Bible Verse Synopsis 3-16-25
Matthew 27:
Judas, upon seeing Jesus bound with His hands behind His back and beaten and bloodied went back to the Priests he had gotten the money from. He repented to them, not to God, and tried to return the money to the Priests and Elders but they would not take it for it was blood money. So they put it in their pockets for themselves and let Judas to his misery. Judas then goes and hangs himself because of how distraught he is with himself. Every sin is equally punishable in the eyes of God, except what Judas had done. It is called the Great Betrayal for a reason. Had Judas confessed his sin to God, the story may have been different, but without God we cannot be saved. God saves us from our sins every day as long as we repent of them. The priests used this money to buy a slot in the plotters field where unhonored people were buried in Jerusalem.
Jesus in front of Pilate listened to His accusers and just sat there. Pilate couldn’t believe his eyes and ears. His life was on the life and He did nothing! Why would an innocent man not contest such threats? Pilate could tell Jesus knew these claims were lies and that’s why He didn’t respond to them.
Pilate tries to save Jesus by letting the people choose a man to free from jail or his punishment. He lines up Jesus and a murderer to choose from. Israel chooses the murderer. As they have chosen ever since. We have the ability to choose the righteous path, just as Israel had. Be not influenced by the Devil and his demons. Be reconciled with Christ and choose Him! Pilates hands were forced by the people, even though he could have overridden them his fear of backlash was too great. So he continued on with what the people wanted and scourged Jesus and condemned Him to crucifixion. Pilate could have done so much more for Jesus. Yet, his fear of man got in the way. Do we fear man in the same way as Pilate did? Man is of little use when we choose, unless God is working through them. Be educated by the Word and guided by the Spirit.
The Roman soldiers placed a 6 inch thorn bound cross on His head and beat it in with a reed. They mocked Him and spit on Him. Jesus became so weak He could not carry His own cross. The punishment Jesus takes for us is beyond imagination. How weak we are in our sacrifices for Him by comparison.
The thieves being crucified with Him and the Priests that were there challenged Christ to save himself. To show His majesty and His power over the likes of man. Yet, Jesus would do none of this. He did not come to this earth to save Himself. He came to save all of us. The only person to save Christ would be the Father. And He does after He completes the mission and saves the world. The lack of understanding is so short sighted and self aggrandizing. Man is not the ultimatum. Man is the creation of the ultimatum. Jesus is the Savior of the creation. Be aware of the place we have in the chain of command. Blessed, saved, and loved by God.
Jesus was not watched over by God for three hours so that Jesus’s body could bear the brunt of sin of man. Jesus was not abandoned by God but He also wasn’t cared for either. This made Jesus like all men again and the weight He carried was insurmountable without the Holy powers He possessed. Jesus only died after the Holy Spirit gave the okay that the debt had been paid. His body could have continued (how I don’t know). The Veil of the Temple, a great piece of stone some 60 ft high and 4 inches thick in one piece, was wrought down the center as soon as Christ gave up His body. The symbolism here is so great. The Veil was broke so that we are all whole with Christ in God’s graces. No more mysteries of the Temple or disenchantment. Jesus answered all the mysteries and gave us the light that we could not have received without Him. Graves were opened to save the souls of the saints and the true believers. The earth shook and rocks moved. All of this was witnessed by man. A Roman soldier was turned to a believer immediately upon this sight.
The Chief Priests and Pharisees demanded that there be a watch over the tomb 24/7 and a wax and clay seal placed around the seal. It would be impossible for anyone to get in without breaking the seal or being seen by a guard. These men made the Resurrection irrefutable! But that is for tomorrow. It is amazing how Christ works through His enemies to secure His message and the purpose of His life. Give thanks to Jesus for the life He gave for us.