WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:13.339 Amen. We're looking at Matthew 27 verses 11 to 26 and it's an amazing passage and we can look at it in a number of different ways. 00:00:13.339 --> 00:00:28.820 You can look at it, the contrast between Pontius Pilate, the Roman governor, and Jesus. There's a great contrast there. Four times the passage calls Pilate the governor, literally the commander. 00:00:29.760 --> 00:00:38.000 And Jesus is in front of him. This contrast, he who will one day judge the world, allowed himself to be judged and condemned. 00:00:38.000 --> 00:00:48.579 You can look at it in the comparison between Judas and Pontius Pilate. There's a lot of similarities between the two. 00:00:48.659 --> 00:00:56.679 The one at the start of chapter 27 and our passage today. We can look at it with the contrast of Jesus and Barabbas. 00:00:56.679 --> 00:01:03.579 We can look at Pilate as a leader and how so many of the world leaders are like him. 00:01:03.640 --> 00:01:10.859 And all of those ways are legitimate ways of looking at this passage. And I'd encourage you to think about them. 00:01:11.579 --> 00:01:16.659 And there's lots of things that I'd want you to know, but there's four things that I need you to know this morning. 00:01:17.299 --> 00:01:19.599 Four things that I need you to know. 00:01:19.599 --> 00:01:24.839 And the first thing that I need you to know is that Jesus is a willing saviour. 00:01:25.559 --> 00:01:29.079 Jesus is a willing rescuer, a willing saviour. 00:01:29.140 --> 00:01:30.560 Look at verses 12 to 14. 00:01:31.699 --> 00:01:39.780 They're accusing him, the chief priests and the elders, the senior pastors and the lay leaders. 00:01:40.579 --> 00:01:42.939 And yet he does not open his mouth. 00:01:43.799 --> 00:01:46.340 He doesn't answer a thing. 00:01:46.439 --> 00:01:48.539 Look at verse 14. 00:01:49.599 --> 00:02:00.280 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor, the commander was greatly amazed. 00:02:00.479 --> 00:02:02.140 So there you have the silence of Jesus. 00:02:03.299 --> 00:02:10.039 And it's interesting is that when you compare Jesus with this notorious prisoner in verse 16, Barabbas. 00:02:11.319 --> 00:02:12.759 This notorious prisoner. 00:02:13.879 --> 00:02:15.939 This popular prisoner. 00:02:15.939 --> 00:02:18.939 He may well have been an insurrectionist. 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:21.780 A kind of guerrilla type man. 00:02:22.419 --> 00:02:25.139 Somebody who was trying to strike back at the Romans. 00:02:25.699 --> 00:02:27.859 He's a macho type figure. 00:02:28.079 --> 00:02:29.620 He carries the favour. 00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:31.079 He's a man of the people. 00:02:31.859 --> 00:02:33.860 And striking out against the Romans. 00:02:34.360 --> 00:02:36.659 And there's this picture, isn't there, of this popular hero. 00:02:36.659 --> 00:02:42.240 And then the contrast between that and Jesus in verses 12 to 14. 00:02:43.500 --> 00:02:46.400 And Jesus looks weak and wimpy. 00:02:46.400 --> 00:02:49.819 He doesn't even answer their accusations. 00:02:51.080 --> 00:02:56.060 And of course, we're back to that chapter that we've been to a number of times, aren't we, over the last few weeks. 00:02:56.120 --> 00:02:56.900 Isaiah 53. 00:02:58.020 --> 00:02:58.560 Verse 7. 00:02:58.740 --> 00:03:03.939 Where we see that Jesus is carrying out the ministry of the suffering servant of God. 00:03:04.680 --> 00:03:06.860 Where it's said of the Messiah, God's king. 00:03:07.360 --> 00:03:08.460 He was oppressed. 00:03:09.060 --> 00:03:09.939 And afflicted. 00:03:09.939 --> 00:03:11.599 And yet he did not open his mouth. 00:03:11.859 --> 00:03:14.159 He was led like a lamb to the slaughter. 00:03:15.639 --> 00:03:18.979 And like a sheep that is silent before his shearers. 00:03:19.199 --> 00:03:21.139 So he did not open his mouth. 00:03:22.599 --> 00:03:28.300 And so Jesus not answering their questions is not a sign of weakness. 00:03:28.300 --> 00:03:32.539 It is a sign of submission to God's plan and God's purpose. 00:03:32.539 --> 00:03:38.120 And submission is very often not a sign of weakness. 00:03:39.019 --> 00:03:42.719 But actually it's a sign of strength held in check. 00:03:44.340 --> 00:03:45.299 And that is what you have here. 00:03:45.500 --> 00:03:49.099 His silence, his refusal to answer the charges. 00:03:49.459 --> 00:03:52.560 Was an indication that here was God's king. 00:03:52.699 --> 00:03:56.280 Here was God's Messiah submitting to his father's will. 00:03:56.280 --> 00:04:02.960 It was an indication that he was willing to suffer for my sins. 00:04:03.819 --> 00:04:07.759 That he was willing to take the punishment that I deserve. 00:04:08.080 --> 00:04:10.960 And I want and I need a willing Jesus. 00:04:12.719 --> 00:04:14.420 We go to Northern Ireland. 00:04:15.120 --> 00:04:18.180 Most summers we're not going this year because of COVID. 00:04:18.480 --> 00:04:19.199 But we go. 00:04:19.300 --> 00:04:22.600 And one of the best things that we do when we go is go to the Antrim show. 00:04:22.840 --> 00:04:24.000 It's an agricultural show. 00:04:24.000 --> 00:04:27.959 And the best thing about the agricultural show is the sheep shearing contest. 00:04:28.899 --> 00:04:34.800 And so you've got this kind of contraption of men standing on a platform with shearers. 00:04:35.040 --> 00:04:38.060 And then behind them are all these sheep in pens. 00:04:38.639 --> 00:04:42.759 All kind of butting each other and mearing one another. 00:04:43.240 --> 00:04:45.620 And the horn goes or the buzzer goes. 00:04:45.699 --> 00:04:48.740 And they grab the sheep and pull the sheep to them. 00:04:49.100 --> 00:04:52.079 And the sheep lies on its back silently and lets them shear. 00:04:52.079 --> 00:04:53.699 He submits. 00:04:54.000 --> 00:04:55.259 To the shearer. 00:04:56.360 --> 00:04:58.040 And so we see Jesus. 00:04:58.399 --> 00:04:59.180 That's the picture. 00:04:59.899 --> 00:05:01.939 The submission and the silence of Jesus. 00:05:02.360 --> 00:05:05.860 And it tells you that he was willing to suffer for you. 00:05:07.139 --> 00:05:08.120 A willing Jesus. 00:05:08.279 --> 00:05:10.319 Secondly, see with me what we need. 00:05:10.399 --> 00:05:11.720 We need a righteous Jesus. 00:05:11.899 --> 00:05:12.480 Verse 19. 00:05:13.639 --> 00:05:14.639 A righteous Jesus. 00:05:14.899 --> 00:05:15.500 Pilate's wife. 00:05:16.579 --> 00:05:17.980 It's a funny reference isn't it? 00:05:18.040 --> 00:05:18.579 Pilate's wife. 00:05:18.660 --> 00:05:19.079 Mrs. Pilate. 00:05:19.139 --> 00:05:20.019 She must have been desperate. 00:05:20.019 --> 00:05:20.099 Pilate. 00:05:20.839 --> 00:05:22.680 She sends a message to Pilate. 00:05:23.000 --> 00:05:24.680 While the court is in session. 00:05:25.299 --> 00:05:26.919 And she says, verse 19. 00:05:27.039 --> 00:05:27.639 Can you see it? 00:05:28.339 --> 00:05:31.199 Have nothing to do with that righteous man. 00:05:31.599 --> 00:05:34.419 For I've suffered much because of him today in a dream. 00:05:36.319 --> 00:05:38.779 Her dreams are disturbed. 00:05:38.779 --> 00:05:40.639 Was it God who disturbed her dreams? 00:05:41.639 --> 00:05:43.699 But she has this conviction, doesn't she? 00:05:44.379 --> 00:05:48.899 She has this conviction that this man, Jesus, is innocent. 00:05:50.339 --> 00:05:52.579 Have nothing to do with, what does she call him? 00:05:52.659 --> 00:05:54.119 She calls him a righteous man. 00:05:54.120 --> 00:06:01.500 Now, we don't know exactly what Pilate's wife heard about Jesus. 00:06:01.560 --> 00:06:02.519 But it wouldn't have been hard. 00:06:03.680 --> 00:06:05.720 But can you see the content of her witness? 00:06:06.639 --> 00:06:09.660 Jesus is that righteous man. 00:06:11.100 --> 00:06:12.939 And that is the testimony of the whole of the New Testament. 00:06:14.040 --> 00:06:17.620 It picks up the witness of Pilate's wife and insists, 00:06:17.620 --> 00:06:21.180 It is very, very important to you and to me that Jesus is a righteous man. 00:06:21.240 --> 00:06:22.199 That he is in the right. 00:06:22.199 --> 00:06:26.420 In Hebrews chapter 4 and verse 15, we have that amazing verse. 00:06:27.240 --> 00:06:32.819 Us as Christians, we don't have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our every weakness. 00:06:33.039 --> 00:06:38.180 But one who has been tempted in every way as we are and yet is without sin. 00:06:39.360 --> 00:06:41.000 The New Testament insists on it. 00:06:41.120 --> 00:06:43.959 It is vital that he is righteous. 00:06:44.300 --> 00:06:45.240 He is innocent. 00:06:45.240 --> 00:06:54.120 Hebrews 7 teaches us that Jesus, our high priest, did not have to offer sacrifices for our sins, like the Jewish high priest. 00:06:54.500 --> 00:06:54.860 Why? 00:06:55.340 --> 00:06:57.439 Because he didn't have sin. 00:06:57.439 --> 00:07:04.480 And Jesus said of himself and of his father, I always do what pleases him. 00:07:06.079 --> 00:07:08.819 Judas, in our passage last week, do you remember? 00:07:09.120 --> 00:07:11.240 He said, I have betrayed innocent blood. 00:07:11.240 --> 00:07:18.620 And so it's very, very important to you and to me that Jesus be a righteous man who has never sinned. 00:07:19.620 --> 00:07:20.780 Why is that so important? 00:07:20.879 --> 00:07:29.360 It's so important because he cannot give you his righteousness if he does not have it himself. 00:07:29.360 --> 00:07:37.240 He cannot give you his perfect righteousness unless he has it himself. 00:07:38.580 --> 00:07:48.720 And so if Jesus is going to be made sin for us and we are going to be made the righteousness of God, 00:07:49.680 --> 00:07:54.340 then in him he must have all righteousness. 00:07:54.339 --> 00:08:00.679 His obedience and his perfect life and his righteousness will be put to my account. 00:08:01.719 --> 00:08:09.779 And if my sin is going to be charged to Jesus' account, he must have righteousness to confer on me, to give it to me. 00:08:10.939 --> 00:08:15.939 The burden of my sin goes upon him and defiles him. 00:08:16.879 --> 00:08:22.019 And the beauty of his righteousness comes upon me and clothes me. 00:08:22.019 --> 00:08:25.180 He has to be a righteous man. 00:08:26.039 --> 00:08:30.439 There was no other good enough to pay the price of sin. 00:08:31.399 --> 00:08:35.500 And that's why it's so, so vitally important that you and I have a righteous Jesus. 00:08:37.639 --> 00:08:39.579 Just a little side for a moment. 00:08:39.639 --> 00:08:42.419 Can you see, it's really interesting, isn't it, who speaks the truth about Jesus? 00:08:44.299 --> 00:08:45.079 Pilate's wife. 00:08:46.799 --> 00:08:47.860 She's a pagan woman. 00:08:48.559 --> 00:08:49.559 She's not a believer. 00:08:50.379 --> 00:08:51.240 She's not a follower. 00:08:52.019 --> 00:08:56.460 And it's surprising to me that again and again, as we read through the passion narratives, 00:08:56.759 --> 00:09:01.720 again and again, the truth is spoken about Jesus by people who don't trust him, 00:09:01.799 --> 00:09:03.819 who don't believe in him and who don't follow him. 00:09:05.019 --> 00:09:14.340 The unlikely instruments and the unusual places where someone will declare a true witness about Jesus, 00:09:14.579 --> 00:09:15.559 where you never expect it. 00:09:15.559 --> 00:09:18.000 A willing Jesus. 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:20.000 A righteous Jesus. 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:21.039 A righteous Jesus. 00:09:22.099 --> 00:09:24.759 And thirdly, a cleansing Jesus. 00:09:24.759 --> 00:09:25.759 Pilate tries something. 00:09:25.759 --> 00:09:27.919 Pilate tries something. 00:09:27.919 --> 00:09:31.840 He's not convinced Jesus is worthy of death. 00:09:31.840 --> 00:09:32.840 Pilate tries something. 00:09:32.840 --> 00:09:39.060 And he had a Passover amnesty in which he released one prisoner to the Jews. 00:09:39.059 --> 00:09:43.959 Maybe this was trying to cushion the Jews or soften them up a little bit. 00:09:44.500 --> 00:09:48.299 Trying to win their favor, releasing one of their favorites. 00:09:49.039 --> 00:09:50.399 He's been quite harsh with them. 00:09:50.500 --> 00:09:52.859 He's treated them meanly in the past. 00:09:52.860 --> 00:09:58.740 But at any rate, he's decided that he would try and get them to ask for Jesus to be released. 00:09:59.539 --> 00:10:02.759 That he could get out of this bind that he finds himself in. 00:10:04.120 --> 00:10:12.460 And unfortunately, the chief priests and the elders, they persuade and they kill the crowds and they win them over. 00:10:13.940 --> 00:10:18.379 And so that when it was time for him to ask, who is it? 00:10:18.480 --> 00:10:20.279 Which prisoner would you like to be released? 00:10:20.279 --> 00:10:22.379 They say, Barabbas. 00:10:22.860 --> 00:10:26.960 Well, Pilate has painted himself into a corner. 00:10:28.259 --> 00:10:29.060 He said, why? 00:10:30.039 --> 00:10:32.419 What shall I do then with this Jesus? 00:10:33.740 --> 00:10:37.860 And he allows the mob to become the jury. 00:10:38.419 --> 00:10:38.879 Do you see that? 00:10:40.639 --> 00:10:42.399 Very much like what's happening in this country. 00:10:42.480 --> 00:10:45.139 He allows the mob to become the jury. 00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:49.259 And then he says, what wrong has he done? 00:10:49.259 --> 00:10:53.679 And the mob cry, let him be crucified. 00:10:54.779 --> 00:10:56.259 The chant goes up. 00:10:56.259 --> 00:11:03.960 Pilate has recourse to a sacrament. 00:11:06.080 --> 00:11:08.299 Pilate in front of the crowd, he gets a basin. 00:11:08.299 --> 00:11:12.620 And he pours water in the basin. 00:11:12.620 --> 00:11:18.259 And he begins to wash his hands publicly in front of them all. 00:11:18.479 --> 00:11:19.500 Before all the people. 00:11:21.120 --> 00:11:25.439 And with this sacrament, with this sign, Pilate has a word. 00:11:25.699 --> 00:11:27.979 He has word and sacrament. 00:11:27.980 --> 00:11:30.500 And his word is, I am innocent. 00:11:31.980 --> 00:11:33.340 Of this man's blood. 00:11:34.980 --> 00:11:36.420 Second time we feared it, isn't it? 00:11:37.840 --> 00:11:40.620 Do you remember the chief priest to Judas? 00:11:41.879 --> 00:11:44.340 They say to Judas, you see to it yourselves. 00:11:45.039 --> 00:11:49.440 And Pilate, in his washing of his hands, says, I'm innocent of this man's blood. 00:11:49.500 --> 00:11:50.639 You see to it yourself. 00:11:50.639 --> 00:11:56.519 And we say, Pilate, that was a brilliant piece of theatre. 00:11:58.740 --> 00:11:59.179 Bravo. 00:11:59.360 --> 00:12:00.580 A brilliant piece of theatre. 00:12:01.019 --> 00:12:01.980 A brilliant move. 00:12:02.779 --> 00:12:03.419 Washing your hands. 00:12:03.519 --> 00:12:03.659 Yes. 00:12:03.899 --> 00:12:04.100 Yes. 00:12:04.139 --> 00:12:06.539 It's so very clever. 00:12:06.980 --> 00:12:08.480 We get the symbolism, Pilate. 00:12:09.480 --> 00:12:12.480 Even though we live in a different culture. 00:12:12.639 --> 00:12:14.759 Even though we live in a different time, Pilate. 00:12:14.819 --> 00:12:15.379 It's so clever. 00:12:15.480 --> 00:12:16.019 We get it. 00:12:16.879 --> 00:12:18.659 We get what you're trying to convey. 00:12:18.659 --> 00:12:21.779 But Pilate, what will you do tonight? 00:12:23.259 --> 00:12:26.620 What will you do tonight when you wake up in a cold sweat. 00:12:26.799 --> 00:12:30.459 And you look in the darkness of the night at your hands. 00:12:30.879 --> 00:12:32.360 And you need more water, Pilate. 00:12:34.159 --> 00:12:36.799 The blood is awfully difficult, isn't it? 00:12:36.799 --> 00:12:37.919 To get off your hands, Pilate. 00:12:40.100 --> 00:12:41.659 It's kind of ironic, Pilate. 00:12:41.659 --> 00:12:47.939 That the cleansing from the water in your basin won't clean you. 00:12:49.019 --> 00:12:54.480 The only thing that will cleanse you of your guilt is the blood of the prisoner. 00:12:55.839 --> 00:12:57.779 Don't you think it's ironic, Pilate? 00:12:58.879 --> 00:13:05.980 Isn't it ironic that in the years and hundreds and thousands of years that lie ahead, 00:13:06.079 --> 00:13:12.299 that millions of Christians, week after week, will confess their Lord and accuse his judge. 00:13:12.299 --> 00:13:18.019 And as they confess Jesus Christ as Lord, who suffered under Pontius Pilate. 00:13:19.839 --> 00:13:27.419 How much water does it take, Pilate, to wash your shameful name out of the Apostles' Creed? 00:13:27.419 --> 00:13:31.699 You wash your hands in a basin. 00:13:31.700 --> 00:13:39.340 But the only cleansing that there is to be found is in the blood of the prisoner you're condemning. 00:13:39.340 --> 00:13:46.160 And I want a cleansing Jesus and I need a cleansing Jesus. 00:13:47.879 --> 00:13:53.180 I need a cleansing Jesus so I don't have to go back to my own acts, 00:13:53.179 --> 00:13:58.079 my own kind of self-made-up acts to cleanse my guilt. 00:14:00.599 --> 00:14:01.239 Isaiah says, 00:14:01.539 --> 00:14:04.620 though your sins be as scarlet, 00:14:05.539 --> 00:14:08.239 through the blood of Jesus, 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:10.159 they can be made as white as snow. 00:14:10.159 --> 00:14:14.899 You really do have a cleansing Jesus. 00:14:16.299 --> 00:14:18.419 1 John 1 verse 7, 00:14:18.579 --> 00:14:20.959 we use it often as the assurance of pardon, 00:14:21.339 --> 00:14:22.939 that the blood of Jesus, 00:14:23.379 --> 00:14:24.159 God's Son, 00:14:25.059 --> 00:14:28.339 keeps on cleansing us from every kind of sin. 00:14:28.699 --> 00:14:31.100 And so we can say to Pilate this morning, 00:14:31.219 --> 00:14:31.779 no, no, 00:14:32.179 --> 00:14:33.299 not in that basin. 00:14:34.360 --> 00:14:36.259 Not in your made-up, 00:14:36.379 --> 00:14:37.699 concocted sacraments. 00:14:37.879 --> 00:14:39.039 Not in your acts. 00:14:39.039 --> 00:14:40.480 Not in your deeds. 00:14:40.899 --> 00:14:42.199 Not in your own works. 00:14:43.219 --> 00:14:46.219 Not in trying your best will you find cleansing. 00:14:46.599 --> 00:14:48.099 Not in a new start. 00:14:50.219 --> 00:14:53.620 But there is a fountain filled with blood. 00:14:53.759 --> 00:14:55.339 You might not like Cowper's imagery. 00:14:56.559 --> 00:14:57.679 But whether you like it or not, 00:14:57.899 --> 00:15:01.879 there is a fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins. 00:15:03.459 --> 00:15:08.319 And sinners plunged beneath that flood lose all their guilty stains. 00:15:09.039 --> 00:15:10.620 We sing with the children, 00:15:10.759 --> 00:15:12.599 what can wash away my sin? 00:15:12.719 --> 00:15:14.980 Nothing but the blood of Jesus. 00:15:17.039 --> 00:15:18.179 And so let me ask you, 00:15:18.259 --> 00:15:20.159 where are you going to get cleansing from? 00:15:20.159 --> 00:15:23.740 Let me ask you, 00:15:24.100 --> 00:15:25.559 where are you going to deal with 00:15:25.559 --> 00:15:29.240 the guilt that you know needs to be dealt with? 00:15:31.100 --> 00:15:33.659 And I offer you today a cleansing saviour, 00:15:34.500 --> 00:15:35.559 a cleansing Jesus. 00:15:37.620 --> 00:15:38.279 Last of all, 00:15:38.339 --> 00:15:39.519 a substitutionary Jesus. 00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:42.100 A substitutionary Jesus. 00:15:42.759 --> 00:15:45.639 I couldn't think of a kind of better turn of phrase. 00:15:45.639 --> 00:15:46.720 Look at verse 26. 00:15:48.799 --> 00:15:53.740 Then he delivered Barabbas to them. 00:15:54.519 --> 00:15:56.439 We've seen that wording again, 00:15:56.519 --> 00:15:56.720 haven't we? 00:15:56.779 --> 00:15:57.980 Jesus being handed over. 00:15:58.120 --> 00:15:59.360 Jesus being handed over. 00:15:59.699 --> 00:16:02.259 But here it is Barabbas that is handed over. 00:16:02.399 --> 00:16:03.379 This time to be released. 00:16:04.379 --> 00:16:06.639 But Jesus is handed over to be flogged. 00:16:06.639 --> 00:16:07.000 Flogged. 00:16:07.840 --> 00:16:08.720 Verse 26. 00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:12.000 Then he released for them Barabbas 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:13.899 and having scourged Jesus, 00:16:14.299 --> 00:16:15.740 delivered him to be crucified. 00:16:17.519 --> 00:16:17.960 The scourging, 00:16:18.220 --> 00:16:18.819 the flogging. 00:16:20.159 --> 00:16:21.980 The Jews had a law that a prisoner 00:16:21.980 --> 00:16:24.399 or somebody that was going to be flogged 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:27.679 could only be flogged 40 times. 00:16:27.679 --> 00:16:30.559 But the Romans, 00:16:30.799 --> 00:16:31.500 they had no limit. 00:16:32.339 --> 00:16:33.219 They weren't bothered by that. 00:16:34.120 --> 00:16:36.299 It was just up to their strength 00:16:36.299 --> 00:16:37.839 or it was up to the whim of the person 00:16:37.839 --> 00:16:39.620 who was doing the flogging. 00:16:40.939 --> 00:16:41.959 The victim would be stripped. 00:16:42.079 --> 00:16:42.859 He'd be tied to a post. 00:16:44.379 --> 00:16:45.299 The whip would have 00:16:45.299 --> 00:16:47.759 little leather strips on it. 00:16:48.819 --> 00:16:50.179 And embedded into the leather strips 00:16:50.179 --> 00:16:51.740 would be bits of lead 00:16:51.740 --> 00:16:53.559 or stone 00:16:53.559 --> 00:16:54.719 or bone. 00:16:54.720 --> 00:16:57.700 And so as it whipped the 00:16:57.700 --> 00:16:59.019 victim's back, 00:16:59.120 --> 00:16:59.720 it would tear 00:17:00.300 --> 00:17:01.100 and it would cut 00:17:01.100 --> 00:17:02.320 and it would turn the flesh 00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:02.860 into a pulp. 00:17:06.240 --> 00:17:08.480 It was even known to cut them 00:17:08.480 --> 00:17:10.920 so badly that their bones 00:17:10.920 --> 00:17:11.839 would be visible, 00:17:12.000 --> 00:17:13.019 their entrails exposed. 00:17:15.240 --> 00:17:17.079 There are accounts of victims dying 00:17:17.079 --> 00:17:19.100 from the flogging 00:17:19.100 --> 00:17:21.940 even before they got to the capital punishment. 00:17:21.940 --> 00:17:24.700 by crucifixion. 00:17:24.820 --> 00:17:25.960 So Jesus was flogged 00:17:25.960 --> 00:17:27.700 and then he was handed over 00:17:27.700 --> 00:17:28.299 to be crucified. 00:17:29.779 --> 00:17:30.559 And do you see the exchange? 00:17:30.620 --> 00:17:31.340 It's really simple, isn't it? 00:17:31.340 --> 00:17:31.880 Verse 26. 00:17:33.299 --> 00:17:34.259 Verse 26. 00:17:34.700 --> 00:17:35.500 Barabbas is released. 00:17:37.140 --> 00:17:38.059 Verse 26. 00:17:39.279 --> 00:17:40.600 Jesus is delivered over 00:17:40.600 --> 00:17:41.200 to be crucified. 00:17:43.860 --> 00:17:44.840 It's really simple. 00:17:45.059 --> 00:17:46.279 You can't miss it, can you? 00:17:47.779 --> 00:17:49.180 You can't say it any more plainly. 00:17:49.259 --> 00:17:50.820 Jesus died for Barabbas. 00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:54.159 Jesus died in place of Barabbas. 00:17:55.939 --> 00:17:57.059 There are lots of theories 00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:58.000 of the atonement 00:17:58.000 --> 00:18:00.659 of what Jesus Christ accomplished 00:18:00.659 --> 00:18:01.379 on the cross. 00:18:01.519 --> 00:18:03.700 I want to explain to you this morning 00:18:03.700 --> 00:18:05.779 the Barabbas theory. 00:18:06.899 --> 00:18:08.720 The Barabbas theory of the atonement. 00:18:11.019 --> 00:18:12.259 And I expect that Barabbas 00:18:12.259 --> 00:18:13.799 had a better understanding of the cross 00:18:13.799 --> 00:18:15.460 than many of us do. 00:18:15.460 --> 00:18:18.480 And it was simply this, 00:18:18.539 --> 00:18:20.079 that Jesus died for Barabbas. 00:18:22.480 --> 00:18:24.460 Literally, substitution 00:18:24.460 --> 00:18:26.079 in his place. 00:18:27.880 --> 00:18:29.460 Jesus died the death 00:18:29.460 --> 00:18:31.100 that Barabbas should have died 00:18:31.100 --> 00:18:33.900 on the cross. 00:18:33.900 --> 00:18:37.220 I'm not saying 00:18:37.220 --> 00:18:38.740 that Barabbas was 00:18:38.740 --> 00:18:39.780 a believer 00:18:39.780 --> 00:18:40.440 and a follower 00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:41.080 and a disciple 00:18:41.080 --> 00:18:41.759 of the Lord Jesus. 00:18:43.320 --> 00:18:44.660 But can you see 00:18:44.660 --> 00:18:46.420 in the literal situation 00:18:46.420 --> 00:18:47.660 that Jesus 00:18:47.660 --> 00:18:49.060 was the substitute 00:18:49.060 --> 00:18:51.220 for Barabbas? 00:18:52.880 --> 00:18:54.360 Barabbas was released. 00:18:54.359 --> 00:18:56.359 Jesus was delivered over 00:18:56.359 --> 00:18:57.019 to be crucified. 00:18:58.000 --> 00:18:59.479 A substitutionary Jesus. 00:19:00.839 --> 00:19:02.959 A Jesus who has died for you 00:19:02.959 --> 00:19:04.459 in your place. 00:19:05.979 --> 00:19:07.419 Taking the punishment 00:19:07.419 --> 00:19:10.079 that you rightly deserve 00:19:10.079 --> 00:19:10.719 and you recognize 00:19:10.719 --> 00:19:11.419 that you deserve it. 00:19:13.079 --> 00:19:14.159 And I wonder if Barabbas 00:19:14.159 --> 00:19:14.979 ever thought about that. 00:19:16.439 --> 00:19:17.519 We'll never know, will we? 00:19:18.379 --> 00:19:19.579 At least we won't for a long time. 00:19:19.579 --> 00:19:22.019 I wonder whether 00:19:22.019 --> 00:19:23.539 Barabbas, when he was 00:19:23.539 --> 00:19:24.460 on his way back 00:19:24.460 --> 00:19:26.919 to join his chums, 00:19:28.399 --> 00:19:29.379 that if he ever 00:19:29.379 --> 00:19:30.919 happened to go by 00:19:30.919 --> 00:19:32.960 or to go anywhere near Golgotha, 00:19:33.799 --> 00:19:34.859 that if he ever 00:19:34.859 --> 00:19:37.079 wandered near that place 00:19:37.079 --> 00:19:38.419 of the cross, 00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:39.599 he cast an eye 00:19:39.599 --> 00:19:40.759 to that center cross. 00:19:41.079 --> 00:19:41.740 And I wonder 00:19:41.740 --> 00:19:42.679 if he ever gave it 00:19:42.679 --> 00:19:43.379 any thought, 00:19:43.500 --> 00:19:44.619 I wonder if he said, 00:19:45.679 --> 00:19:47.720 Jesus, Messiah, 00:19:47.720 --> 00:19:50.600 died for Barabbas. 00:19:52.100 --> 00:19:53.259 In my place. 00:19:54.860 --> 00:19:55.700 Condemned he stood. 00:19:57.740 --> 00:19:59.339 And that is what the cross 00:19:59.339 --> 00:20:00.940 ought to mean 00:20:00.940 --> 00:20:01.860 to you and I. 00:20:03.779 --> 00:20:04.980 Because I need 00:20:04.980 --> 00:20:07.180 and you need 00:20:07.180 --> 00:20:08.539 a willing saviour. 00:20:10.380 --> 00:20:11.299 And you need 00:20:11.299 --> 00:20:12.220 and I need 00:20:12.220 --> 00:20:14.380 a righteous saviour. 00:20:14.380 --> 00:20:16.940 And you need 00:20:16.940 --> 00:20:18.160 and I need 00:20:18.160 --> 00:20:18.640 desperately 00:20:18.640 --> 00:20:20.220 a cleansing saviour. 00:20:22.020 --> 00:20:23.120 And wonderfully, 00:20:23.280 --> 00:20:24.480 Jesus was our substitute 00:20:24.480 --> 00:20:27.500 who has taken 00:20:27.500 --> 00:20:28.260 our place 00:20:28.260 --> 00:20:30.700 in my place. 00:20:32.140 --> 00:20:32.880 Condemned he stood. 00:20:33.880 --> 00:20:34.240 Hallelujah. 00:20:35.180 --> 00:20:36.120 What a saviour. 00:20:37.040 --> 00:20:37.600 Let's pray. 00:20:37.600 --> 00:20:37.660 Amen. 00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:37.660 00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:37.660 00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:37.660 00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:37.660 00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:37.660 00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:37.660 00:20:37.660 --> 00:20:37.660