“Let Him be crucified!” This was the proclamation of a people who had seen the works of Christ. They had seen His miracles, His love and His mercy. Yet, they called for Him to die. Not just by hanging, not by some humane punishment, but by brutal crucifixion; a torcherous death thought up by the very Romans they despised. Knowing the payment for sin, for a single man, Jesus also knew the cost of redemption for all mankind. A perfect sacrifice, blameless and white as snow, He was betrayed. He stood before Pilate. He did not defend Himself. He received every blow of the whip. He bled. He was mocked. He was spat upon. With his weakened and broken body, He carried the very cross upon which He would die for the sins of man. When we take our lives for granted and knowingly live in sin without remorse, we are the very people who mocked Him. We are the very people who spat on Him. We are the ones who broke His body. However, the Gospel, the good news, is the very blood that flowed from his marred flesh, covers each and every one of us as we go on sinning so that we can face God in heaven, and having accepted His Son, will be welcome into His kingdom. There is none, nor will there ever be a greater example of love. So let us live lives that glorify Him. With every conversation, interaction, prayer, worship and praise, let us glorify Jesus Christ our King and the sacrifice He made for us.
Matthew 27.1-31
1 When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death. 2 And they bound him and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate the governor.
3 Then when Judas, his betrayer, saw that Jesus was condemned, he changed his mind and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, 4 saying, “I have sinned by betraying innocent blood.” They said, “What is that to us? See to it yourself.” 5 And throwing down the pieces of silver into the temple, he departed, and he went and hanged himself. 6 But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, “It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 So they took counsel and bought with them the potter's field as a burial place for strangers. 8 Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, “And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, 10 and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me.”
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. 19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.”20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”
24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.” 25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.
27 Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. 28 And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” 30 And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. 31 And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.
[ WHAT ] is this passage saying and what is a key truth or thought that we learn?
+ How did Judas view Jesus, according to his confession in [v.4]?
+ How do we see the hypocrisy of the chief priests and elders through their actions? [v.6-10]
+ Despite the accusations and the questioning of Pilate, how does Jesus respond? How does this affect Pilate?
+ According to [v.18], Pilate understood why Jesus was sent before him. So why did He have the people decide, rather than imposing a swift judgement? Reference [v.23]
+ After beating Jesus to near death, why did the soldiers gather the entire battalion in [v.27]?
+ What was the significance of the robe, crown of thorns, and the reed? [v.28-29]
[ HOW ] is the Lord calling me to action/obedience?
+ How can you increase the quantity and improve the quality of your prayer life? [v41]
+ As the people chose Barabbas, what have I chosen over Jesus?
+ Have I mocked the true King of Kings through the actions of my life? Do I represent his sacrifice honorably?
[ WHO ] am I walking with and praying for to discover Jesus?
+ What is my next step?
+ How do I honor Jesus’s sacrifice through my interactions with people? Will I boldly proclaim what He has done for me?
+ Am I loving others as Jesus loved me? Who in my life needs to hear about the love of God?