April 3, 2022
Morning Service

Last week we focused in on Peter and Judas’ reaction to their failures and how we can apply that to our lives at our times of failure.  Peter’s true repentance came with not only remorse, but also a desire to change and not fail Jesus again.  We too must be willing to make changes in our lives that are needed to keep us away from repeatedly going down that same dark path.  Trust the Lord to honor His Word as I John 1:9 tells us that; “If we confess ours sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”  When (not if) we sin this is the process God has put into place for our redemption.  We confess our sin, repent of it, and then accept the forgiveness offered to us.  It is very encouraging to me that though Peter failed, he was redeemed through this process and used mightily by God.  I can take comfort in my time of failure that the same can be true for me as well.  God offers us a second chance. This process, however, is not a crutch for us to use to continue sinning, but it should create in us a desire to “put off” those sinful habits that are slowing us down on our journey with Jesus.  Today we begin as Jesus is now in Roman custody and stands before Pilate.  He is alone as the disciples are all scattered, but He is empowered by the presence of Holy Spirit to fulfill the monumental task that lay ahead of Him. The religious leaders now will transfer Him over to the Romans to complete their plan (actually God’s plan) to have Him crucified. 

Mat 27:11-14 Now Jesus stood before the governor. And the governor asked Him, saying, "Are You the King of the Jews?" Jesus said to him, "It is as you say."  (12)  And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He answered nothing.  (13)  Then Pilate said to Him, "Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?"  (14)  But He answered him not one word, so that the governor marveled greatly.

            The Roman courts did not recognize religious charges against anyone, but only ones that violated Roman law.  Jesus’ accusers wanted Him crucified for blasphemy as He had told them He was the Son of God but that charge would not result as they wanted.  Before Pilate the leaders charged Jesus with claiming to be a king thus threatening the power and position of the emperor; making Him a revolutionary threat to Rome.  Pilate questions Jesus on this front, but after His initial answer He says nothing.  This had to be different than most people he interrogated as they would try to defend themselves at all cost; but Jesus said nothing and Pilate marveled at this.  He now tries another solution.

 

Mat 27:15-23 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished.  (16)  And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.  (17)  Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, "Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?"  (18)  For he knew that they had handed Him over because of envy.  (19)  While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, "Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him."  (20)  But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.  (21)  The governor answered and said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said, "Barabbas!"  (22)  Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said to him, "Let Him be crucified!"  (23)  Then the governor said, "Why, what evil has He done?" But they cried out all the more, saying, "Let Him be crucified!"

            Pilate was a judge but also a politician.  He looked for an easy way out of this situation in the custom of releasing to the Jews a prisoner at this time of year.  His hope was that the people would choose to release Jesus whom he knew was truly innocent of any crimes against Rome.  His plan failed as the leaders had already persuaded those in the crowd to call for the release of Barabbas, who was an insurrectionist and murderer.  Pilate’s dilemma grew more difficult as even his wife had a dream about Jesus and was urging him to have “nothing to do with that just Man.”  If he chose what was right, he feared the people would revolt and cause an uprising so large that Rome would hear of it.  His primary task as the governor was to keep the peace.  A revolt like this could cost him his position and possibly his life.  His dilemma was real and had definite consequences.   We too can be caught in situations like this one, though to a smaller degree, in our life.  At work we are asked to “fudge the numbers” or overlook something that we know is wrong; compromising our conscience.  We know what is right, but we are find ourselves weighing the cost and judge whether it seems too high.  This is where we need to be “transformed” and not “conformed” to the ways of the world.  God will honor your honesty and integrity.  We must trust the Lord to give us the courage to stand up for what is right even when we stand alone.  When we follow Jesus, we must be ready to stand firmly for the truth just as He did; it is not only what we do, but it is who we are.  The easiest path is not always the right path; in the end there is only one choice, choose Jesus.  Pilate’s choice followed more of how the world works rather than Jesus’ ways.

 

Mat 27:24-25 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it."  (25)  And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children."  

            Pilate chooses to be symbolic about his innocence with the washing of his hands, and the Jewish people cry out “His blood be on us and our children.”  The water did not wash away Pilate’s guilt and certainly the Jewish people have felt the impact of their ancestor’s statement.  Their history is full of persecution like none other.  The horrors of the concentration camps and gas chambers are just a piece of the result of this statement.  To “own” up to your sin of disobedience does not absolve you from the consequences that will follow.  When we face a choice and we choose “our will,” what we want, over “God’s Will,” what is right, there will be consequences that may last our entire lifetime.  Many of us can look back on our lives and say “Amen” to that statement.  Pilate makes the choice that least impacts him, which really was destined by God to occur.  This sets in motion a very heart wrenching scenario that leads to Jesus’ crucifixion.  This is God’s plan being fulfilled; we need to grasp this.  The persecution, suffering and mocking Jesus endures has been planned by God from the very beginning.  Jesus was born in a manger to die in this manner.  The battle He is fighting is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness, and spiritual hosts of wickedness in heavenly places (Eph. 6:12).  He goes to Calvary to defeat sin and death with the sacrifice of His own life; the cost of our salvation.  He did this because He loves me and He loves you.  As we read, know that He did this for you.

 

Mat 27:26-31 Then he released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified.  (27)  Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the Praetorium and gathered the whole garrison around Him.  (28)  And they stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him.  (29)  When they had twisted a crown of thorns, they put it on His head, and a reed in His right hand. And they bowed the knee before Him and mocked Him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!"  (30)  Then they spat on Him, and took the reed and struck Him on the head.  (31)  And when they had mocked Him, they took the robe off Him, put His own clothes on Him, and led Him away to be crucified.

 

 

 

            He was “wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities.” (Is. 53:5) They placed on my Lord a robe of scarlet representing my sinfulness, so He could place His robe of righteousness upon me.  He wore a crown of thorns that one day I might wear a crown of glory.  He was spit upon, mocked, and given a reed as a scepter but did not fight back knowing He was making “all things new!”

 

Heavenly Father, thank You for offering us the gift of salvation, please help us to remember the great cost that was paid for it by our Savior.

 

 Isa 53:6-10 All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all.  (7)  He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.  (8)  He was taken from prison and from judgment, and who will declare His generation? For He was cut off from the land of the living; For the transgressions of My People He was stricken.  (9)  And they made His grave with the wicked—But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, nor was any deceit in His mouth.  (10)  Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise Him; He has put Him to grief. When You 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.