March 20, 2011
Morning Service

Matt. 27:1-31

 

Review:

1.                  A lot of things have happened to the Lord this last week of His life here on earth.

·                     It’s time for the Passover.

·                     Jesus enters Jerusalem as He that comes in the name of the Lord.

·                     He cleanses the temple.

·                     He again tells His disciples that He must be betrayed into the hands of the gentiles, to be crucified.

·                     He explains through parables when the temple would be destroyed, what would be the signs at His coming, and things that would happen at the end of the age.

·                     Jesus eats a meal at the house of Simon the leper, where Mary anoints Him with perfume, for His burial.

·                     Jesus sets in order our communion service.  Remembering His broken body, and shed blood.

·                     Judas agrees to betray Him.

·                     Peter is told that he would betray the Lord three times, this very night.

 

We begin chapter 27 with Jesus being delivered to Pontius Pilate, the Roman Governor.

 

Mat 27:1-31 KJVR  When the morning was come, all the chief priests and elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:  (2)  And when they had bound him, they led him away, and delivered him to Pontius Pilate the governor.

·     When morning was come;  we would believe this to be our Good Friday.  Had you been there with Jesus, His family, and His disciples, I don’t believe we would have seen anything that would have caused us to call this day good.

·     This will be the 22^nd of April this year.   Easter is on the 24^th.

 

Judas repents:

(3)  Then Judas, which had betrayed him, when he saw that he was condemned, repented himself, and brought again the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,  (4)  Saying, I have sinned in that I have betrayed the innocent blood. And they said, What is that to us? see thou to that.  (5)  And he cast down the pieces of silver in the temple, and departed, and went and hanged himself.  (6)  And the chief priests took the silver pieces, and said, It is not lawful for to put them into the treasury, because it is the price of blood.  (7)  And they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in.  (8)  Wherefore that field was called, The field of blood, unto this day.  (9)  Then was fulfilled that which was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying, And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him that was valued, whom they of the children of Israel did value;  (10)  And gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord appointed me.

·     Not too many people name their children Judas.

·     We read of what Judas did, and realize it was all in the divine plan of God.

·     Judas was only human, and had his own characteristics.  Peter as strong as he was, denied the Lord, three times.  We all have done things that we are not proud of.  Some things we wished we could do over, but we can’t. 

·     God has given us everything we need to have continual fellowship with Him.  He has given us songs to sing, a Bible to read, a prayer life, and a Great High Priest to take our problems too.  The old saying is so true, “He is only a prayer away.”

·     Judas did what he thought was right.  He was very remorseful, and repentant.  Some might ask, was he saved?  I hope so.  I just know he’s in the hands of just God.

Jesus is examined:

(11)  And Jesus stood before the governor: and the governor asked him, saying, Art thou the King of the Jews? And Jesus said unto him, Thou sayest.  (12)  And when he was accused of the chief priests and elders, he answered nothing.  (13)  Then said Pilate unto him, Hearest thou not how many things they witness against thee?  (14)  And he answered him to never a word; insomuch that the governor marveled greatly.

·     Isa 53:7 KJVR  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

·     Can we have any idea what must have been going through His mind at this time?

Barabbbas is freed:

(15)  Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would.  (16)  And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.  (17)  Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ?  (18)  For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. 

• We can see the plan of God being worked out by this act of Pilate.  He could’ve released the Lord, but it was not to be.

(19)  When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. 

• It makes me wonder just what her dream consisted of.

(20)  But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.  (21)  The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas.  (22)  Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified.  (23)  And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified.  (24)  When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.  (25)  Then answered all the people, and said, His blood be on us, and on our children. 

• This has to be one of the most profound statements that has ever been made.  “His blood be on us, and on our children.”
• I think, this is a classical example of a few people, speaking for a nation of people. 
• Look at what has happened.  The good people that were there kept quiet, and the spirit of the world cried out.  Give us Barabbas, and then crucify Jesus. 
• Isn’t it a lot like that today?  Satan’s spirit cries out, Keep God out of our schools.  You shouldn’t pray out loud.  Stop saying the pledge of allegiance.  The spirit of satan cries out, and we sit quietly by watching it happen.
• But just as God’s plan was being worked out through Jesus Christ, we know that His plan is still being worked out today.  Certain things have to happen to hasten His return, and God is in control.

Jesus is scourged, and led to Golgotha:

(26)  Then released he Barabbas unto them: and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified.  (27)  Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the common hall, and gathered unto him the whole band of soldiers.  (28)  And they stripped him, and put on him a scarlet robe.   (29)  And when they had plaited a crown of thorns, they put it upon his head, and a reed in his right hand: and they bowed the knee before him, and mocked him, saying, Hail, King of the Jews!  (30)  And they spit upon him, and took the reed, and smote him on the head.  (31)  And after that they had mocked him, they took the robe off from him, and put his own raiment on him, and led him away to crucify him.

·                     Isa 53:3-12 KJVR  He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief: and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.  (4)  Surely he hath borne our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and afflicted.  (5)  But he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities: the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we are healed.  (6)  All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one to his own way; and the LORD hath laid on him the iniquity of us all.  (7)  He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.  (8)  He was taken from prison and from judgment: and who shall declare his generation? for he was cut off out of the land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.  (9)  And he made his grave with the wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence, neither was any deceit in his mouth.  (10)  Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand.  (11)  He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.  (12)  Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because he hath poured out his soul unto death: and he was numbered with the transgressors; and he bore the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.