Transcript

For The World So Hated God

Matthew 27:11-32
Sunday, March 27, 2011
Pastor Randy Smith

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Polarizing people. There are certain individuals that are just a lightning rod for controversy. They are the names that you don't drop during a nice dinner conversation unless you want to divide the guests and ruin the evening. These people: you either love them or you hate them.

Jesus Christ was and still is one of those individuals if we choose to ignore the domesticated Jesus preached today, and take what is said on the pages of Scripture. "Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword… A man's enemies will be the members of his household" (Mt. 10:34, 36). Jesus does not accept a partial devotion. Either you are all in or all out. Either He receives "first place" (Col. 1:18) in your life, or you join the ranks that condemn Him as a liar or a lunatic. Fence-sitters are not permitted. Lukewarm faith is rejected. Partial allegiance is repulsive. In His own words, "He who is not with Me is against Me" (Lk. 11:23). Jesus Christ is too great to share your heart with any greater affection than Him.

Many claim to love Jesus Christ today. Possibly they do. But would they still really love Him if they rightly understood who He is and what He demands? If Jesus Christ were to be among us in the flesh as He was in the first century, do you think the majority of those who claim to be "Christians" (that term is used very loosely) would accept Him or reject Him?

Since people are people, I believe the best way to answer that question is to look at how He was received 2,000 years ago - and those folks had an advantage. He came to people just like Himself, people who were of the same culture and cherished the same Bible and claimed to love the same God. Let's see as we return to Matthew how Jesus was received by human culture.

1. WRONGLY ACCUSED (verses 11-14)

First, they wrongly accused Jesus.

It had already been a long night for our Savior. He was arrested the night before in Gethsemane and had already been shuffled back and forth between the trials with Jewish leaders. Eventually as the sun was rising, He found Himself (verse 11) standing before the governor, a man by the name of Pontius Pilate.

Originally the Jewish leaders ginned up the charge of "blasphemy" (Mt. 26:65). They even tried to get Pilate to bring charges against Jesus on that indictment. Yet John in his gospel records Pilate as saying, "Take Him yourselves, and judge Him according to your law." To which the Jews said, "We are not permitted to put anyone to death" (Jn. 18:31). Their motives have been revealed. They wanted Jesus dead, and they wanted someone else to do the dirty work. The Jews realized Pilate would not tangle in their religious affairs, but they did know there was one crime that would definitely ruffle the feathers of the governor. And that crime was a political one, insurrection, rebellion to Rome (Lk. 23:2; Jn. 19:12).

The charge against Jesus is read (verse 11), "Are You the King of the Jews?" barked Pilate. Jesus responds, "It is as you say." Beyond that He goes speechless, despite the onslaught of accusations. There was nothing more for Him to say. The prophet Isaiah predicted this scene, "He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He did not open His mouth; like a lamb that is led to slaughter, and like a sheep that is silent before its shearers, so He did not open His mouth" (Isa. 53:7).

Verse 13, "Then Pilate said to Him, 'Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?'" Verse 14, "And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed."

Pilate was stunned. Was it because he had never witnessed a criminal not plead for his life when he was standing on death row? Of course he didn't know that Jesus was prepared to "give His life as a ransom for many" (Mt. 20:28). Was it because Jesus was accused of starting a revolt, and yet He stood speechless and dignified, and the emotional rage was witnessed more from the opposition? Who were the ones really filled with hate? It reminds me of our encounters at the abortion clinic. We stand in peaceful protest, but the obscenities and hand gestures from the opposition are violent. Of course Pilate didn't realize that the kingship Jesus brought was not of this world (Jn. 18:36). Was it because Pilate was beginning to see the innocence of Jesus? I think he was.

Consider the charges: accusing the Son or Man, the second Person of the Holy Trinity of blasphemy? Could anything be more ridiculous? When examined under the microscope during the Jewish trials, not a single legitimate sin could be detected. In order to be the perfect sacrifice for our sin, Jesus had to be without stain or reproach. The closest scrutiny by His fiercest enemies could not detect a single blemish prompting them to fabricate ridiculous lies.

Why such hatred? Why the desire to see Jesus killed? Verse 18 tells us and Pilate saw right through their smoke screen. "For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over." Pilate was no dummy. He knew the Jews hated Roman occupation. He knew they would never support Rome by turning in one of their own who wanted to upset the Roman machine. He was beginning to smell something fishy about this whole ordeal (see Jn. 19:15).

2. WRONGLY ABANDONED (verses 15-23)

So Jesus was wrongly accused because people were just out to get His blood. Now, second, I want you to see how He was wrongly abandoned.

Pilate is on to the innocence of Jesus, but finds himself in a major dilemma. To let a man off the hook accused of rebellion would not sit well with his boss or set the right example for those under his domain. The Romans wanted peace at all costs and what Pilate feared more than anything was a riot. Yet he had an idea - a way that he might be able to wiggle himself out of the situation. He knew the leaders wouldn't budge, but possibly he could pit the leaders against the people.

Beginning in verse 15, "Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, 'Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?' For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over" (Mt. 27:15-18)

After all it was the Passover celebration. And the Passover did commemorate the time when the Jewish nation as prisoners in Egypt were set free. So it was a tradition for Rome to set free one prisoner during this time. The people were given two choices: Jesus or Barabbas? Barabbas is described in the Gospels as an evil man; a murderer, an insurrectionist and a robber (Lk. 23:25; Jn. 18:40). On the other hand, Jesus healed people, taught to love one's neighbors and fed the multitudes. One cross was prepared, and the people were given a choice as to who would receive the pardon and who would die on this vile instrument of torture.

Now I know you know who the people chose, but I find it remarkable when people use the excuse that the hypocrisy of Christians is the reason they do not accept the faith for themselves. Maybe you have heard the overused statement, "If Christ's people acted more like Christ, maybe I'd become a Christian." Yet here we see the world encountering a perfect Man in Christ Himself, and they are preparing to put him to death.

To Pilate this was a no-brainer. After all, just five days ago the whole town went crazy over Jesus' entry into Jerusalem (Mt. 21:1-11).

Verse 19, "While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, 'Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.'" We don't know if this dream was supernatural, I doubt it was, but rather it is more evidence of Jesus' innocence. In contrast verse 20 provides more evidence for the population's guilt. The masters of manipulation took advantage of the delay (cf. Jn. 7:13; 9:22; 19:38 and Jn. 20:19; Ac. 4:18). "But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death." I can imagine them saying, "What? You guys know what Pilate wants. Are you going to give in to the corrupt governor who has exploited our people? Jesus provides us no hope to overthrow the Romans, but Barabbas does!" Or better put if they were honest, "Jesus sheds light on our sin and exposes the hypocrisy of our false religion."

Beginning in verse 21, "But the governor said to them, 'Which of the two do you want me to release for you?' And they said, 'Barabbas.' Pilate said to them, 'Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?' They all said, 'Crucify Him!' And he said, 'Why, what evil has He done?' But they kept shouting all the more, saying, 'Crucify Him!' (Mt. 27:21-23).

John 1:11, "He came to His own, and those who were His own did not receive Him." Why did the nation as a whole turn from Jesus? Why were they all demanding that this innocent man be crucified as a heinous criminal? Was it simply intimidation and fickle spirits or did they somehow see that Jesus was becoming more of a threat to their freedoms than Barabbas? Did they finally realize what Christ was calling them to and the demands He placed upon those who would follow Him?

You let Barabbas go and he starts another revolution. Simply call in the National Guard and you can stop him. Yet how do you stop Jesus? How do you stop a Man who was shaking the whole Roman Empire without firing a single shot? Barabbas never asked to run your life. Like today, the people preferred tyranny rather than turning control of their lives over to the Prince of Peace (Isa. 9:6).

The times haven't changed. "Get your Jesus out of my face!" And we ask, like Pilate, "What evil has He done" (Mt. 27:23). And if the world could vocalize a response they would say, "I want to live my life my own way." "I want to be the lord of all my decisions and actions." "I want to cherish my sins and idols." "I want to answer only to myself." "And I want to earn my own way into heaven." You can't say that stuff and love Jesus at the same time. Either you need to humbly submit or Jesus needs to be eliminated. In our sinful flesh there is no tranquil coexistence. "Crucify Him!"

3. WRONGLY ABSOLVED (verses 24-26)

Third, Pilate was wrongly absolved.

You know, this man was such a wimp! Rather than doing the right thing and acquitting Jesus, he is now prepared to give Jesus over to be crucified. At first his little trick of exchanging prisoners didn't work and now he seeks to absolve himself from any wrongdoing.

Verse 24, "When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, 'I am innocent of this Man's blood; see to that yourselves.'"Historians say another riot in Pilate's jurisdiction would have probably ended his career. So ironically, Pilate chooses a Jewish custom (Dt. 21:6-7; Psm. 26:6) in an effort to clear himself and give the people what they want. Yet he is guilty and goes down in history as a coward unwilling to do the right thing.

The people willingly accept the guilt. Verse 25, "And all the people said, 'His blood shall be on us and on our children!'"

Verse 26, Barabbas is released. Jesus is scourged. Scourging was a violent whipping whereby small pieces of metal or bones were attached to the end of the leather thongs. As the victim was beaten, often his muscles were lacerated, veins opened and organs slashed. Scourging often resulted in death by itself. Isaiah 53 again, "By His scourging we are healed."

The other Gospels say Pilate made one last attempt to release Jesus hoping the savage beating would satisfy the blood-thirsty crowd, but when they would not be persuaded (Lk. 23:16). "He handed [Jesus] over to be crucified." Isaiah 53, "But He was pierced through for our transgressions" (Isa. 53:5).

4. WRONGLY ABUSED (verses 27-32)

Let me take you to the final point, "wrongly accused."

Pilate gave two orders: flogging and crucifixion. Yet in-between these two heinous acts, the soldiers took matters into their own hands to let Jesus know what they thought about Him as well. Again, notice the stark contrast between the sinlessness of Christ and the response of humanity.

Beginning in verse 28 we see their sadistic attempts to mock His royalty, to declare that His kingship was a joke in their minds. "They stripped Him and put a scarlet robe on Him." After that they "[twisted] together a crown of thorns, [and] put it on His head." A "reed [was placed] in His right hand and they knelt down before Him and mocked Him saying, 'Hail, King of the Jews." They "spat on Him" and "beat Him on the head" driving those thorns deeper into His skull. They "mocked Him." All of it for their cold-hearted amusement. All of it because of their hatred for this Man. All of it as an unjust addition to an already unjust verdict. Eventually when their brutality was done, verse 31 informs us that they "led Him away to crucify Him." Without sleep, defection from His friends, intense mockery, hypocritical trials, flogging, a seven-tiered abuse by the soldiers. He was a bloody mess. No wonder He was unable to carry His cross as verse 32 indicates to His place of execution. This was only the beginning. The worse was still yet to come.

It was all so wrong, yet it was all so right. It was the worst act of injustice, yet justice would never be more perfectly satisfied. Why would the Father allow the Son to be subjected to such abuse? Why did the Son willingly endure it? Why did the Judge of the world allow Himself to be judged? Why weren't the angels called to His assistance? Why weren't lightning bolts raining from heaven?

We have to ask, why were all four of the Gospel writers inspired to go into so much gruesome detail pertaining to the events surrounding Christ's death? Was it to accentuate the contrast between God and the human race? Was it to show the world on trial as to what they would do with Jesus and how they would condemn themselves? Was it to reveal as Jonathan Edwards once remarked that, "Unconverted men would kill God, if they could get at Him." Was it to show the depth of our rebellion and the enormous lengths God needed to go to redeem us? Does the extent of Christ's suffering give us an indication of our sin?

We were created to be worshippers of God, yet as humans we find our enjoyment in worshipping the stuff He created (Rom 1:21f). This is called idolatry. Oftentimes it is sophisticated idolatry that finds acceptance within the Christian culture. Sometimes it is very overt. It reminds me of the man who gave us a quote on tile installation this past week. He came right out and said, "I worship nature!" He believes there is no God and everything came into existence all by itself. So I told him I'd pay him for the tile and expect the ceramic pieces to just attach themselves to my shower stall without needing to pay him anything for the labor!

I have been quoting from Isaiah 53, "Surely our griefs He Himself bore, and our sorrows He carried; yet we ourselves esteemed Him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted. But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed. All of us like sheep have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; but the Lord has caused the iniquity of us all to fall on Him" (Isa. 53:4-6).

Apart from God's grace in my life, I would probably be among the crowd calling for His crucifixion. Apart from God's grace in my life, I am the one because of my sins that deserved that punishment. Yet because of God's grace I have been forgiven. Because during the unjust events surrounding the cross, my sins were placed upon Jesus whereby He would suffer in my place. God now accepts me because justice was accomplished. This is true for you if you are in Christ Jesus!

It all seems so wrong. Yet it all seems so right because this was God's perfect plan to pay for the sins of the world. So we see clearly the depravity of man, but shining through it all we see the love of God that goes the distance, that ultimately wins in the end.