This morning I read, Matthew 27:15-23 (NLT)
15 Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner to the crowd—anyone they wanted. 16 This year there was a notorious prisoner, a man named Barabbas. 17 As the crowds gathered before Pilate’s house that morning, he asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 (He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.) 19 Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Leave that innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about him last night.” 20 Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death. 21 So the governor asked again, “Which of these two do you want me to release to you?” The crowd shouted back, “Barabbas!” 22 Pilate responded, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” They shouted back, “Crucify him!” 23 “Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?” But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!”
Throughout Scripture there is a theme of the innocent taking the place of the guilty. Here are a few examples:
Now in this passage once again, this theme is repeated. It was Roman custom that during the feast of the Passover, the Roman governor would commute the sentence of a Jewish criminal. In this case, it is a man named Barabbas. And so once again we find this theme of the innocent dying for the guilty. We should never forget that the very central truth of the crucifixion is this theme. Through Christ's death, each of us, just as Barabbas, is allowed to go free. That is why we call today, "Good Friday." The only reason today is good is because you and I do not have to face the consequences of our sins. Jesus Christ already took care of that through his death.
1 John 2:2 (NLT)
2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.
15 Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner to the crowd—anyone they wanted. 16 This year there was a notorious prisoner, a man named Barabbas. 17 As the crowds gathered before Pilate’s house that morning, he asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 (He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.) 19 Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Leave that innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about him last night.” 20 Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death. 21 So the governor asked again, “Which of these two do you want me to release to you?” The crowd shouted back, “Barabbas!” 22 Pilate responded, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” They shouted back, “Crucify him!” 23 “Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?” But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!”
Throughout Scripture there is a theme of the innocent taking the place of the guilty. Here are a few examples:
- An innocent animal is killed to provide clothing for guilty Adam and Eve
- In Exodus we read about the passover sacrifice
- God institutes a sacrificial system in Exodus and Leviticus where innocent animals are offered for the sins of the entire community
Now in this passage once again, this theme is repeated. It was Roman custom that during the feast of the Passover, the Roman governor would commute the sentence of a Jewish criminal. In this case, it is a man named Barabbas. And so once again we find this theme of the innocent dying for the guilty. We should never forget that the very central truth of the crucifixion is this theme. Through Christ's death, each of us, just as Barabbas, is allowed to go free. That is why we call today, "Good Friday." The only reason today is good is because you and I do not have to face the consequences of our sins. Jesus Christ already took care of that through his death.
1 John 2:2 (NLT)
2 He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.
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