WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:06.640 As soon as it was morning, the chief priest held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council. 00:00:07.440 --> 00:00:13.040 And they bound Jesus and led him away and delivered him over to Pilate. 00:00:13.720 --> 00:00:19.440 This section introduces us to a new character in the plot of Jesus' crucifixion. 00:00:20.219 --> 00:00:22.359 And his name is Pontius Pilate. 00:00:23.120 --> 00:00:30.359 Pilate was the Roman prefect responsible for governing this particular area of the empire. 00:00:30.899 --> 00:00:36.119 History tells us that he served in this particular role for about 10 years. 00:00:36.700 --> 00:00:45.280 The question immediately becomes, as we look at the bigger picture here of Mark's gospel, why is Pilate actually necessary? 00:00:45.899 --> 00:00:51.799 Why is it that he even comes into the picture as far as the narrative of Jesus' crucifixion? 00:00:51.799 --> 00:00:53.500 Pilate is concerned. 00:00:54.119 --> 00:01:05.399 And we need to understand that the Roman form of government did indeed allow for quite a bit of flexibility with conquered nations. 00:01:06.200 --> 00:01:13.799 They were allowed nations like Israel to live under their own customs and laws to a certain extent. 00:01:14.599 --> 00:01:18.179 And then, of course, that was underneath the umbrella of the Roman law. 00:01:18.180 --> 00:01:26.060 The Sanhedrin, which consisted of the chief priests and the elders and the scribes or the lawyers, as we're told here in verse number one, 00:01:26.360 --> 00:01:33.100 were a legitimate governing body for the Jews, even as the Roman perspective was concerned. 00:01:33.300 --> 00:01:36.160 They looked at the Sanhedrin as a legitimate governing body. 00:01:36.260 --> 00:01:39.120 But they were limited in the scope of their government. 00:01:39.120 --> 00:01:43.939 And one such limitation that they had was the power of execution. 00:01:45.200 --> 00:01:51.740 Only Rome, in Roman law, was allowed to actually condemn a person to death. 00:01:52.420 --> 00:01:58.280 And so the council needed Pilate's permission to actually put Jesus to death. 00:01:58.540 --> 00:02:04.540 Now, they could have carried out the execution, but they needed the okay from the Roman authority, 00:02:04.540 --> 00:02:07.660 which in this case was Pontius Pilate at that particular time. 00:02:07.920 --> 00:02:09.400 They needed his permission to do it. 00:02:09.939 --> 00:02:16.960 Not only that, but in the case of the Jews at this particular time, it being Passover and the Feast of Unleavened Bread, 00:02:17.520 --> 00:02:21.939 they had laws that said they could not put a person to death during the feast. 00:02:22.200 --> 00:02:28.939 So they not only needed Pilate's permission, they actually needed Pilate to carry out the execution of Jesus. 00:02:28.939 --> 00:02:40.659 So the purpose in them bringing Jesus to Pilate at dawn early in the morning was so that their plan could actually be finalized and come to fruition. 00:02:41.139 --> 00:02:48.400 And what we see happening and unfolding in these verses is that we find the perfect Lamb of God, 00:02:48.539 --> 00:02:53.819 as Isaiah said in Isaiah 53, being led to the slaughter. 00:02:53.819 --> 00:02:59.439 But it's not just the fact of Jesus' death that I want you to understand this morning. 00:03:00.819 --> 00:03:11.359 This trial with Pilate affirms Jesus' innocence, and then it illustrates an important doctrine for us, 00:03:11.400 --> 00:03:13.159 and that is the doctrine of substitution. 00:03:14.400 --> 00:03:20.819 And not only was Jesus innocent, but Jesus' death was a substitutionary death. 00:03:20.819 --> 00:03:24.840 And to help us walk through the narrative, I've got three words for us to look at. 00:03:24.979 --> 00:03:27.099 The first is interrogation. 00:03:27.340 --> 00:03:29.359 The second is substitution. 00:03:30.060 --> 00:03:32.340 The third is condemnation. 00:03:32.579 --> 00:03:36.139 And I think that will help us as we work through these verses together. 00:03:36.539 --> 00:03:39.000 First off, let's see interrogation. 00:03:39.939 --> 00:03:40.419 Interrogation. 00:03:40.519 --> 00:03:41.759 Look with me again at verse 2. 00:03:42.500 --> 00:03:43.519 Pilate asked him, 00:03:44.039 --> 00:03:45.819 Are you the king of the Jews? 00:03:46.599 --> 00:03:47.900 And he answered him, 00:03:48.240 --> 00:03:49.539 You have said so. 00:03:49.539 --> 00:03:53.179 And the chief priest accused him of many things. 00:03:54.000 --> 00:03:55.459 And Pilate again asked him, 00:03:55.799 --> 00:03:57.500 Have you no answer to make? 00:03:58.060 --> 00:04:00.560 See how many charges they bring against you. 00:04:01.319 --> 00:04:03.739 But Jesus made no further answer, 00:04:04.280 --> 00:04:07.579 so that Pilate was amazed. 00:04:09.180 --> 00:04:13.299 Well, for Pilate to agree to crucify Jesus 00:04:13.300 --> 00:04:20.139 required a bit of political maneuvering on the part of the chief priest. 00:04:21.280 --> 00:04:23.480 Now remember back, if you can remember a couple of weeks, 00:04:23.879 --> 00:04:28.680 to Jesus' midnight trial, that kangaroo court we called it, 00:04:28.819 --> 00:04:30.139 before the Sanhedrin. 00:04:30.360 --> 00:04:33.040 Remember what the charge eventually became. 00:04:33.139 --> 00:04:36.280 The charge against Jesus was a charge of blasphemy. 00:04:36.279 --> 00:04:40.339 That's what the Sanhedrin was seeking to put Jesus to death for. 00:04:40.799 --> 00:04:42.839 But that was something that the Roman authorities, 00:04:42.839 --> 00:04:44.959 they wouldn't have really cared anything about. 00:04:45.239 --> 00:04:49.199 There was nothing about the breaking of Jewish religious laws 00:04:49.199 --> 00:04:52.459 that Rome cared anything about governing over. 00:04:52.459 --> 00:04:56.359 So when the Sanhedrin brought Jesus before Pilate, 00:04:56.379 --> 00:04:59.000 they were going to have to come up with something else. 00:04:59.459 --> 00:05:01.959 And when they presented their case before Pilate, 00:05:02.180 --> 00:05:04.740 they accused Jesus not of blasphemy, 00:05:05.120 --> 00:05:09.419 but instead they accused him of treason and insurrection, 00:05:10.419 --> 00:05:14.399 crimes of which were intolerable to Rome. 00:05:15.039 --> 00:05:16.240 Now Luke wrote about this. 00:05:16.240 --> 00:05:19.560 In fact, if you'll just flip over a few pages to Luke's gospel 00:05:19.560 --> 00:05:22.379 and turn with me please to Luke chapter 23, 00:05:23.780 --> 00:05:26.460 Luke actually gives us the specific charges 00:05:26.460 --> 00:05:28.420 that the Sanhedrin lays out. 00:05:28.500 --> 00:05:29.360 And I want you to see these. 00:05:29.939 --> 00:05:32.379 Luke chapter 23, verse one, 00:05:33.120 --> 00:05:34.980 then the whole company of them arose 00:05:34.980 --> 00:05:37.120 and brought him before Pilate. 00:05:37.680 --> 00:05:39.660 And they began to accuse him. 00:05:39.720 --> 00:05:41.519 There's a threefold accusation here. 00:05:42.199 --> 00:05:45.660 We found this man misleading our nation. 00:05:45.960 --> 00:05:46.980 That's number one. 00:05:47.060 --> 00:05:49.000 He's trying to become a leader among the people. 00:05:49.460 --> 00:05:53.540 Number two, forbidding us to give tribute to Caesar. 00:05:54.260 --> 00:05:58.720 In other words, he's trying to amass a following among Israel. 00:05:59.080 --> 00:06:03.020 And a part of his teaching is that they shouldn't pay their taxes, 00:06:03.200 --> 00:06:04.660 which was something Rome cared about. 00:06:04.860 --> 00:06:09.280 And then the third part, saying that he himself is Christ. 00:06:09.279 --> 00:06:16.239 Now, they defined Christ the way that they wanted to divine Christ for Pilate's ears. 00:06:16.739 --> 00:06:18.519 They said Christ a king. 00:06:19.339 --> 00:06:22.379 Now when the Jews thought of Christ as a king, 00:06:22.679 --> 00:06:26.459 they had a very different idea than what Rome had 00:06:26.459 --> 00:06:29.779 when they considered Christ as a king. 00:06:30.239 --> 00:06:32.299 They didn't think of a spiritual leader. 00:06:32.300 --> 00:06:37.620 They thought of a political rival to the empire. 00:06:38.600 --> 00:06:42.020 In verse four or verse five, if you'll look down again, 00:06:42.439 --> 00:06:45.560 Pilate wasn't convinced of what they were saying. 00:06:45.860 --> 00:06:46.960 And then they continued on. 00:06:47.240 --> 00:06:48.340 They were urgent, saying, 00:06:48.339 --> 00:06:52.039 He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, 00:06:52.219 --> 00:06:54.560 from Galilee even to this place. 00:06:54.699 --> 00:06:56.939 So what they charge him against with Pilate 00:06:56.939 --> 00:06:59.939 to try to get him to be put to death is not blasphemy. 00:07:00.099 --> 00:07:00.859 It's treason. 00:07:01.299 --> 00:07:02.099 It's insurrection. 00:07:02.539 --> 00:07:04.379 He's amassing a following. 00:07:04.679 --> 00:07:05.620 He's going to come in. 00:07:05.699 --> 00:07:08.059 He's telling them to stop paying their taxes to Caesar. 00:07:08.259 --> 00:07:11.039 And he's going to try to create a revolution. 00:07:11.679 --> 00:07:15.399 And for that, he must be put to death, Pilate. 00:07:15.399 --> 00:07:19.979 Now, this explains why Pilate immediately asked Jesus 00:07:19.979 --> 00:07:23.239 in verse two if he was the king of the Jews. 00:07:24.279 --> 00:07:26.819 Because they're attempting to deceive Pilate 00:07:26.819 --> 00:07:29.799 into thinking that Jesus was trying to set himself up 00:07:29.799 --> 00:07:30.759 as a king. 00:07:31.779 --> 00:07:33.659 The irony in all of this 00:07:33.659 --> 00:07:39.299 is that a powerful political figure overthrowing Rome 00:07:39.299 --> 00:07:43.620 was precisely what the Jews were hoping for. 00:07:45.399 --> 00:07:49.759 They come to Pilate seeking to destroy Jesus 00:07:49.759 --> 00:07:52.939 for being the thing that they wish he was. 00:07:54.060 --> 00:07:57.399 If Jesus had actually come with that agenda, 00:07:57.539 --> 00:08:02.039 with that kind of political, military agenda, 00:08:02.219 --> 00:08:04.419 all of these men that are accusing Jesus 00:08:04.419 --> 00:08:07.179 would have actually supported him. 00:08:07.180 --> 00:08:12.019 But since his purpose didn't match their expectations, 00:08:12.680 --> 00:08:15.379 they pretended to be on the side of Rome 00:08:15.379 --> 00:08:17.860 so that they could get rid of him instead. 00:08:18.980 --> 00:08:22.340 And that's not unlike the way many people view Jesus today. 00:08:23.620 --> 00:08:26.620 People come to Jesus every week in churches 00:08:26.620 --> 00:08:29.100 with a particular expectation. 00:08:29.100 --> 00:08:33.460 And then when they find that Jesus doesn't line up 00:08:33.460 --> 00:08:35.259 with their particular expectation, 00:08:35.259 --> 00:08:38.300 they abandon the truth. 00:08:38.940 --> 00:08:41.980 When they find out that Jesus's primary interest 00:08:41.980 --> 00:08:43.940 is not their personal ambition, 00:08:44.940 --> 00:08:48.000 they decide that Jesus isn't actually the Messiah 00:08:48.000 --> 00:08:50.100 that I want him to be, 00:08:50.600 --> 00:08:53.399 and they crucify him in their minds. 00:08:53.399 --> 00:08:56.519 That's what's unfolding here with the Sanhedrin. 00:08:57.360 --> 00:08:59.500 Now, Jesus's answer to Pilate 00:08:59.500 --> 00:09:02.459 is a bit enigmatic, isn't it? 00:09:03.199 --> 00:09:04.779 It's just a strange saying. 00:09:04.860 --> 00:09:06.240 The way it comes across in English, 00:09:06.360 --> 00:09:08.459 he says, you have said so. 00:09:09.299 --> 00:09:10.539 You have said so. 00:09:11.100 --> 00:09:12.860 Which comes across in English 00:09:12.860 --> 00:09:15.459 as if Jesus is almost trying to skirt the question. 00:09:15.620 --> 00:09:19.079 He's trying to avoid being too transparent. 00:09:19.080 --> 00:09:22.200 So he answers affirmatively, 00:09:22.639 --> 00:09:25.920 but it's with a measure of reservation. 00:09:26.820 --> 00:09:28.300 And why do you think he did that? 00:09:29.900 --> 00:09:35.259 We have to remember and interpret this 00:09:35.259 --> 00:09:37.980 in the larger context of Jesus's life, 00:09:38.500 --> 00:09:42.440 where he regularly actually veiled his identity. 00:09:42.940 --> 00:09:44.540 And do you remember why he did that? 00:09:45.120 --> 00:09:47.100 It wasn't because he was dishonest. 00:09:47.100 --> 00:09:48.980 It wasn't because he was afraid. 00:09:49.360 --> 00:09:52.820 It was because one cannot rightly understand 00:09:52.820 --> 00:09:55.740 Jesus's identity as the Messiah 00:09:55.740 --> 00:09:59.639 apart from his purpose as the Messiah. 00:10:00.040 --> 00:10:01.300 And in this moment, 00:10:01.879 --> 00:10:04.639 even if Pilate thinks he's a messianic figure, 00:10:05.100 --> 00:10:08.320 Pilate's mind is not a spiritual savior 00:10:08.320 --> 00:10:10.400 that will redeem them from their sins. 00:10:10.700 --> 00:10:14.240 His mind is set on Jesus as a political savior 00:10:14.240 --> 00:10:18.080 who will overturn the rule of Rome. 00:10:18.080 --> 00:10:21.820 So there's, in the sense, 00:10:21.960 --> 00:10:23.680 Jesus is saying with this phrase, 00:10:24.180 --> 00:10:28.000 I am, but not in the way that you think I am. 00:10:28.840 --> 00:10:30.660 So Pilate says, are you the king of the Jews? 00:10:30.800 --> 00:10:33.820 Well, yeah, but you're not exactly thinking of that 00:10:33.820 --> 00:10:35.480 the way that you should be thinking of that. 00:10:36.340 --> 00:10:38.480 And John actually gives us the fuller picture of that. 00:10:38.680 --> 00:10:40.120 Actually, why don't you turn there with me 00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:41.759 to John chapter 18. 00:10:43.259 --> 00:10:44.700 John chapter 18. 00:10:49.700 --> 00:10:52.679 John covers more detail than any of the gospel authors 00:10:52.679 --> 00:10:56.159 when it comes to Jesus's crucifixion. 00:10:56.159 --> 00:11:00.579 And I want you to look with me at verse 33. 00:11:03.839 --> 00:11:06.500 John 18, verse 33. 00:11:07.759 --> 00:11:10.799 So Pilate entered his headquarters again 00:11:10.799 --> 00:11:13.759 and called Jesus and said to him, 00:11:13.980 --> 00:11:15.899 are you the king of the Jews? 00:11:16.079 --> 00:11:17.679 And look how Jesus answers. 00:11:19.039 --> 00:11:20.819 Do you say this of your own accord 00:11:20.819 --> 00:11:23.259 or did others say it to you about me? 00:11:23.259 --> 00:11:25.500 And Pilate answered, am I a Jew? 00:11:26.559 --> 00:11:28.220 Your old nation and chief priests 00:11:28.220 --> 00:11:29.379 have delivered you over to me. 00:11:29.620 --> 00:11:30.399 What have you done? 00:11:31.059 --> 00:11:32.120 And Jesus answered, 00:11:32.939 --> 00:11:35.319 my kingdom is not of this world. 00:11:36.059 --> 00:11:38.179 If my kingdom were of this world, 00:11:38.539 --> 00:11:40.480 my servants would have been fighting 00:11:40.480 --> 00:11:43.819 that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. 00:11:44.500 --> 00:11:47.600 But my kingdom is not from this world. 00:11:48.319 --> 00:11:49.799 Then Pilate said to him, 00:11:50.080 --> 00:11:51.379 so you are a king. 00:11:51.379 --> 00:11:53.399 And Jesus answered, 00:11:54.000 --> 00:11:55.460 you say that I am a king. 00:11:55.879 --> 00:11:57.159 And for this purpose, 00:11:57.159 --> 00:11:58.439 I was born. 00:11:58.620 --> 00:11:59.620 And for this purpose, 00:11:59.620 --> 00:12:01.059 I have come into the world 00:12:01.059 --> 00:12:03.259 to bear witness to the truth. 00:12:03.679 --> 00:12:05.759 And everyone who is of the truth 00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:07.439 listens to my voice. 00:12:07.840 --> 00:12:10.000 And then notice how Pilate responds. 00:12:10.600 --> 00:12:11.879 He says, what is truth? 00:12:12.799 --> 00:12:14.439 He was looking at truth, 00:12:15.120 --> 00:12:15.600 embodied, 00:12:16.080 --> 00:12:18.519 but he didn't see it. 00:12:18.519 --> 00:12:20.399 And after he had said this, 00:12:20.439 --> 00:12:22.120 he went back outside to the Jews 00:12:22.120 --> 00:12:23.139 and told them, 00:12:23.519 --> 00:12:24.960 I find no guilt in him. 00:12:25.579 --> 00:12:26.840 Now, do you see the fuller picture 00:12:26.840 --> 00:12:27.759 that John gives? 00:12:28.439 --> 00:12:29.600 You have said so. 00:12:29.679 --> 00:12:30.579 What's Jesus saying? 00:12:30.939 --> 00:12:32.100 Yeah, I am a king, 00:12:32.220 --> 00:12:32.939 but I'm not a king 00:12:32.939 --> 00:12:34.059 like you think I'm a king. 00:12:34.860 --> 00:12:36.419 I'm not here to be the emperor 00:12:36.419 --> 00:12:37.460 of the Roman Empire. 00:12:38.019 --> 00:12:40.379 I'm not here to lead a revolution of Jews 00:12:40.379 --> 00:12:41.919 to throw you out of Palestine. 00:12:42.439 --> 00:12:44.100 My kingdom is not of this world. 00:12:44.100 --> 00:12:45.820 And if it was of this world, 00:12:45.960 --> 00:12:47.700 that's exactly what we'd be doing. 00:12:47.860 --> 00:12:49.500 But if you will look around, Pilate, 00:12:49.620 --> 00:12:50.480 you will notice 00:12:50.480 --> 00:12:52.060 that none of my followers 00:12:52.060 --> 00:12:53.279 are actually doing that 00:12:53.279 --> 00:12:55.000 because my kingdom 00:12:55.000 --> 00:12:56.040 is not of this world. 00:12:56.340 --> 00:12:57.519 Do you see the bigger picture here? 00:12:59.100 --> 00:13:00.340 Now, all kinds of people 00:13:00.340 --> 00:13:02.360 seem to be on this endless search 00:13:02.360 --> 00:13:03.620 for the historical Jesus, 00:13:03.840 --> 00:13:05.500 what they call the historical Jesus. 00:13:07.159 --> 00:13:09.420 They're intrigued by Jesus as a person, 00:13:09.420 --> 00:13:12.580 but they refuse to accept 00:13:12.580 --> 00:13:13.759 that he was anything 00:13:13.759 --> 00:13:16.080 other than an ordinary man 00:13:16.080 --> 00:13:18.460 who suffered a tragic death. 00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:21.680 But until you come to terms 00:13:21.680 --> 00:13:23.220 with what the Bible says 00:13:23.220 --> 00:13:26.660 is true of the purpose of the Messiah, 00:13:27.540 --> 00:13:30.180 namely to give his life 00:13:30.180 --> 00:13:32.000 to appease God's wrath 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:33.139 against your sin, 00:13:33.420 --> 00:13:34.820 until you come to terms 00:13:34.820 --> 00:13:35.700 with that fact, 00:13:35.820 --> 00:13:37.060 you'll never comprehend 00:13:37.060 --> 00:13:38.759 the reality of his identity. 00:13:39.680 --> 00:13:41.720 And that's the issue with Pilate. 00:13:41.720 --> 00:13:44.639 That's the reason Jesus answers Pilate 00:13:44.639 --> 00:13:45.960 in the way that he did. 00:13:47.240 --> 00:13:48.980 The Sanhedrin continue to press 00:13:48.980 --> 00:13:51.080 their accusations against him. 00:13:51.440 --> 00:13:52.879 You see that in verse 3. 00:13:53.399 --> 00:13:54.779 The chief priest accused him 00:13:54.779 --> 00:13:55.759 of many things. 00:13:57.360 --> 00:13:59.100 But just as Jesus had done 00:13:59.100 --> 00:14:00.100 in the earlier trial, 00:14:00.660 --> 00:14:02.899 he refused to answer 00:14:02.899 --> 00:14:04.399 any of the false allegations. 00:14:05.740 --> 00:14:07.540 Now, Mark writes that Pilate 00:14:07.540 --> 00:14:10.660 was especially taken aback by this. 00:14:10.659 --> 00:14:12.259 Look with me there at verse 4. 00:14:12.939 --> 00:14:14.100 Pilate again asked him, 00:14:14.819 --> 00:14:16.120 Have you no answer to make? 00:14:16.879 --> 00:14:18.159 See how many charges 00:14:18.159 --> 00:14:19.319 they bring against you. 00:14:20.120 --> 00:14:22.279 But Jesus made no further answer 00:14:22.279 --> 00:14:26.019 so that Pilate was amazed. 00:14:27.659 --> 00:14:29.360 Pilate is accustomed 00:14:29.360 --> 00:14:31.120 to people coming into his courts 00:14:31.120 --> 00:14:33.000 begging for their life, 00:14:34.120 --> 00:14:35.519 begging in defense 00:14:35.519 --> 00:14:37.379 against their accusers. 00:14:37.379 --> 00:14:38.620 And now he has just 00:14:38.620 --> 00:14:39.759 this unique experience 00:14:39.759 --> 00:14:41.840 where this man stands before him, 00:14:42.019 --> 00:14:43.279 not cowardly, 00:14:43.539 --> 00:14:46.500 but with a silent resilience, 00:14:47.299 --> 00:14:48.820 a silent resolve. 00:14:49.480 --> 00:14:51.120 And Pilate is blown away 00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:53.279 by the fact that Jesus stands there 00:14:53.279 --> 00:14:55.059 with this composure, 00:14:55.500 --> 00:14:58.100 not attempting to defend himself 00:14:58.100 --> 00:14:59.899 against what he and Pilate 00:14:59.899 --> 00:15:01.399 both know to be false charges. 00:15:02.299 --> 00:15:04.440 He quietly stands, 00:15:04.440 --> 00:15:06.460 and he answers only the question 00:15:06.460 --> 00:15:07.200 of his identity. 00:15:08.640 --> 00:15:09.700 But Pilate didn't know it. 00:15:10.900 --> 00:15:12.500 But scripture was being fulfilled 00:15:12.500 --> 00:15:13.740 before his very eyes. 00:15:14.740 --> 00:15:16.760 Remember Isaiah 53, 7. 00:15:17.560 --> 00:15:18.440 He was oppressed 00:15:18.440 --> 00:15:20.320 and he was afflicted, 00:15:20.700 --> 00:15:22.580 yet he opened not his mouth. 00:15:23.580 --> 00:15:25.800 Like a lamb led to the slaughter, 00:15:26.340 --> 00:15:28.540 and like a sheep before its shearers 00:15:28.540 --> 00:15:29.280 is silent, 00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:32.759 so he opened not his mouth. 00:15:33.500 --> 00:15:35.059 So we see interrogation. 00:15:35.639 --> 00:15:36.019 Secondly, 00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:37.959 we see substitution. 00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:40.039 Substitution. 00:15:41.079 --> 00:15:42.500 Look with me at verse 6. 00:15:44.240 --> 00:15:45.100 Now at the feast, 00:15:45.799 --> 00:15:46.980 he used to release for them 00:15:46.980 --> 00:15:47.659 one prisoner 00:15:47.659 --> 00:15:49.539 for whom they asked. 00:15:50.699 --> 00:15:52.199 And among the rebels in prison 00:15:52.199 --> 00:15:53.659 who had committed murder 00:15:53.659 --> 00:15:54.539 in the insurrection, 00:15:55.079 --> 00:15:57.919 there was a man called Barabbas. 00:15:57.919 --> 00:16:00.439 And the crowd came up 00:16:00.439 --> 00:16:02.339 and began to ask Pilate 00:16:02.339 --> 00:16:04.500 to do as he usually did 00:16:04.500 --> 00:16:06.039 for them. 00:16:07.579 --> 00:16:08.860 Now history tells us 00:16:08.860 --> 00:16:10.299 that Pilate was no friend 00:16:10.299 --> 00:16:11.039 to the Jews. 00:16:12.099 --> 00:16:13.599 According to James Edwards, 00:16:14.500 --> 00:16:16.120 he actually despised them 00:16:16.120 --> 00:16:18.979 and on at least two other occasions 00:16:18.979 --> 00:16:21.079 had so offended them, 00:16:21.259 --> 00:16:23.179 intentionally offended them, 00:16:23.179 --> 00:16:25.360 that it produced riots 00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:26.379 among the people. 00:16:26.379 --> 00:16:27.820 Now, 00:16:29.259 --> 00:16:29.700 some, 00:16:30.159 --> 00:16:31.939 Rome clearly being intolerant 00:16:31.939 --> 00:16:32.980 of insurrections, 00:16:33.939 --> 00:16:35.320 didn't appreciate the riots 00:16:35.320 --> 00:16:36.580 that Pilate has caused. 00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:38.840 And Pilate then was walking 00:16:38.840 --> 00:16:39.620 on thin ice, 00:16:39.659 --> 00:16:40.279 as it were, 00:16:40.980 --> 00:16:42.960 in relation to his superiors. 00:16:43.679 --> 00:16:44.639 So perhaps that's why 00:16:44.639 --> 00:16:46.019 he had developed this custom 00:16:46.019 --> 00:16:47.679 to satisfy the Jews. 00:16:48.159 --> 00:16:49.500 On the feast day 00:16:49.500 --> 00:16:51.179 when the Passover would roll around, 00:16:51.679 --> 00:16:53.879 he would offer two options 00:16:53.879 --> 00:16:54.519 for the Jews 00:16:54.519 --> 00:16:55.360 before the people 00:16:55.360 --> 00:16:56.740 and he would release 00:16:56.740 --> 00:16:57.539 one of their prisoners 00:16:57.539 --> 00:16:58.240 back to him 00:16:58.240 --> 00:16:59.600 to show some kind of favor 00:16:59.600 --> 00:17:00.899 to the Jews 00:17:00.899 --> 00:17:01.919 and perhaps quell 00:17:01.919 --> 00:17:03.480 any other offense 00:17:03.480 --> 00:17:04.139 that he caused 00:17:04.139 --> 00:17:04.980 throughout the year. 00:17:05.740 --> 00:17:07.099 And on this particular day, 00:17:07.799 --> 00:17:08.839 a crowd of Jews 00:17:08.839 --> 00:17:10.579 well aware of Pilate's tradition 00:17:10.579 --> 00:17:12.619 came to his headquarters 00:17:12.619 --> 00:17:13.960 at the same time 00:17:13.960 --> 00:17:15.220 as the Sanhedrin 00:17:15.220 --> 00:17:16.220 had come with Jesus. 00:17:16.660 --> 00:17:17.519 But they're there 00:17:17.519 --> 00:17:18.980 for totally different reasons. 00:17:19.299 --> 00:17:20.519 I want you to see this. 00:17:20.519 --> 00:17:22.680 the Jewish leaders 00:17:22.680 --> 00:17:23.460 are there to have 00:17:23.460 --> 00:17:24.379 Jesus condemned. 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:26.220 That's why they brought him. 00:17:27.339 --> 00:17:28.400 But the rabble 00:17:28.400 --> 00:17:29.059 is not there 00:17:29.059 --> 00:17:29.920 because of Jesus. 00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:32.039 They're there 00:17:32.039 --> 00:17:33.879 to have one of their friends 00:17:33.879 --> 00:17:35.160 released from custody. 00:17:36.559 --> 00:17:37.940 And unlike is often assumed, 00:17:38.139 --> 00:17:38.839 so many times 00:17:38.839 --> 00:17:39.799 we come to these passages 00:17:39.799 --> 00:17:40.279 and we may, 00:17:40.639 --> 00:17:41.359 as preachers, 00:17:42.000 --> 00:17:43.359 unfortunately, 00:17:43.720 --> 00:17:44.680 we'll refer 00:17:44.680 --> 00:17:45.879 to the fickle crowd, 00:17:46.000 --> 00:17:46.319 how that, 00:17:46.639 --> 00:17:47.220 on one hand, 00:17:47.279 --> 00:17:47.720 the crowd 00:17:47.720 --> 00:17:48.859 just one week earlier 00:17:48.859 --> 00:17:49.719 was crying out, 00:17:49.779 --> 00:17:50.339 Hosanna, 00:17:50.819 --> 00:17:51.519 glory to God 00:17:51.519 --> 00:17:52.139 in the highest 00:17:52.139 --> 00:17:53.519 as Jesus as Messiah. 00:17:53.659 --> 00:17:54.740 And then a week later, 00:17:54.779 --> 00:17:55.719 they've already turned on him 00:17:55.719 --> 00:17:56.719 and they're calling 00:17:56.719 --> 00:17:57.779 for his crucifixion. 00:17:57.859 --> 00:17:58.719 But this isn't 00:17:58.719 --> 00:17:59.839 the same group of people. 00:18:00.659 --> 00:18:01.939 This isn't the same group 00:18:01.939 --> 00:18:02.359 of people 00:18:02.359 --> 00:18:03.279 that welcomed Jesus 00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:04.039 into Jerusalem. 00:18:04.439 --> 00:18:05.219 Those people 00:18:05.219 --> 00:18:06.299 that welcomed him in 00:18:06.299 --> 00:18:07.439 were devastated 00:18:07.439 --> 00:18:08.899 by what happened to Jesus. 00:18:10.000 --> 00:18:10.919 They still didn't quite 00:18:10.919 --> 00:18:11.959 understand exactly 00:18:11.959 --> 00:18:12.799 what he was doing, 00:18:12.899 --> 00:18:14.199 but they still expected 00:18:14.199 --> 00:18:14.759 him to come 00:18:14.759 --> 00:18:15.459 as the Messiah 00:18:15.459 --> 00:18:16.599 and deliver them 00:18:16.599 --> 00:18:17.439 even if they thought 00:18:17.440 --> 00:18:18.299 it was going to be 00:18:18.299 --> 00:18:18.779 a physical 00:18:18.779 --> 00:18:20.240 and political deliverance. 00:18:20.880 --> 00:18:21.720 And they're crushed. 00:18:22.200 --> 00:18:22.820 That's why 00:18:22.820 --> 00:18:24.320 after Jesus' death 00:18:24.320 --> 00:18:24.820 on the morning 00:18:24.820 --> 00:18:25.580 of his resurrection, 00:18:25.860 --> 00:18:26.759 we see the two 00:18:26.759 --> 00:18:27.940 unnamed disciples 00:18:27.940 --> 00:18:29.320 walking back 00:18:29.320 --> 00:18:29.960 to their homes 00:18:29.960 --> 00:18:30.380 on the way 00:18:30.380 --> 00:18:31.100 to Emmaus. 00:18:31.440 --> 00:18:31.720 Why? 00:18:32.200 --> 00:18:33.000 Not because 00:18:33.000 --> 00:18:33.920 they cried out 00:18:33.920 --> 00:18:34.580 crucify 00:18:34.580 --> 00:18:35.220 and then they felt 00:18:35.220 --> 00:18:36.039 bad about it, 00:18:36.180 --> 00:18:36.840 but because 00:18:36.840 --> 00:18:37.680 they were probably 00:18:37.680 --> 00:18:39.059 a part of the earlier crowd 00:18:39.059 --> 00:18:40.000 crying Hosanna 00:18:40.000 --> 00:18:41.380 and they're crushed 00:18:41.380 --> 00:18:42.120 by what they have 00:18:42.120 --> 00:18:42.920 now experienced. 00:18:43.059 --> 00:18:43.600 Their hopes 00:18:43.600 --> 00:18:45.039 have now been crushed. 00:18:45.360 --> 00:18:46.120 This isn't the same 00:18:46.120 --> 00:18:46.779 group of people. 00:18:46.779 --> 00:18:48.119 This group of people 00:18:48.119 --> 00:18:48.879 that have come 00:18:48.879 --> 00:18:50.059 to Pilate's headquarters 00:18:50.059 --> 00:18:50.920 on this day 00:18:50.920 --> 00:18:52.279 seems to be a group 00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:54.319 of Jewish revolutionaries. 00:18:55.079 --> 00:18:55.859 We refer to them 00:18:55.859 --> 00:18:56.639 as zealots. 00:18:57.359 --> 00:18:58.019 Remember one of 00:18:58.019 --> 00:18:59.220 Jesus' disciples 00:18:59.220 --> 00:19:00.460 was at one time 00:19:00.460 --> 00:19:01.160 a zealot 00:19:01.160 --> 00:19:02.500 before he was converted 00:19:02.500 --> 00:19:04.000 and became a follower 00:19:04.000 --> 00:19:04.980 of Christ. 00:19:06.059 --> 00:19:07.339 They wanted to take 00:19:07.339 --> 00:19:08.559 advantage of Pilate's 00:19:08.559 --> 00:19:08.980 custom 00:19:08.980 --> 00:19:10.160 to get one 00:19:10.160 --> 00:19:11.180 of their men back. 00:19:12.279 --> 00:19:13.200 They weren't there 00:19:13.200 --> 00:19:13.980 because of Jesus. 00:19:13.980 --> 00:19:15.559 they wouldn't have 00:19:15.559 --> 00:19:16.380 even had any way 00:19:16.380 --> 00:19:16.799 of knowing 00:19:16.799 --> 00:19:17.380 that Jesus 00:19:17.380 --> 00:19:18.299 was even there 00:19:18.299 --> 00:19:19.299 or been aware 00:19:19.299 --> 00:19:20.319 of what was unfolding 00:19:20.319 --> 00:19:20.920 in regards 00:19:20.920 --> 00:19:23.360 to his midnight trial. 00:19:24.480 --> 00:19:25.720 But in the providence 00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:26.339 of God, 00:19:27.920 --> 00:19:29.140 the Sanhedrin 00:19:29.140 --> 00:19:30.099 shows up 00:19:30.099 --> 00:19:31.360 at the same time 00:19:31.360 --> 00:19:32.180 that this 00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:34.059 rabble of revolutionaries 00:19:34.059 --> 00:19:34.799 show up 00:19:34.799 --> 00:19:35.960 and what begins 00:19:35.960 --> 00:19:36.759 to unfold 00:19:36.759 --> 00:19:38.120 in the ensuing chaos 00:19:38.120 --> 00:19:39.980 is this picture 00:19:40.620 --> 00:19:42.319 of substitution. 00:19:42.319 --> 00:19:44.619 the target 00:19:44.619 --> 00:19:45.200 of the crowd 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:45.720 was a man 00:19:45.720 --> 00:19:46.559 named Barabbas. 00:19:47.500 --> 00:19:48.619 All four Gospels 00:19:48.619 --> 00:19:49.319 make it clear 00:19:49.319 --> 00:19:50.879 that Barabbas 00:19:50.879 --> 00:19:52.619 was an insurrectionist, 00:19:52.859 --> 00:19:54.759 he was a murderer, 00:19:55.159 --> 00:19:57.099 and he had been arrested 00:19:57.099 --> 00:19:59.419 in a recent altercation 00:19:59.419 --> 00:20:00.039 with Rome. 00:20:00.980 --> 00:20:01.879 The fact 00:20:01.879 --> 00:20:02.500 that the crowd 00:20:02.500 --> 00:20:03.259 had specifically 00:20:03.259 --> 00:20:05.159 come for Barabbas 00:20:05.159 --> 00:20:05.960 indicates 00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:06.859 that he wasn't 00:20:06.859 --> 00:20:08.019 just one of their group, 00:20:08.159 --> 00:20:09.179 but he was probably 00:20:09.179 --> 00:20:10.559 a main leader 00:20:10.559 --> 00:20:11.599 in their group, 00:20:11.599 --> 00:20:13.059 in this zealot movement. 00:20:14.779 --> 00:20:15.799 Matthew even refers 00:20:15.799 --> 00:20:16.480 to him as a, 00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:16.799 quote, 00:20:17.159 --> 00:20:18.939 notorious prisoner, 00:20:20.359 --> 00:20:21.139 informing us 00:20:21.139 --> 00:20:21.959 that Barabbas 00:20:21.959 --> 00:20:22.899 was well known 00:20:22.899 --> 00:20:24.059 among all the people 00:20:24.059 --> 00:20:24.859 for his actions 00:20:24.859 --> 00:20:25.579 against Rome. 00:20:26.219 --> 00:20:26.899 And my point 00:20:26.899 --> 00:20:28.579 is that everybody 00:20:28.579 --> 00:20:30.079 knew Barabbas 00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:31.219 was actually 00:20:31.219 --> 00:20:32.799 guilty of crimes 00:20:32.799 --> 00:20:34.419 punishable by death, 00:20:34.539 --> 00:20:36.199 not only by Roman law, 00:20:36.199 --> 00:20:38.199 but also by Jewish law. 00:20:38.200 --> 00:20:40.039 Whether you were 00:20:40.039 --> 00:20:40.940 Jew or Gentile, 00:20:41.000 --> 00:20:41.680 you could look 00:20:41.680 --> 00:20:42.440 at Barabbas 00:20:42.440 --> 00:20:42.920 and say, 00:20:43.480 --> 00:20:43.720 yeah, 00:20:43.940 --> 00:20:44.940 he's guilty 00:20:44.940 --> 00:20:46.620 according to our law. 00:20:46.819 --> 00:20:47.900 He deserves 00:20:47.900 --> 00:20:49.000 to die. 00:20:50.080 --> 00:20:51.259 And while the chief priests 00:20:51.259 --> 00:20:51.600 were there 00:20:51.600 --> 00:20:52.559 to condemn Jesus, 00:20:52.940 --> 00:20:53.500 the crowd 00:20:53.500 --> 00:20:54.400 had actually come 00:20:54.400 --> 00:20:55.819 to demand the release 00:20:55.819 --> 00:20:57.080 of their guilty comrade. 00:20:57.720 --> 00:20:58.059 Now I want you 00:20:58.059 --> 00:20:59.019 to look at verse 9. 00:21:00.819 --> 00:21:01.860 Pilate answered them 00:21:01.860 --> 00:21:02.220 saying, 00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:04.019 do you want me 00:21:04.019 --> 00:21:04.960 to release for you 00:21:04.960 --> 00:21:05.920 the king of the Jews? 00:21:06.839 --> 00:21:07.839 For he perceived 00:21:07.839 --> 00:21:08.960 that it was out of envy 00:21:08.960 --> 00:21:10.299 that the chief priests 00:21:10.299 --> 00:21:11.180 had delivered him up. 00:21:12.460 --> 00:21:13.380 But the chief priests 00:21:13.380 --> 00:21:14.220 stirred up the crowd 00:21:14.220 --> 00:21:15.740 to have him release 00:21:15.740 --> 00:21:16.799 for them Barabbas 00:21:16.799 --> 00:21:17.700 instead. 00:21:18.160 --> 00:21:19.019 That last word 00:21:19.019 --> 00:21:20.039 is important here. 00:21:21.180 --> 00:21:21.660 Instead. 00:21:22.539 --> 00:21:22.980 Meaning, 00:21:24.299 --> 00:21:25.680 Barabbas was the one 00:21:25.680 --> 00:21:27.360 who was on the road 00:21:27.360 --> 00:21:28.660 to the cross. 00:21:28.660 --> 00:21:28.779 Barabbas. 00:21:29.779 --> 00:21:31.779 But instead of Barabbas, 00:21:32.220 --> 00:21:33.820 it becomes 00:21:33.820 --> 00:21:35.259 Jesus. 00:21:35.880 --> 00:21:36.740 An exchange 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:38.440 has taken place. 00:21:39.220 --> 00:21:40.040 A substitution 00:21:40.040 --> 00:21:42.500 has taken place 00:21:42.500 --> 00:21:43.680 here with Barabbas. 00:21:45.380 --> 00:21:46.120 So Pilate offers 00:21:46.120 --> 00:21:46.980 to release Jesus. 00:21:47.140 --> 00:21:47.600 You can see 00:21:47.600 --> 00:21:48.100 as you read 00:21:48.100 --> 00:21:49.000 through those gospels, 00:21:49.080 --> 00:21:49.640 you can see 00:21:49.640 --> 00:21:51.140 a great reluctance 00:21:51.140 --> 00:21:52.460 on Pilate's part 00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:53.640 to actually condemn him. 00:21:54.240 --> 00:21:55.259 That's not because 00:21:55.259 --> 00:21:56.240 Pilate was a believer 00:21:56.240 --> 00:21:57.480 or because Pilate 00:21:57.480 --> 00:21:58.400 was a righteous man. 00:21:58.400 --> 00:21:59.320 He was neither. 00:21:59.780 --> 00:22:00.480 But the Lord 00:22:00.480 --> 00:22:01.740 was working on his heart 00:22:01.740 --> 00:22:02.880 in such a way 00:22:02.880 --> 00:22:03.420 that he knew 00:22:03.420 --> 00:22:04.120 there was something 00:22:04.120 --> 00:22:05.460 significant to this man. 00:22:07.540 --> 00:22:08.880 He could clearly see 00:22:08.880 --> 00:22:09.540 through the facade 00:22:09.540 --> 00:22:10.740 of the chief priest, 00:22:12.019 --> 00:22:13.259 recognizing that Jesus 00:22:13.259 --> 00:22:14.040 was a victim 00:22:14.040 --> 00:22:16.259 of establishment envy. 00:22:17.980 --> 00:22:19.019 But he was also 00:22:19.019 --> 00:22:20.060 reluctant to release 00:22:20.060 --> 00:22:20.940 Barabbas, 00:22:21.500 --> 00:22:23.280 who was a known 00:22:23.280 --> 00:22:24.259 enemy of the state. 00:22:24.640 --> 00:22:25.480 So Pilate's in quiet. 00:22:25.540 --> 00:22:26.280 The conundrum here, 00:22:26.360 --> 00:22:27.019 he has a dilemma. 00:22:27.920 --> 00:22:28.740 On one hand, 00:22:28.819 --> 00:22:29.480 he has a man 00:22:29.480 --> 00:22:30.539 he believes to be innocent 00:22:30.539 --> 00:22:31.400 and he's reluctant 00:22:31.400 --> 00:22:32.279 because his wife 00:22:32.279 --> 00:22:32.700 has told him, 00:22:32.799 --> 00:22:33.160 I had a dream 00:22:33.160 --> 00:22:33.779 about this guy, 00:22:33.940 --> 00:22:34.799 you better not mess 00:22:34.799 --> 00:22:35.139 with him. 00:22:35.279 --> 00:22:36.160 And now he's a little 00:22:36.160 --> 00:22:37.059 bit nervous about 00:22:37.059 --> 00:22:38.200 that being a superstitious 00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:38.599 man. 00:22:38.720 --> 00:22:39.579 And he's a little bit 00:22:39.579 --> 00:22:40.559 nervous about condemning 00:22:40.559 --> 00:22:40.920 Jesus. 00:22:41.259 --> 00:22:42.039 And then on the other 00:22:42.039 --> 00:22:42.319 hand, 00:22:42.579 --> 00:22:43.799 he has a criminal 00:22:43.799 --> 00:22:44.799 that he really 00:22:44.799 --> 00:22:45.859 wants to see dead 00:22:45.859 --> 00:22:47.980 because this criminal's 00:22:47.980 --> 00:22:48.579 main objective 00:22:48.579 --> 00:22:50.500 is to kill him 00:22:50.500 --> 00:22:51.079 instead. 00:22:51.079 --> 00:22:51.319 dead. 00:22:52.379 --> 00:22:53.579 So he doesn't 00:22:53.579 --> 00:22:54.059 want to condemn 00:22:54.059 --> 00:22:54.519 Jesus, 00:22:54.699 --> 00:22:55.500 but he doesn't 00:22:55.500 --> 00:22:56.119 want to release 00:22:56.119 --> 00:22:58.059 Barabbas either. 00:22:58.839 --> 00:22:59.980 And that creates 00:22:59.980 --> 00:23:00.599 a problem. 00:23:01.899 --> 00:23:02.839 What's certain 00:23:02.839 --> 00:23:03.659 in all of this 00:23:03.659 --> 00:23:06.139 is that Pilate 00:23:06.139 --> 00:23:07.159 publicly affirmed 00:23:07.159 --> 00:23:08.399 Jesus' innocence 00:23:08.399 --> 00:23:09.879 and Barabbas' 00:23:10.039 --> 00:23:10.480 guilt. 00:23:11.019 --> 00:23:12.019 That's the point. 00:23:13.019 --> 00:23:14.099 Being unwilling 00:23:14.099 --> 00:23:16.480 to be just, 00:23:17.279 --> 00:23:18.240 perhaps trying to 00:23:18.240 --> 00:23:18.960 avoid another 00:23:18.960 --> 00:23:20.019 riot among the people, 00:23:20.019 --> 00:23:21.579 he left the decision 00:23:21.579 --> 00:23:22.160 in the hands 00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:22.859 of the crowd. 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:25.180 We aren't told 00:23:25.180 --> 00:23:25.920 exactly how the 00:23:25.920 --> 00:23:26.460 chief priest 00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:27.180 stirred up the 00:23:27.180 --> 00:23:27.559 crowd here. 00:23:27.619 --> 00:23:28.480 That's what we're 00:23:28.480 --> 00:23:29.299 told in verse 10 00:23:29.299 --> 00:23:29.859 happens, 00:23:30.619 --> 00:23:31.440 or in verse 11, 00:23:31.539 --> 00:23:32.019 that the chief 00:23:32.019 --> 00:23:32.859 priest stirred up 00:23:32.859 --> 00:23:33.579 the crowd to have 00:23:33.579 --> 00:23:34.599 him release Barabbas 00:23:34.599 --> 00:23:35.000 instead. 00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:36.960 But it probably 00:23:36.960 --> 00:23:37.859 wasn't very difficult. 00:23:39.259 --> 00:23:39.940 After all, 00:23:40.000 --> 00:23:40.900 the crowd had come 00:23:40.900 --> 00:23:41.819 for Barabbas, 00:23:42.220 --> 00:23:42.779 not Jesus. 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:45.200 There's a good 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:46.139 chance that they 00:23:46.139 --> 00:23:47.099 knew of Jesus, 00:23:47.299 --> 00:23:48.119 especially if they 00:23:48.119 --> 00:23:49.339 were from sort 00:23:49.339 --> 00:23:50.000 of the headquarters 00:23:50.000 --> 00:23:50.759 of the Zealot 00:23:50.759 --> 00:23:51.839 movement in Galilee. 00:23:52.019 --> 00:23:53.079 That's where Jesus 00:23:53.079 --> 00:23:54.059 did most of his 00:23:54.059 --> 00:23:55.180 work and his 00:23:55.180 --> 00:23:55.839 ministry and his 00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:56.259 teaching. 00:23:56.880 --> 00:23:57.660 They probably knew 00:23:57.660 --> 00:23:58.019 of him. 00:23:58.839 --> 00:23:59.519 Perhaps they had 00:23:59.519 --> 00:24:00.400 been impacted on 00:24:00.400 --> 00:24:01.539 some level by him. 00:24:02.500 --> 00:24:03.240 They might have 00:24:03.240 --> 00:24:04.160 enjoyed the miracles 00:24:04.160 --> 00:24:04.980 that he did. 00:24:05.099 --> 00:24:05.799 They might have 00:24:05.799 --> 00:24:06.839 listened to the 00:24:06.839 --> 00:24:07.640 teaching that he 00:24:07.640 --> 00:24:08.519 gave, but in the 00:24:08.519 --> 00:24:10.839 end, Jesus wasn't 00:24:10.839 --> 00:24:11.960 the kind of Messiah 00:24:11.960 --> 00:24:12.759 that the crowd 00:24:12.759 --> 00:24:13.220 wanted. 00:24:14.480 --> 00:24:15.460 Barabbas was. 00:24:16.460 --> 00:24:17.200 Do you see that? 00:24:17.200 --> 00:24:20.039 Jesus comes as the 00:24:20.039 --> 00:24:20.740 true Messiah. 00:24:21.220 --> 00:24:22.080 The crowd doesn't 00:24:22.080 --> 00:24:22.559 want him. 00:24:23.120 --> 00:24:23.759 He doesn't meet 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:24.740 their expectations. 00:24:25.620 --> 00:24:26.420 On the other 00:24:26.420 --> 00:24:28.080 hand, is Barabbas, 00:24:28.740 --> 00:24:29.960 the sinful man. 00:24:30.620 --> 00:24:31.420 Well, now, Barabbas, 00:24:31.480 --> 00:24:32.140 that's the kind of 00:24:32.140 --> 00:24:33.100 guy we want leading 00:24:33.100 --> 00:24:34.039 us at this point. 00:24:34.299 --> 00:24:35.220 That's the kind of 00:24:35.220 --> 00:24:37.000 guy we want 00:24:37.000 --> 00:24:38.680 calling the shots. 00:24:38.680 --> 00:24:41.160 though the stories 00:24:41.160 --> 00:24:41.660 of the Lord 00:24:41.660 --> 00:24:42.340 entertained them 00:24:42.340 --> 00:24:42.799 perhaps. 00:24:43.460 --> 00:24:43.880 They weren't 00:24:43.880 --> 00:24:44.460 interested in 00:24:44.460 --> 00:24:45.080 someone whose 00:24:45.080 --> 00:24:46.580 agenda didn't 00:24:46.580 --> 00:24:47.380 match their own. 00:24:48.080 --> 00:24:48.779 And again, things 00:24:48.779 --> 00:24:49.560 haven't changed very 00:24:49.560 --> 00:24:50.160 much for people 00:24:50.160 --> 00:24:50.560 today. 00:24:52.039 --> 00:24:52.940 They're happy to 00:24:52.940 --> 00:24:53.460 hear about the 00:24:53.460 --> 00:24:54.279 incredible things 00:24:54.279 --> 00:24:55.279 that Jesus did. 00:24:56.160 --> 00:24:57.100 They're happy to 00:24:57.100 --> 00:24:58.600 listen to some of 00:24:58.600 --> 00:24:59.480 the stories that he 00:24:59.480 --> 00:25:00.519 told, but they're 00:25:00.519 --> 00:25:01.900 not interested in a 00:25:01.900 --> 00:25:03.440 Messiah who calls 00:25:03.440 --> 00:25:04.400 them to abandon 00:25:04.400 --> 00:25:06.060 their ambitions, to 00:25:06.060 --> 00:25:06.920 repent of their 00:25:06.920 --> 00:25:08.600 sin, and to follow 00:25:08.599 --> 00:25:10.119 him instead. 00:25:11.859 --> 00:25:12.619 That's where the 00:25:12.619 --> 00:25:13.359 crowd is. 00:25:14.019 --> 00:25:14.839 Not very far off 00:25:14.839 --> 00:25:15.919 from where the 00:25:15.919 --> 00:25:16.779 Sanhedrin is. 00:25:17.559 --> 00:25:18.079 Maybe it's not 00:25:18.079 --> 00:25:18.799 very far off from 00:25:18.799 --> 00:25:19.500 where you are. 00:25:22.099 --> 00:25:22.799 But do you see the 00:25:22.799 --> 00:25:23.939 reality of substitution 00:25:23.939 --> 00:25:24.699 here in these 00:25:24.699 --> 00:25:25.059 verses? 00:25:26.659 --> 00:25:27.299 Barabbas was 00:25:27.299 --> 00:25:27.699 guilty. 00:25:29.119 --> 00:25:29.779 Jesus was 00:25:29.779 --> 00:25:30.240 condemned. 00:25:31.579 --> 00:25:32.339 He quite literally 00:25:32.339 --> 00:25:32.919 became the 00:25:32.919 --> 00:25:34.919 substitute for 00:25:34.919 --> 00:25:35.519 Barabbas. 00:25:36.919 --> 00:25:37.959 And what we find 00:25:37.960 --> 00:25:39.279 happening here in 00:25:39.279 --> 00:25:41.579 Mark chapter 15 is 00:25:41.579 --> 00:25:42.840 Jesus being the 00:25:42.840 --> 00:25:44.160 fulfillment of the 00:25:44.160 --> 00:25:45.299 Leviticus 16 00:25:45.299 --> 00:25:46.420 scapegoat. 00:25:48.120 --> 00:25:49.460 Barabbas is the 00:25:49.460 --> 00:25:50.140 guilty one. 00:25:50.920 --> 00:25:52.340 But in this moment, 00:25:52.460 --> 00:25:53.160 the sins of 00:25:53.160 --> 00:25:54.880 Barabbas by Pilate 00:25:54.880 --> 00:25:55.799 and the Jews and the 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.480 crowd are being 00:25:56.480 --> 00:25:57.740 transferred over to 00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:58.640 the innocent one, 00:25:58.900 --> 00:25:59.840 the guiltless one, 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:00.400 Jesus. 00:26:00.799 --> 00:26:01.920 And Jesus is the 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:02.680 one who's going to 00:26:02.680 --> 00:26:03.180 be condemned. 00:26:03.819 --> 00:26:04.819 Jesus is the one 00:26:04.819 --> 00:26:05.299 who's going to be 00:26:05.299 --> 00:26:05.920 put to death. 00:26:05.920 --> 00:26:07.279 Jesus is the one 00:26:07.279 --> 00:26:07.740 who's going to 00:26:07.740 --> 00:26:09.160 suffer the alienation 00:26:09.160 --> 00:26:10.480 and the shame and 00:26:10.480 --> 00:26:11.480 the mockery that 00:26:11.480 --> 00:26:13.340 Barabbas was actually 00:26:13.340 --> 00:26:14.380 deserving of. 00:26:14.620 --> 00:26:15.700 And he becomes the 00:26:15.700 --> 00:26:16.960 scapegoat in that 00:26:16.960 --> 00:26:17.920 moment. 00:26:18.220 --> 00:26:19.820 He becomes the 00:26:19.820 --> 00:26:20.320 substitute. 00:26:21.080 --> 00:26:21.820 And the significance 00:26:21.820 --> 00:26:23.060 of this picture here, 00:26:23.360 --> 00:26:23.779 listen, 00:26:24.940 --> 00:26:26.080 is that we, 00:26:27.120 --> 00:26:27.880 you and me, 00:26:28.680 --> 00:26:29.779 each one of us, 00:26:30.539 --> 00:26:32.060 we are Barabbas. 00:26:32.059 --> 00:26:35.220 We're the guilty 00:26:35.220 --> 00:26:35.659 ones. 00:26:36.240 --> 00:26:37.359 And because of our 00:26:37.359 --> 00:26:38.440 sin, we deserve 00:26:38.440 --> 00:26:38.980 death. 00:26:39.579 --> 00:26:41.279 We deserve alienation 00:26:41.279 --> 00:26:42.000 from God. 00:26:42.179 --> 00:26:43.519 But Jesus, the 00:26:43.519 --> 00:26:44.839 righteous one, the 00:26:44.839 --> 00:26:45.819 sinless one, the 00:26:45.819 --> 00:26:46.659 guiltless one, has 00:26:46.659 --> 00:26:48.500 become our scapegoat. 00:26:48.700 --> 00:26:49.759 He is our 00:26:49.759 --> 00:26:51.039 substitute. 00:26:51.720 --> 00:26:52.419 And again, in 00:26:52.419 --> 00:26:53.919 Isaiah 53, 6, we 00:26:53.919 --> 00:26:54.319 see it. 00:26:54.659 --> 00:26:56.599 All we, like sheep, 00:26:56.819 --> 00:26:57.859 have gone astray. 00:26:58.539 --> 00:26:59.940 We have turned 00:26:59.940 --> 00:27:01.460 everyone to his own 00:27:01.460 --> 00:27:01.839 way. 00:27:02.059 --> 00:27:03.859 And the Lord, 00:27:04.279 --> 00:27:06.019 Yahweh, has laid 00:27:06.019 --> 00:27:07.940 on him, laid on 00:27:07.940 --> 00:27:09.819 Jesus, the 00:27:09.819 --> 00:27:10.799 iniquity of us 00:27:10.799 --> 00:27:11.200 all. 00:27:11.799 --> 00:27:12.759 We're the ones who 00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:13.079 sin. 00:27:13.279 --> 00:27:14.559 We're the ones who 00:27:14.559 --> 00:27:15.139 are guilty. 00:27:15.339 --> 00:27:16.619 But God has laid 00:27:16.619 --> 00:27:18.019 our guilt on 00:27:18.019 --> 00:27:18.559 Jesus. 00:27:18.940 --> 00:27:20.399 He has taken our 00:27:20.399 --> 00:27:21.359 place. 00:27:21.940 --> 00:27:22.599 And we see it 00:27:22.599 --> 00:27:23.599 unfolding in the 00:27:23.599 --> 00:27:24.419 narrative here with 00:27:24.419 --> 00:27:25.000 Pilate and 00:27:25.000 --> 00:27:25.740 Barabbas. 00:27:26.720 --> 00:27:27.259 So we see 00:27:27.259 --> 00:27:28.019 interrogation. 00:27:28.139 --> 00:27:28.480 We see 00:27:28.480 --> 00:27:29.299 substitution. 00:27:29.299 --> 00:27:30.579 And finally, we see 00:27:30.579 --> 00:27:31.299 condemnation. 00:27:32.059 --> 00:27:33.720 condemnation. 00:27:34.359 --> 00:27:35.599 Look at verse 12. 00:27:36.779 --> 00:27:37.700 Pilate again said 00:27:37.700 --> 00:27:38.159 to them, 00:27:38.700 --> 00:27:40.460 then what shall I 00:27:40.460 --> 00:27:41.200 do with the man you 00:27:41.200 --> 00:27:41.859 call king of the 00:27:41.859 --> 00:27:42.240 Jews? 00:27:43.519 --> 00:27:44.559 And they cried out 00:27:44.559 --> 00:27:47.159 again, crucify him. 00:27:48.940 --> 00:27:49.799 Now that escalated 00:27:49.799 --> 00:27:50.179 quickly. 00:27:50.879 --> 00:27:51.859 They're not calling 00:27:51.859 --> 00:27:53.299 for Jesus to be 00:27:53.299 --> 00:27:56.559 imprisoned or just 00:27:56.559 --> 00:27:57.099 punished. 00:27:57.099 --> 00:27:58.879 the chief priests 00:27:58.879 --> 00:28:00.119 have actually stirred 00:28:00.119 --> 00:28:00.859 up the crowd to 00:28:00.859 --> 00:28:01.859 call for his death 00:28:01.859 --> 00:28:02.599 now. 00:28:03.599 --> 00:28:04.679 And Pilate said 00:28:04.679 --> 00:28:05.339 to them again, 00:28:05.399 --> 00:28:06.099 affirming his 00:28:06.099 --> 00:28:07.599 innocence, why? 00:28:08.879 --> 00:28:10.079 What evil has he 00:28:10.079 --> 00:28:10.419 done? 00:28:12.079 --> 00:28:13.339 But they shouted 00:28:13.339 --> 00:28:14.000 all the more, 00:28:14.399 --> 00:28:16.319 crucify him, 00:28:16.879 --> 00:28:18.759 crucify him. 00:28:18.759 --> 00:28:21.579 So Pilate, 00:28:21.660 --> 00:28:22.660 wishing to satisfy 00:28:22.660 --> 00:28:23.319 the crowd, 00:28:24.019 --> 00:28:24.940 released for them 00:28:24.940 --> 00:28:26.079 Barabbas, 00:28:26.619 --> 00:28:27.460 and having 00:28:27.460 --> 00:28:28.660 scourged Jesus, 00:28:29.500 --> 00:28:30.660 he delivered him 00:28:30.660 --> 00:28:32.660 to be crucified. 00:28:35.299 --> 00:28:36.400 The condemnation of 00:28:36.400 --> 00:28:37.099 Jesus didn't 00:28:37.099 --> 00:28:37.799 originate with 00:28:37.799 --> 00:28:38.220 Pilate. 00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:39.599 It originated with 00:28:39.599 --> 00:28:40.180 the Jews. 00:28:42.259 --> 00:28:43.200 Pilate's reluctance 00:28:43.200 --> 00:28:43.680 here, it doesn't 00:28:43.680 --> 00:28:44.759 absolve him of guilt. 00:28:45.220 --> 00:28:46.480 He's still guilty for 00:28:46.480 --> 00:28:47.000 what he did. 00:28:47.000 --> 00:28:48.519 But the text 00:28:48.519 --> 00:28:50.220 indicates that had 00:28:50.220 --> 00:28:51.119 it been left to 00:28:51.119 --> 00:28:52.079 Pilate alone, 00:28:53.119 --> 00:28:54.039 Jesus probably 00:28:54.039 --> 00:28:54.759 wouldn't have been 00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:55.700 sentenced to death. 00:28:57.079 --> 00:28:58.099 It was Jesus' 00:28:58.359 --> 00:29:00.460 own people who 00:29:00.460 --> 00:29:01.400 pushed so hard 00:29:01.400 --> 00:29:02.319 for his execution. 00:29:03.480 --> 00:29:04.539 Reminds us of 00:29:04.539 --> 00:29:05.940 John chapter 1. 00:29:06.920 --> 00:29:07.559 He was in the 00:29:07.559 --> 00:29:09.119 world, the world 00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:09.799 was made through 00:29:09.799 --> 00:29:11.480 him, yet the 00:29:11.480 --> 00:29:12.240 world did not 00:29:12.240 --> 00:29:12.900 know him. 00:29:14.019 --> 00:29:14.940 He came to 00:29:14.940 --> 00:29:16.779 his own, but 00:29:16.779 --> 00:29:18.039 his own did 00:29:18.039 --> 00:29:19.119 not receive 00:29:19.119 --> 00:29:19.539 him. 00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:21.879 In Acts chapter 00:29:21.879 --> 00:29:23.180 2, on the day 00:29:23.180 --> 00:29:24.200 of Pentecost, Peter 00:29:24.200 --> 00:29:24.980 preaches and he 00:29:24.980 --> 00:29:25.879 says this, men of 00:29:25.879 --> 00:29:26.940 Israel, hear these 00:29:26.940 --> 00:29:28.099 words, Jesus of 00:29:28.099 --> 00:29:30.420 Nazareth, delivered 00:29:30.420 --> 00:29:31.500 up according to the 00:29:31.500 --> 00:29:32.539 definite plan and 00:29:32.539 --> 00:29:33.180 foreknowledge of 00:29:33.180 --> 00:29:33.480 God. 00:29:33.899 --> 00:29:36.440 You crucified, you 00:29:36.440 --> 00:29:38.599 crucified, and killed 00:29:38.599 --> 00:29:39.639 by the hands of 00:29:39.639 --> 00:29:41.500 lawless men, that 00:29:41.500 --> 00:29:42.899 being the Romans. 00:29:42.900 --> 00:29:43.220 God's. 00:29:44.220 --> 00:29:45.400 Now, was it out of 00:29:45.400 --> 00:29:47.580 hatred for Jesus, or 00:29:47.580 --> 00:29:49.019 was it love for 00:29:49.019 --> 00:29:50.720 Barabbas that the 00:29:50.720 --> 00:29:51.620 people cried for 00:29:51.620 --> 00:29:52.360 Jesus to be 00:29:52.360 --> 00:29:52.740 condemned? 00:29:53.660 --> 00:29:54.320 It was both. 00:29:55.660 --> 00:29:57.040 The chief priest 00:29:57.040 --> 00:29:57.780 condemned him 00:29:57.780 --> 00:29:58.620 hatefully. 00:29:59.280 --> 00:30:00.759 The crowd condemned 00:30:00.759 --> 00:30:02.400 him ignorantly. 00:30:02.400 --> 00:30:04.620 But in the end, it 00:30:04.620 --> 00:30:04.980 doesn't really 00:30:04.980 --> 00:30:06.940 matter, because they 00:30:06.940 --> 00:30:07.900 all ultimately 00:30:07.900 --> 00:30:08.880 rejected the 00:30:08.880 --> 00:30:10.160 Messiah, the 00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:10.900 Son of God. 00:30:11.360 --> 00:30:12.360 And such is the 00:30:12.360 --> 00:30:13.680 case with those who 00:30:13.680 --> 00:30:15.380 reject Jesus still. 00:30:16.820 --> 00:30:18.120 Some despise the 00:30:18.120 --> 00:30:19.140 very message of the 00:30:19.140 --> 00:30:19.420 gospel. 00:30:19.540 --> 00:30:21.000 They despise Jesus 00:30:21.000 --> 00:30:21.540 himself. 00:30:21.660 --> 00:30:22.640 Their rejection of 00:30:22.640 --> 00:30:23.400 him is because of 00:30:23.400 --> 00:30:24.640 their hate for him. 00:30:24.700 --> 00:30:25.240 But then there's 00:30:25.240 --> 00:30:26.600 others who reject 00:30:26.600 --> 00:30:28.060 him ignorantly. 00:30:29.060 --> 00:30:29.860 Ignorantly just 00:30:29.860 --> 00:30:30.640 because they love 00:30:30.640 --> 00:30:31.660 other things more. 00:30:31.660 --> 00:30:32.720 They want other 00:30:32.720 --> 00:30:33.660 things more than 00:30:33.660 --> 00:30:34.900 what they want 00:30:34.900 --> 00:30:35.540 Jesus. 00:30:35.700 --> 00:30:36.220 But whether you 00:30:36.220 --> 00:30:37.460 reject Jesus out 00:30:37.460 --> 00:30:38.540 of hate, or whether 00:30:38.540 --> 00:30:39.580 you reject him out 00:30:39.580 --> 00:30:40.700 of ignorance, you 00:30:40.700 --> 00:30:41.880 will face the same 00:30:41.880 --> 00:30:43.620 eternal judgment for 00:30:43.620 --> 00:30:44.259 your sin. 00:30:45.840 --> 00:30:46.640 Whether your 00:30:46.640 --> 00:30:47.700 position is outright 00:30:47.700 --> 00:30:49.279 hate or general 00:30:49.279 --> 00:30:50.380 indifference, the 00:30:50.380 --> 00:30:51.420 result is the same. 00:30:52.320 --> 00:30:53.140 And it was the same 00:30:53.140 --> 00:30:54.000 for the chief priest 00:30:54.000 --> 00:30:54.600 and the ignorant 00:30:54.600 --> 00:30:55.120 crowd. 00:30:55.400 --> 00:30:56.380 It was also the 00:30:56.380 --> 00:30:57.240 same for Pilate. 00:30:57.240 --> 00:31:05.579 Pilate insists he 00:31:05.579 --> 00:31:06.380 could find no fault 00:31:06.380 --> 00:31:06.859 in the Lord. 00:31:07.720 --> 00:31:08.559 The people didn't 00:31:08.559 --> 00:31:09.519 even try to justify 00:31:09.519 --> 00:31:10.279 a charge. 00:31:11.079 --> 00:31:12.480 He says, what has he 00:31:12.480 --> 00:31:12.839 done? 00:31:14.380 --> 00:31:15.680 They didn't say, well, 00:31:15.839 --> 00:31:16.779 he did this and this 00:31:16.779 --> 00:31:17.120 and this. 00:31:17.180 --> 00:31:17.900 No, they just said, 00:31:17.980 --> 00:31:18.799 crucify him. 00:31:19.319 --> 00:31:20.220 We don't care what 00:31:20.220 --> 00:31:20.980 he's done or if he's 00:31:20.980 --> 00:31:21.420 done anything. 00:31:21.839 --> 00:31:23.579 Just crucify him and 00:31:23.579 --> 00:31:24.640 give us Barabbas 00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:25.840 instead. 00:31:28.780 --> 00:31:29.740 Cried for his 00:31:29.740 --> 00:31:32.200 crucifixion, punishment 00:31:32.200 --> 00:31:33.560 reserved for the most 00:31:33.560 --> 00:31:35.360 dangerous and notorious 00:31:35.360 --> 00:31:36.000 criminals. 00:31:37.500 --> 00:31:38.980 So that Jesus, the 00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:41.200 sinless one, was 00:31:41.200 --> 00:31:43.180 condemned to suffer as 00:31:43.180 --> 00:31:44.160 if he was the worst 00:31:44.160 --> 00:31:46.580 kind of human that they 00:31:46.580 --> 00:31:47.220 could find. 00:31:47.940 --> 00:31:49.400 Which again reminds us 00:31:49.400 --> 00:31:50.920 of Isaiah 53, 9. 00:31:51.800 --> 00:31:52.940 They made his grave 00:31:52.940 --> 00:31:55.120 with the wicked and 00:31:55.120 --> 00:31:56.039 with the rich man in 00:31:56.039 --> 00:31:56.539 his death. 00:31:57.059 --> 00:31:58.259 Although he had done 00:31:58.259 --> 00:32:00.660 no violence and there 00:32:00.660 --> 00:32:03.340 was no deceit in his 00:32:03.340 --> 00:32:03.680 mouth. 00:32:05.320 --> 00:32:06.759 Peter writes about this 00:32:06.759 --> 00:32:07.960 in 1 Peter 2. 00:32:08.220 --> 00:32:10.440 He committed no sin. 00:32:11.400 --> 00:32:12.580 Neither was deceit 00:32:12.580 --> 00:32:14.519 found in his mouth. 00:32:15.019 --> 00:32:16.740 2 Corinthians 5, 21. 00:32:17.000 --> 00:32:18.039 Paul addresses this. 00:32:18.039 --> 00:32:20.420 For our sake, he made 00:32:20.420 --> 00:32:22.860 him to be sin who knew 00:32:22.860 --> 00:32:25.940 no sin so that in him 00:32:25.940 --> 00:32:28.380 we might become the 00:32:28.380 --> 00:32:29.279 righteousness of God. 00:32:29.400 --> 00:32:30.539 Again, there's a 00:32:30.539 --> 00:32:31.860 transaction, a 00:32:31.860 --> 00:32:32.360 substitution. 00:32:33.100 --> 00:32:33.600 With Jesus' 00:32:33.880 --> 00:32:35.779 condemnation, we are 00:32:35.779 --> 00:32:36.340 made free. 00:32:37.940 --> 00:32:41.019 With his death, we 00:32:41.019 --> 00:32:41.980 receive life. 00:32:44.140 --> 00:32:45.200 Barabbas was released. 00:32:45.200 --> 00:32:48.900 Jesus was led to the 00:32:48.900 --> 00:32:49.220 slaughter. 00:32:51.220 --> 00:32:52.360 We sing about this, 00:32:52.440 --> 00:32:52.799 don't we? 00:32:54.299 --> 00:32:55.539 Bearing shame and 00:32:55.539 --> 00:32:58.360 scoffing rude, in my 00:32:58.360 --> 00:33:00.180 place condemned he 00:33:00.180 --> 00:33:00.600 stood. 00:33:02.279 --> 00:33:04.480 Sealed my pardon with 00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:05.200 his blood. 00:33:06.519 --> 00:33:06.940 Hallelujah. 00:33:08.200 --> 00:33:09.180 What a savior. 00:33:11.680 --> 00:33:13.160 Sinclair Ferguson said 00:33:13.160 --> 00:33:14.920 without knowing him, the 00:33:14.920 --> 00:33:16.000 religious leaders and 00:33:16.000 --> 00:33:17.460 Pilate and Barabbas were 00:33:17.460 --> 00:33:19.860 all part of a tapestry of 00:33:19.860 --> 00:33:22.320 grace which God was 00:33:22.320 --> 00:33:23.880 weaving for sinners. 00:33:25.279 --> 00:33:26.600 That's a great way to put 00:33:26.600 --> 00:33:26.740 it. 00:33:29.660 --> 00:33:31.080 I don't know if I have 00:33:31.080 --> 00:33:32.279 done an adequate job 00:33:32.279 --> 00:33:33.740 explaining why all of this 00:33:33.740 --> 00:33:35.140 matters or why it should 00:33:35.140 --> 00:33:36.480 matter to you and to me. 00:33:38.740 --> 00:33:40.300 I did have the privilege this 00:33:40.300 --> 00:33:41.700 past Thursday to teach the 00:33:41.700 --> 00:33:43.279 lesson for the kids 00:33:43.279 --> 00:33:44.039 adventure club. 00:33:44.140 --> 00:33:44.980 I don't get to do that 00:33:44.980 --> 00:33:45.880 very often. 00:33:46.059 --> 00:33:47.200 Usually it's Allah and 00:33:47.200 --> 00:33:48.440 Ashley and Kyle that do 00:33:48.440 --> 00:33:48.720 that. 00:33:49.880 --> 00:33:51.200 This week I got to do it 00:33:51.200 --> 00:33:52.400 and the lesson that we 00:33:52.400 --> 00:33:54.620 were covering was 00:33:54.620 --> 00:33:56.319 titled Sin Brings Death. 00:33:57.759 --> 00:33:58.960 And we walked through this 00:33:58.960 --> 00:34:00.340 gospel message together with 00:34:00.340 --> 00:34:02.680 the kids as we close this 00:34:02.680 --> 00:34:02.880 morning. 00:34:03.000 --> 00:34:04.059 Maybe these bullet points 00:34:04.059 --> 00:34:06.120 would be helpful to show 00:34:06.120 --> 00:34:08.800 you why this text matters. 00:34:08.800 --> 00:34:11.720 first thing we told the kids 00:34:11.720 --> 00:34:13.600 Thursday is that God 00:34:13.600 --> 00:34:14.820 created you to live. 00:34:16.380 --> 00:34:17.900 God created you to live. 00:34:19.100 --> 00:34:20.539 Do you know why we dread 00:34:20.539 --> 00:34:21.480 death so much? 00:34:22.200 --> 00:34:23.100 You know why we dread the 00:34:23.100 --> 00:34:24.200 mystery of it so much? 00:34:24.260 --> 00:34:25.320 Why we're so afraid? 00:34:25.560 --> 00:34:26.640 Even those of us who are 00:34:26.640 --> 00:34:28.220 believers afraid of at least 00:34:28.220 --> 00:34:29.780 the process of it taking 00:34:29.780 --> 00:34:30.320 place. 00:34:30.860 --> 00:34:32.600 Because we weren't created to 00:34:32.600 --> 00:34:32.980 die. 00:34:34.240 --> 00:34:35.740 We're created to live. 00:34:35.739 --> 00:34:38.379 Genesis 2 says that God 00:34:38.379 --> 00:34:39.979 formed man out of the dust 00:34:39.979 --> 00:34:40.819 of the ground and then he 00:34:40.819 --> 00:34:42.419 breathed the breath of life 00:34:42.419 --> 00:34:44.459 into Adam's nostrils and man 00:34:44.459 --> 00:34:46.099 became a living creature. 00:34:46.519 --> 00:34:48.019 God didn't create us to die. 00:34:48.239 --> 00:34:49.619 He didn't give Adam an 00:34:49.619 --> 00:34:50.019 expiration. 00:34:50.719 --> 00:34:52.219 He created us to live. 00:34:53.419 --> 00:34:55.599 So death is not meant to be 00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:56.339 natural. 00:34:57.139 --> 00:34:58.399 And we shouldn't treat it as 00:34:58.399 --> 00:34:58.799 such. 00:35:00.639 --> 00:35:01.979 Death is destruction. 00:35:01.980 --> 00:35:05.559 It's an aberration from God's 00:35:05.559 --> 00:35:06.019 intention. 00:35:06.860 --> 00:35:08.119 God created us to live. 00:35:09.619 --> 00:35:11.539 Sin of which we are all 00:35:11.539 --> 00:35:13.860 guilty is what brings death. 00:35:15.159 --> 00:35:17.039 Breaking God's law, going 00:35:17.039 --> 00:35:18.659 against the purpose that the 00:35:18.659 --> 00:35:20.940 creator has given us causes us 00:35:20.940 --> 00:35:23.380 to lose the benefit that he 00:35:23.380 --> 00:35:25.440 gives in creating us. 00:35:25.760 --> 00:35:27.059 And we're all guilty. 00:35:27.860 --> 00:35:30.519 We're not only guilty in Adam, 00:35:30.519 --> 00:35:33.059 we're guilty like Adam. 00:35:34.159 --> 00:35:36.860 Romans 3 tells us that we've all 00:35:36.860 --> 00:35:37.380 sinned. 00:35:38.599 --> 00:35:40.900 Romans 6 tells us that the wages 00:35:40.900 --> 00:35:42.599 of that sin is death. 00:35:42.739 --> 00:35:44.659 So God creates us to live, but our 00:35:44.659 --> 00:35:46.599 sin is what brings death. 00:35:46.960 --> 00:35:48.659 But then here's the awesome thing. 00:35:49.340 --> 00:35:51.860 The story of the Bible, the 00:35:51.860 --> 00:35:53.159 overarching story of the whole 00:35:53.159 --> 00:35:55.840 thing, is about God's 00:35:55.840 --> 00:35:59.960 determination to restore and 00:35:59.960 --> 00:36:03.039 reconcile us to himself in order 00:36:03.039 --> 00:36:04.840 that he might give us life 00:36:04.840 --> 00:36:05.840 again. 00:36:06.539 --> 00:36:07.760 That's the whole story of the 00:36:07.760 --> 00:36:08.099 Bible. 00:36:08.619 --> 00:36:09.800 And as you go through the Old 00:36:09.800 --> 00:36:11.159 Testament, you see it in regards 00:36:11.159 --> 00:36:13.440 to covenant promises that God made 00:36:13.440 --> 00:36:14.220 to his people. 00:36:14.360 --> 00:36:15.760 You see it in the fulfillment of 00:36:15.760 --> 00:36:17.639 those promises despite their 00:36:17.639 --> 00:36:19.539 rejection of him over and over 00:36:19.539 --> 00:36:19.980 and over. 00:36:20.119 --> 00:36:21.920 And finally, you see it in the 00:36:21.920 --> 00:36:24.280 person of Jesus Christ, God's 00:36:24.280 --> 00:36:27.980 own son, who is himself 00:36:27.980 --> 00:36:29.100 life. 00:36:30.740 --> 00:36:33.640 John 1 says, in him was life, and 00:36:33.640 --> 00:36:35.220 the life was the light of men. 00:36:36.160 --> 00:36:38.480 John 14, Jesus himself said, you 00:36:38.480 --> 00:36:40.820 know the verse, I am the way, the 00:36:40.820 --> 00:36:42.420 truth, and the life. 00:36:42.880 --> 00:36:45.019 No man comes back to the father, 00:36:45.120 --> 00:36:46.880 which was the place Adam had before 00:36:46.880 --> 00:36:47.360 his sin. 00:36:47.580 --> 00:36:49.220 No one comes back to the father 00:36:49.220 --> 00:36:50.320 unless it's through me. 00:36:50.519 --> 00:36:52.000 I'm the one that has life. 00:36:52.000 --> 00:36:53.679 So God creates us to live. 00:36:54.119 --> 00:36:56.179 Sin brings our death. 00:36:56.539 --> 00:36:59.039 And then God relentlessly pursues 00:36:59.039 --> 00:37:01.300 us in his perfection and in his 00:37:01.300 --> 00:37:04.000 will to restore us back to life. 00:37:04.119 --> 00:37:05.659 And he does that through the 00:37:05.659 --> 00:37:08.380 person of his son, Jesus Christ, 00:37:08.519 --> 00:37:10.360 who when Jesus stands before 00:37:10.360 --> 00:37:12.599 Pilate here is condemned in the 00:37:12.599 --> 00:37:14.840 place of Barabbas in the same way 00:37:14.840 --> 00:37:17.099 that he is condemned in your place 00:37:17.099 --> 00:37:18.760 and in my place as well. 00:37:19.659 --> 00:37:21.980 And then Jesus says, after paying 00:37:21.980 --> 00:37:24.559 our cost for sin on the cross, 00:37:24.679 --> 00:37:26.260 after raising from the dead, 00:37:26.400 --> 00:37:28.079 proving that he actually has power 00:37:28.079 --> 00:37:30.960 of life over death, Jesus says 00:37:30.960 --> 00:37:33.840 that whoever repents and trusts and 00:37:33.840 --> 00:37:36.900 follows me for eternal life will 00:37:36.900 --> 00:37:37.980 receive it. 00:37:38.460 --> 00:37:41.360 That the restoration to life that sin 00:37:41.360 --> 00:37:43.980 has destroyed is brought only through 00:37:43.980 --> 00:37:44.960 Jesus Christ. 00:37:45.440 --> 00:37:47.019 Jesus himself says it. 00:37:47.219 --> 00:37:49.900 I am the resurrection and the life. 00:37:49.900 --> 00:37:52.320 Whoever believes in me, Jesus said, 00:37:52.480 --> 00:37:55.680 though he die, yet shall he live. 00:37:56.340 --> 00:37:58.940 And everyone who lives and believes in 00:37:58.940 --> 00:38:01.019 me shall never die. 00:38:01.099 --> 00:38:02.000 That's John 11. 00:38:02.539 --> 00:38:03.559 What's he talking about? 00:38:04.019 --> 00:38:05.380 Spiritual life. 00:38:05.940 --> 00:38:08.200 Of course, we'll all find our physical 00:38:08.200 --> 00:38:08.960 expiration. 00:38:09.320 --> 00:38:10.740 But what happens beyond that? 00:38:11.220 --> 00:38:13.559 For those who follow Christ alone, 00:38:13.760 --> 00:38:15.900 they receive eternal life, 00:38:15.900 --> 00:38:18.420 reconciliation with God, 00:38:19.119 --> 00:38:20.440 forgiveness of sin, 00:38:21.079 --> 00:38:22.460 eternal peace, 00:38:23.579 --> 00:38:24.079 comfort, 00:38:25.619 --> 00:38:26.260 joy. 00:38:28.920 --> 00:38:30.960 And no one who doesn't 00:38:30.960 --> 00:38:33.539 will receive that same thing. 00:38:34.599 --> 00:38:36.660 That's why this text matters. 00:38:36.659 --> 00:38:43.059 It proves to us Jesus's innocence as 00:38:43.059 --> 00:38:44.259 well as his substitution. 00:38:45.779 --> 00:38:48.039 This is at the heart of that tapestry 00:38:48.039 --> 00:38:50.239 of grace that Sinclair wrote about. 00:38:51.420 --> 00:38:54.259 Jesus willingly laid down his life to 00:38:54.259 --> 00:38:56.059 be condemned in our place. 00:38:57.539 --> 00:38:58.539 We are Barabbas. 00:38:59.199 --> 00:39:01.099 But whoever will believe, 00:39:01.500 --> 00:39:02.379 follow him, 00:39:03.039 --> 00:39:04.420 will be saved. 00:39:04.420 --> 00:39:09.240 There's an old hymn that I love. 00:39:09.940 --> 00:39:12.260 I came across it again last Sunday. 00:39:13.380 --> 00:39:15.139 Maybe we'll sing it one day. 00:39:16.599 --> 00:39:17.440 It's called, 00:39:17.539 --> 00:39:19.260 My Faith Has Found a Resting Place. 00:39:20.159 --> 00:39:21.960 One of the verses says this, 00:39:23.320 --> 00:39:26.200 enough for me that Jesus saves. 00:39:27.200 --> 00:39:29.860 This ends my fear and doubt. 00:39:31.059 --> 00:39:32.360 A sinful soul, 00:39:32.360 --> 00:39:34.480 I come to him. 00:39:35.400 --> 00:39:37.320 He'll never cast me out. 00:39:38.280 --> 00:39:40.000 I need no other argument. 00:39:41.120 --> 00:39:42.660 I need no other plea. 00:39:43.579 --> 00:39:46.579 It is enough that Jesus died 00:39:46.579 --> 00:39:50.000 and that he died for me.