Scripture

“He saved others,”  they scoffed, “but he can’t save himself! So he is the King of the Jews, is he? Let Him come down from the cross right now, and we will believe in him!”

 Observation

The soldiers mock Jesus. They dress him up as a king, with a scarlet robe and a thorny crown. They mock Him and beat Him. Then they take him to Golgotha to be crucified.

They nail Jesus to the cross then gamble for his clothes. They sit around to guard him. A sign is hung above his head that says “Jesus, King of the Jews”

People passing by mock Him and demand He prove His identity by coming down from the cross. The leading priests and teachers of the law join in this mockery. Even the revolutionaries crucified with Jesus ridicule him.

Application

This would be the absolute lowest point for the Son of God. He is abandoned by his friends and mocked by everyone around him. He is treated like dirt at this point.

The Jewish leaders say,” He saved others, but He can’t save Himself.”  They even claim that if he gets off the cross, they will believe. But they have witnessed countless miracles and healings, even people raised from the dead, and it was not enough to convince them. Even when Jesus himself came back from the dead, they would not believe in him.

How hard of heart does a person have to be to reject all of this evidence?

This is a key to understanding people. It is not about signs and wonders, but about the heart. There are people who have experienced miracles, but remain indifferent to the Lord. Others just take a few words of explanation and they receive the Lord with passion and excitement. To those who refuse to believe, nothing will ever be enough proof.

So the Lord laid down His life for all who will receive His grace – even though it seemed a majority would reject Him.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, thank you for enduring the suffering, torment, and abuse of the cross. Thank you that you love me so much! Amen.

Scripture

Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours.” And all the people yelled back, “We will take responsibility for his death – we and our children.”

Observation

Each year the governor releases one prisoner to the crowd. Pilate gives the crowd the choice between Jesus and Barabbas, a notorious criminal.

Pilate’s wife send a message to him, pleading for him to release Jesus, whom she says is innocent.

The crowd calls for Barabbas to be freed and Jesus to be crucified. Pilate then dramatically washes his hands, and says,” I am innocent of this man’s blood.” The crowd calls out that they and their children will take responsibility for His death.

Jesus is sent to be flogged and crucified.

Application

Pilate paints himself as a victim in the dispute over Jesus. He sees that Jesus has committed no crime, but out of fear, he hands Jesus over to be flogged and crucified.

The Jewish leaders and the crowd, on the other hand, call for the blood guilt to be on themselves and their children.

Every single person that has ever lived shares in the guilt over Jesus’ death. We have all sinned and fallen short of God’s standard. It is for this reason that Jesus came and died. Only people who have never sinned are truly free of the guilt over Jesus’ death.

But God graciously forgives all of our sins because of the blood of Jesus. Hallelujah! He is the one who sets is free from sin, once and for all.

Prayer

Thank you Jesus for dying for me. Thank you for your forgiveness. Amen.

Scripture

When Judas, who had betrayed him, realised that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders.

Observation

The priests and Elders take Jesus to Pilate, the Roman governor .

When Judas realises that Jesus is going to die, he is filled with remorse. He takes the payment for his betrayal back to the priests and elders. He tells them “I have betrayed an innocent man.”

Judas throws the coins down in the temple and goes out and hangs himself. The priests pick up the coins, and they decide to buy a Potter’s field to use as a cemetery. This fulfils the prophecy in Zachariah 11:12-13.

Pilate questions Jesus, asking him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”Hhe replies, “You have said it.”

The priests and elders bring their accusations against Jesus, but He makes no response, much to the governor’s surprise.

Application

Judas is filled with remorse, but he does not repent of his sins.

Remorse is about feeling bad for my actions, but not necessarily about seeking God’s forgiveness, nor turning away from sin. Lots of people feel guilt at times, but they do not turn that guilt into repentance. They fail to connect their sin to God’s law and God’s mercy.

If Judas had repented, he would have been forgiven by Jesus. He did not have to hang himself; he could have experienced the abundant life that comes from following Christ.

The contrast with Peter is very clear. Peter denied he even knew Jesus. but he repented, and Jesus welcomed him back into the fold. But for Judas, there was no way back because he did not repent.

Prayer

Jesus, thank you for the assurance that no sin is too big for you to forgive as long as I repent. Amen.