The interaction between Pilate and the Jewish leaders point us toward the answer to this controversial question.  The death of Jesus came about through the cooperation of Jews and Gentiles, powerful and common.  It demonstrates to us the universal guilt of all mankind in its rebellion against God.  Yet at the same time, Christ's death was a fulfillment of the promise of Passover - the innocent died in place of the guilty.  Thus all men, though guilty before God, may be saved through faith in Christ.