Matthew 27:11-21 - May 27, 2010
Matthew 27:11-21 - May 27, 2010
Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, "Are you the king of the Jews?" "Yes, it is as you say," Jesus replied. When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, "Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?" But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge – to the great amazement of the governor. Now it was the governor's custom at the Feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, "Which one do you want me to release to you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?" For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him. While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him." But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. "Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" asked the governor. "Barabbas," they answered.
Matthew 27:11-21
Names in the Bible often have special significance. The "Bar" in so many Jewish names means "son of." "Abba" means "Father," as Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane, "Abba, Father, everything is possible for you. Take this cup from me. Yet not what I will, but what you will" (Mark 14:36). So Barabbas seems to mean "son of the father." As we observe Jesus’ trial before the Roman governor, we see in the release of Barabbas that the sinful "son of the father" is set free, and the innocent Son of the Father is condemned to death.
Jesus allowed himself to be condemned to death. Though innocent, he didn’t defend himself before Pilate because he submitted to his Father’s plan to take the sins of the world and suffer the death penalty in place of sinners. Through the prophet Isaiah, the Word of God spoke of the Savior: “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth … it was the LORD's will to crush him and cause him to suffer” (Isaiah 53:7,10).
Oh, the great love God has for us! He laid our sins on his Son and punished him in our place. Jesus, the innocent Son of the Father, was condemned to death. Undeservedly, we are set free from sin, and through our Savior Jesus we are children of God the Father. Nothing is more important and more wonderful than that!
Heavenly Father, how great is your love! I praise and thank you for laying my sins on Jesus and freeing me from the punishment of eternal death. Help me always to look on Jesus in faith, giving me confidence and joy that through him you have counted me as one of your eternal children. Amen.
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