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 time 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!
His blood is on us! That was important – Jesus died to pay for my sins. The guilt of his death is on us. The sentence of death Jesus paid for us who trust in Him! Pilate washed his hands and passed the blame to the people – Barrabas’ sentence – or my sentence – Jesus took on. The people said yes – let his blood be on us and so it is – it testifies to Jesus sacrifice – the ultimate sacrifice for sin- once for all!
Pilate said he was innocent but he wasn’t. Jesus was to be crucified and He was innocent. It is by His blood I am free, delivered, saved. My way needs to be formed/framed by His Spirit and not the way of the world, the mob which was fickle – praising Him one day and condemning Him the next. It is only in Him I am free, free to serve.
God forgave my sin in Jesus’ name.
I’ve been born again in Jesus’ name
And in Jesus’ name I come to you
To share his love as he told me to.
He said ‘Freely, freely you have received;, freely, freely give.
Go in my name, and because you believe others will know that I live.
All pow’r is giv’n in Jesus’ name
in earth and heav’n in jesus name
And in Jesus’ name I come to you
To share his pow’r as he told me to.
He said ‘Freely, freely you have received;, freely, freely give.
Go in my name, and because you believe others will know that I live.
God gives us life in Jesus’ name
he lives in us in Jesus’ name
And in Jesus’ name I come to you
To share his peace as he told me to.