeemed us from the curse of the law, being made a curse for us: for it is written, Cursed is every one that hangeth on a tree:

1. You rebelled against God’s laws like ancient Israel but put your curse on Jesus Christ.
2. You chose the easy way out your whole life but forced Jesus to hang on a cursed tree.
3. He was made a curse for you, there is hardly a plainer statement of you crucifying Him.
4. God chose in infinite wisdom and omniscience to curse any that would hang on a tree.
5. For much more of the details of this transaction and the gospel declaring it … Galatians 3, Jesus and Three Important Trees.

Hebrews 2: Verse 9 … But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

1. God made Jesus a little lower than angels with a flesh and blood body in order to die.
2. You chose death in Eden and your daily life forced Jesus to incarnation and crucifixion.
3. Death is a terrible thing, suffering of the most extreme form, which you forced on Him.
4. Since you could not pay infinite punishment, Jesus tasted death by dying in your place.

Hebrews 9; Verse 28 … So Christ was once offered to bear the sins of many; and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin unto salvation.

1. You chose death, so you will die, and soon, but after that you will face eternal judgment.
2. You made Jesus bear your sins to get out of the death and eternal judgment you deserve.
3. His sacrifice on Calvary, comparable to a burnt offering, left nothing of your many sins.

I Peter 2; Verse 24 … Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed.

1. You forced Jesus to rescue you from your own sins by His own self without any helper.
2. You created the sin burden of guilt by your willful rebellion but put it in His own body.
3. You chose the tree God forbad, and you continue to do so, forcing Him to hang on one.
4. Before He got to die and leave pain and suffering, you by your sins scourged His back.
5. His suffering of torture and death was so perfect you are healed and can live righteously.
6. For much more of the details of this transaction and the gospel declaring it to us … here.

I Peter 3; Verse 18 … For Christ also hath once suffered for sins, the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh, but quickened by the Spirit:

1. You made Jesus suffer for sins, though impeccably sinless, for God to ever accept you.
2. You made the most just man ever take on your unjust guilt as a criminal to justify you.
3. You forced Him to come to earth for a flesh body so that He could die in your place.
4. You would never have been able to get ever near God without His Son dying for you.
5. For much more of the details of this transaction and the gospel declaring it to us … here.

The Hand and the Knife … And he shall put his hand upon the head of the burnt offering; and it shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him. And he shall kill the bullock before the LORD: and the priests, Aaron’s sons, shall bring the blood, and sprinkle the blood round about upon the altar that is by the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.

1. The Old Testament had animal sacrifices that pictured what our Lord would do for us.
   1. Killing animals to spread their blood around never cured a conscience (Heb 9:6-14).
   2. The O.T. religion of Moses had shadows of Jesus in the N.T. (Hebrews 8:5; 10:1-6).
   3. The burnt offering here had to be a male without blemish, or perfect (Lev 1:3; 22:21).
   4. It was to be offered voluntarily by his free will, like God for us (John 6:39; Acts 2:23; Rom 9:15-16; Gal 1:3-4; Eph 1:5,9,11; II Timothy 1:9; Hebrews 10:7-10).
   5. As a burnt offering, the sacrificial animal is entirely consumed by fire (Lev 1:8-9).
2. Hand on the head is a symbolic transfer of sins and guilt from the sinner to the sacrifice.
   1. The penitent sinner with his hand on the beast’s head confesses his sins for transfer.
   2. The guilt is transferred to it, It shall be accepted for him to make atonement for him.
   3. Atonement. A relational act to unite two offended parties in a peaceful relationship.
   4. The Day of Atonement was the most special day in Israel to make peace with God for another year – specific meaningful sacrifices, the only fast, a scapegoat, etc.
   5. This obvious picture of imputation is how God charged our sins and guilt to Jesus.
   6. At the cross, a cosmic accounting took place. God did not overlook your sins; He counted them against Jesus. His stripes and death are the exact horror of your sins.
   7. For much more detail about atonement and Israel’s Day of Atonement … Facets of Our Salvation Part 12 of 12, here.
   8. Isaac Watts clearly used this hand transfer in his song, Not All the Blood of Beasts.
3. We see the sinner offering the sacrifice put his hand on its head and kill it (Lev 1:4-5).
   1. You may have assumed your whole life that priests or Levites did all killing. Wrong.
   2. For a simple reminder, consider the Passover that each family killed for its blood.
   3. We trust our KJV Bible, which clearly separates the sinner and the priests’ role here.
   4. Though one person may act for another (John 4:1-3), it is not implied or written here.
   5. Commentators agree the sinner killed it (Barnes, Darby, Gill, JFB, Scott, Spurgeon).
   6. Commentators that deny the sinner killed it (Calvin, Geneva, Henry, Poole, Trapp).
4. While his left hand was on the beast’s head, his right hand held the knife to cut its throat.
   1. There is no forgiveness in the Bible without the shedding of blood (Hebrews 9:22).
   2. Since the life of the flesh is in the blood, the sacrifice must be killed (Lev 17:11).
   3. Note in this last text that atonement is stated twice – it cannot happen without blood.
   4. After the sinner kills the sacrifice with his sin guilt, priests rightly apply the blood.
5. Other similar texts in close proximity say similar things about identifying the sacrifice.
   1. Compare a peace offerings of the herd, flock or lamb, a goat (Lev 3:1-2,6-8,12-13).
   2. Compare offerings for a priest, the nation, a ruler, commoner (Lev 4:4,15,24,29,33).
   3. Compare the scapegoat on Day of Atonement for hands on its head (Lev 16:21-22).
6. How do we take this picture from the O.T. and apply it as well as we can to Jesus Christ?
   1. Your sins and your guilt are the knife that killed Jesus Christ your sacrifice for you.
   2. Your lusts, pride, moods, words, laziness, selfishness, omission, commission, etc.
   3. Sin demands immediate and violent death, and Jesus suffered greatly by crucifixion.
   4. The burnt offering consumed all; there was no sin or sin-bearer left, and so with us.
   5. While we humbly sing of His dear head, we put our sins there by faith, not a hand.
   6. Our coming to Jesus Christ by faith and repentance is the act to purge our conscience.
   7. Paul did not end his grand statement of redemption without atonement (Rom 5:11).
7. Can we summarize the application of this O.T. text to our N.T. salvation in Jesus Christ?
   1. Sinner’s Situation (Lev 1:3-4): Our thrice-holy God must have a perfect substitute.
   2. Sinner’s Imputation (Lev 1:4): God arranged imputation or transfer of guilt to Jesus.
   3. Sinner’s Execution (Lev 1:5): Confess my sins killed Him and run to Him in faith.
   4. Sinner’s Acceptance (Lev 1:4): Believe I am forgiven, rise up, and live for Him.
   5. Sinner’s Paradox (Lev 1:4-5): Grace is killing our only good friend for us to go free.

Not All the Blood of Beasts (Isaac Watts; 1709; here; Trinity Hymnal #242; verses 3-4)
1 Not all the blood of beasts on Jewish altars slain,
Could give the guilty conscience peace, or wash away the stain.
2 But Christ, the heav’nly Lamb, takes all our sins away,
A sacrifice of nobler name and richer blood than they.
3 My faith would lay her hand on that dear head of thine,
While like a penitent I stand, and there confess my sin.
4 My soul looks back to see the burden thou didst bear,
When hanging on the cursed tree, and knows her guilt was there.

1. Isaac Watts adapted the burnt offering of hand and knife for our atonement (Lev 1:1-9).
2. The heavenly sacrifice made by God for us has a nobler name and has far richer blood.
3. We come to Christ our Lamb and by faith lay our sins and guilt on Him for atonement.

Ah, Dearest Jesus(Johann Heermann; 1630; here; here; Trinity Hymnal #248; verse 2)
1 Ah, dearest Jesus, how hast thou offended,
that man to judge thee hath in hate pretended?
By foes derided, by thine own rejected, O most afflicted.
2 Who was the guilty? Who brought this upon thee?
Alas, my treason, Jesus, hath undone thee!
‘Twas I, Lord Jesus, I it was denied thee; I crucified thee.
3 For me, dear Jesus, was thine incarnation,
thy mortal sorrow, and thy life’s oblation;
thy death of anguish and thy bitter passion, for my salvation.
4 Therefore, dear Jesus, since I cannot pay thee,
I do adore thee and will ever pray thee;
Think on thy pity and thy love unswerving, not my deserving.

1. Johann Heermann looked to the cross and identified the treasonous murderer as himself.
2. While Watts focused on the transfer of the left hand, Heermann saw the murder weapon.
3. The sinner himself, you reader, is the guilty, treasonous denier and the cruel crucifier.

Application of the Whole

1. Who killed Jesus of Nazareth? The Romans? The Jews? Pilate? Judas? … You did!
2. Who held and applied the scourge? The thorns? The hammer and nails? The spear?
3. On the cross, Jesus our Savior was “made a pack-horse for our sins” (John Trapp).
4. Think not of sin in general – see each of your sins, past, present, and future killing Him.
5. Think not of His death in general – see each aspect of trial, torture, end was your fault.
6. For similar angles on the death of Jesus Christ, personal and substitutionary … here.

Miscellaneous Considerations

1. Similar to a substitute, we absolutely need a daysman or mediator with God … here.
2. You caused Jesus’ pain four ways – physical, psychological, spiritual, divine.
3. The One you murdered by your sins is the Word of God made flesh, Jesus (Phil 2:6-8).
4. We can go boldly into the holiest presence of God by this atonement (Heb 10:19-22).
5. Jesus’ death of atonement was for God’s justice, the gospel of it the sinner’s conscience.
6. Beware, slighting this sermon will bring wrath (I Cor 11:23-32; Heb 2:1-4; 10:26-31).
7. Propitiation. The relational or mediatorial work needed to appease an offended party.
8. Satisfaction. The forensic or legal work to pay off in full an offended party or judge.
9. Sacrifice. The religious or priestly substitution of one thing to forgive sins of offenders.
10. Justification. The legal / forensic work to declare a condemned person just or righteous.
11. Atonement. The relational act to restore two offended parties to a peaceful relationship.
12. Imputation. A legal act to assign or charge a person with good or bad deeds of another.
13. A firstborn unclean animal was redeemed by another, a lamb killed for an ass … here.

Conclusion:

1. What will you do with such a holy and wise design by Almighty God to justify you and adopt you?
2. What will you do with such a loving Lord and Savior that took your sin guilt and its horrific penalty?
3. What will you do the next time you are tempted to sin? Will you remember that it cost Him His life?
4. Maybe you should sing the song, I Gave My Life for Thee, by Frances R. Havergal (1836-1879).
5. He died in your place, so slighting this supper or partaking unworthily makes you guilty for His death.
6. The severe truth of this fact is damnation, weakness, sickness, death, judged, chastened, condemned.