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.' And all the people answered, 'His blood be on us and on our children!' Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified."(Matthew 27:24-26)
When reflecting on this passage of scripture, I can't help but be drawn to that line, "His blood be on us and on our children!" I don't believe any truer words have ever been spoken. At the time, the Jews and their religious leaders were blinded by their own sinful intentions. Surely, they didn't...they couldn't...realize who Jesus really was and what they were actually saying...could they??? At least, that's what we want to believe. The truth is though, Jesus' blood was on their hands, and on their children's hands...and it's on our hands as well.
I often struggle with understanding how someone could have experienced Jesus face to face, to have heard him teach, to have witnessed his miracles, and still not believed he was who he claimed to be. And yet, I want to give the benefit of the doubt to the people, and even to the religious leaders. I want to believe they didn't know, because then surely they wouldn't have rejected him the way that they did. I want to think the best of people and minimize the effect of sin on our hearts and minds. I want that to be true of them, because I want it to be true of me too, because the alternative is a tough pill to swallow.
Here's the truth though. They did know who he was. Sure, I understand, biblically speaking, how we are spiritually dead and thus blind in many ways to the depravity of our hearts. I recognize that we need to be spiritually reborn in order to become grieved by our sin in such a way that leads to repentance, and thus salvation. I get how that all works. However, nowhere does scripture give us a "pass" for not knowing any better. On the contrary, scripture clearly condemns all men for their sin (see Romans 3:23). No one gets off of the hook!
Try as we might to explain away our sin, we are guilty. Guilty of our transgressions for sure, but moreover, we are guilty of the very same sin that led an angry mob of Jews to cry out for Jesus to be crucified. What we mustrecognize is that when we sin, we aren't just breaking the rules, rather we are openly and explicitly rejecting God. Not in some abstract or roundabout way, but rather to his face! That's what our sin really is.
It's the gravity of this reality and a proper comprehension of the grievous nature of our sin that leads us to understand our plight before a ferociously holy, Almighty God. We stand condemned among the crowd of mockers. We are guilty and Jesus blood is on our hands, and on our children's hands, and on their children's hands...for 1000 generations and beyond. This is what makes the message and hope of the Gospel so scandalous.
Isaiah 53:5 says, "He was pierced for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his wounds we are healed." As Cody pointed out in his message, Jesus went to the cross an innocent man. Pilate knew it, the crowd knew it, the religious leaders knew it...everyone knew it! The cross upon which Jesus was nailed was meant for someone else. In the immediate sense, it was Barabbas who was spared from the punishment he rightly deserved. But in an eternal sense, Jesus' substitutionary death on the cross was so much bigger than just that!
Jesus didn't just take Barabbas' place...he took my place...and he took your place too. Pause for a moment and really let that sink in. Every time we choose to go our own way and reject God's design for our lives, we are driving nails into our Savior's hands. That's not dramatic symbolism...it's the literal truth. By his blood, Jesus made a way where formerly there had been no way. Through his death, he paid the price for sin...for all the sins (past, present, and future) of those who were and who are to be called to be his. Every sin you have ever committed or ever will commit was punished upon the cross. And, as if taking the punishment for our sins wasn't enough, God also counts Christ's righteousness to us, so that when we stand before him in judgement, he doesn't see the ugliness of our sins, but rather he sees the beauty of his Son. It is, as Martin Luther called it, "The Great Exchange." How great indeed!?!
This week as we reflect upon the passage and the message, it is my prayer that we would be deeply impacted by the reality of what we see beginning to play out as the narrative of the Gospel of Matthew turns to Jesus death on the cross. It is my hope that as we feel the true weight of our sin, we would be inclined to celebrate all the more the abounding grace and hope of the Gospel. Let us be reminded of the lyrics to a song we so often sing during our worship on Sunday mornings, "Man of Sorrows:"
"Oh that rugged cross
My salvation
Where Your love poured out over me
Now my soul cries out
Hallelujah
Praise and honor unto Thee..."
In Grace,
Chris
If you missed this week's sermon (or just want to listen again), follow the link below to listen. Or subscribe to our podcast in iTunes.
Part 95 - The Exchange for Barabbas
Questions discussed in this sermon:
1. Why is it important for believers to know precisely how Jesus went to the cross?
2. How did Pilate attempt to release Jesus?
3. What does the exchange for Barabbas teach us about salvation?
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