The Crowd:
It was just about time. They wanted blood. His blood. "Free him?! No way! Crucify him, crucify him!" they shouted. "We want Barabbas!" A criminal instead of the Christ. An insurrectionist instead of the Savior. A notorious prisoner instead of the Good Shepherd. "Yes, give us Barabbas!" How could that they reject Jesus? They saw his miracles. They experienced his miracles. They were amazed at his teachings. They recognized he had authority like no other. A week prior many in the crowd worshiped him when he came riding on the colt. They sang praises to him. What changed since then? Who changed since then? Who did not change since then? "Let his blood be on us and our children!", they cried. To make such a statement. To go to such lengths. Why were they willing to make such a statement? What about us? How far do we go? Who and/or what is our Barabbas? Later on some of them would come to confess him. Later on some of them would come to follow him sacrificially. Later on some of them would die for him. Later on some of them would choose him over their Barabbas. Another reason he had to die. He cried for forgiveness on their behalf. On our behalf. Instead of calling down fire from heaven. Instead of calling on angels. He chose to die. Though ridiculed. Though mocked. Though scoffed. Though despised. He demonstrated for us what love is in spite of rejection. In spite of mockery. In spite of being scoffed. In spite of being innocent and given the death sentence. He showed us that the Father's will has greater purpose. He showed us that the Father's will is not popular. He showed us that the Father's will can bring rejection from the crowds. He showed us that the Father's will meant humility. The time of fulfillment was now. The cross just an "inch" away. Sentence to die. No time for turning back. No time for wishful thinking. No time for procrastination.
The Two Criminals:
Beaten. Scourged. Mocked. Ridiculed. Suffered unjustly. Treated as a criminal. Hanging on a cross between two criminals. Known by the company you keep? Huh. Was that how they wanted to portray the Savior? The innocent placed amongst the guilty to appear and be considered as guilty. The trial. The accusations. Now hanging on a cross. A spectacle for all to see. A publicity that all the world, then and since, would hear about. A terrible way to die. Humiliated. Could this be the Savior? Could this really be the Messiah? Why would God allow such a thing to happen? What a foolish way to establish a kingdom? Wasn't there an easier, safer, and better way to save the world? Wasn't there a more humane way? One of the criminals complained, "Hey Jesus, are you really the Christ? If so, why don't you save yourself and us?" How many times have we also asked this question. Sometimes to keep hidden our sins. Sometimes to get us out of trouble. Usually out of desperation. Usually as our last resort. Sometimes with good intentions but with the wrong attitude. More often than not with an earthly perspective than a heavenly/spiritual perspective. Jesus had reason to save himself. He was just. He was God. He was innocent. He was everything the criminals and the crowd were not. He is everything we are not. He could have saved himself. But he was not there for his own purpose. This was not about him. This was not about a temporary cause or promotion or fix. This was about doing the Father's will. This was about fulfilling the Father's purpose and plan of salvation. This was about an eternal and heavenly perspective. This was about bringing the kingdom of heaven to us and to earth. This was about establishing his kingdom in us. We who deserved condemnation and were condemned are no longer. We who should receive the due rewards for our deeds are forgiven. We have been given his righteousness. We the criminals have been set free. He died to save us. We could not save ourselves. He became sin for us. He was treated like a criminal for our sake. It is wonderful for us to say, "Hey Jesus, you are the Christ! Thank you for giving up yourself so we can be saved. Thank you for your sacrifice. Thank you for fulfilling the Father's plan and purpose. Thank you for thinking spiritually, not wishfully. Thank you for keeping an eternal perspective. Thank you for being obedient to the Father's will, instead of procrastinating. Help us all to follow your example."
P.S. The above are sermons 5 and 6 in the series, now completed.
No comments:
Post a Comment