PLEASE READ THIS FIRST: Matthew 27:20-26
What do you sense the Lord saying to you in this passage?
“I am innocent of this man’s blood. It is your responsibility!” (Matthew 27:24)
Who is responsible for what happened to Jesus?
In one sense Pilate and the Jewish leaders are responsible… yet we all are.
All of us face the death penalty because we are responsible for our sinful choices.
We are all responsible for all sin and suffering, for we are part of the problem.
Sin is like pollution in the world; its not ALL my fault, but I am a contributor.
We are not robots, we are not merely victims – we are response-able!
Jesus was not responsible for the mess of the world, but he did accept responsibility for it.
Our ‘Barabbas’ crimes were assigned to him, and he took our place on the cross.
Jesus didn’t deserve to die; if the wages of sin is death, he didn’t need to be paid.
Like Barabbas, I see Jesus being flogged and think, ‘that should have been me’.
I am forgiven, but I should not forget that when I sin, I drive a nail into Jesus’ hands.
I am responsible for sin and death, but now because of his love I am response-able for life.
I need to say NO to the sin that pains my Lord, and YES to the life he died for me to live!
By grace, I am response-able, able with his help to resist sin and restore goodness!
PRAYER
Lord, may the weight and wonder of your loving sacrifice compel me to hate sin and love goodness and do my best to not wound you anymore by my actions!
“Then he released Barabbas to them.” Because the people chose to have Jesus arrested and bound, Pilate was ready and wanted to release Him, Barabbas a notorious criminal gets released. Jesus took on the sentence that we as mankind were guilty of and took it on for us so that we may be released. We are the notorious sinners that benefitted from Jesus arrest and death on the cross. God had said to Adam and Eve – eat of this tree and you will die. We die and we would be eternally if it were not for Jesus being the substitute – like he was for Barabbas – so He is for us! Hallelujah – what a Saviour!
Jesus came to save His people including me. I am not innocent of sin but in Christ I am made whole, right before Him. My gratitude needs to be expressed by action, by my doing, serving Him. That is the reason I was created and others need to see Jesus living in me. By His death and resurrection I am made whole. This is my Father’s world and I need to be a caretaker/servant in it. His will be done. Living for Jesus today and all my tomorrows.
Living for Jesus, a life that is true,
Striving to please Him in all that I do;
Yielding allegiance, glad-hearted and free,
This is the pathway of blessing for me.
Refrain:
O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,
For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me;
I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne;
My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.