As you read the story today, I want you to keep in mind, that not only is Jesus the Savior people were looking for he was innocent.
"Like yeah, we know this already, Jesus was perfect!" Right, but can we even grasp that fully? Can we grasp that a completely innocent man died for a sinful world? A sinful you? A sinful me? The people in this part of the story are exchanging the power, but uncomfortable hope they see in Jesus, for the normal, comfortable sin-filled life they see in Barabas. Have you ever done that before? Exchanged truth for a lie? Jesus was ready to die. Jesus knew exactly who he was dying for. Jesus knew he was innocent, but took it anyway. Jesus’ trial before Caiaphas ended in the early hours of the morning. Then he was taken to the headquarters of the Roman governor. His accusers didn’t go inside because it would defile them, and they wouldn’t be allowed to celebrate the Passover. So Pilate, the governor, went out to them and asked, “What is your charge against this man?” “We wouldn’t have handed him over to you if he weren’t a criminal!” they retorted. “Then take him away and judge him by your own law,” Pilate told them. “Only the Romans are permitted to execute someone,” the Jewish leaders replied. (This fulfilled Jesus’ prediction about the way he would die.) Then Pilate went back into his headquarters and called for Jesus to be brought to him. “Are you the king of the Jews?” he asked him. Jesus replied, “Is this your own question, or did others tell you about me?” “Am I a Jew?” Pilate retorted. “Your own people and their leading priests brought you to me for trial. Why? What have you done?” Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not an earthly kingdom. If it were, my followers would fight to keep me from being handed over to the Jewish leaders. But my Kingdom is not of this world.” Pilate said, “So you are a king?” Jesus responded, “You say I am a king. Actually, I was born and came into the world to testify to the truth. All who love the truth recognize that what I say is true.” “What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime. But you have a custom of asking me to release one prisoner each year at Passover. Would you like me to release this ‘King of the Jews’?” But they shouted back, “No! Not this man. We want Barabbas!” (Barabbas was a revolutionary.) (John 18: 28-40)
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AuthorThe Pastors of Cornerstone Wesleyan Church Archives
July 2017
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