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Welcome to today’s Daily Scripture Reading and Meditation covering Matthew 27:20-23 wherein we are challenged to think about our representatives who called for the death of Jesus.
Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor again 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, “Let him be crucified!” And he said, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”
It’s easy to get discouraged about certain operations in our political system, how the courts operate, and how in the world certain ideas that seem terrible end up gaining approval. But passages like this one remind us of just how good we still have it, regardless of where we think things might be heading. Jesus receives no true trial but subjected Himself to the whims of a cowardly governor, a blood-thirsty religious leadership group, and a fickle crowd. Though this was God’s plan from the beginning and though Jesus gave Himself freely, from a human perspective, a person put in such a position wouldn’t stand a chance. No deliberations, no appeals, no representation, just deceptions and screams for blood.
Here’s what we need to remember in all of this though: there are ways in which we have all been like the different groups of people who played a part in sending Jesus to the cross; we’re all guilty. Consider the chief priests and elders. Have there not been times when, apart from true evidence and simply out of frustration, we have tried to rally people to our side in order to protect our own skin or reputation? We might say that the positions or jobs of the religious leaders was on the line with Jesus around; the stakes were fairly high for them on a personal level. And then how about Pilate who was in the position of needing to make everyone happy or risk a riot? He ended up literally washing his hands to make the statement that he was innocent of Jesus’ blood, a ridiculous comment given the fact that he had the power to stop their actions. Have we ever stepped aside when the fire got hot instead of standing our ground for what is right and just, thinking that such exempts us from responsibility? Though we may not face immediate consequences, God sees such actions and always works justice. And finally, take note of the crowd. They decided to let a murderer (Barabbas) run among them instead of the One who had only brought them blessing. Jesus didn’t fit in though to the expectations that they had. How often have we let our expectations of certain conveniences or privileges get in the way of calling for what is right? Have the ways in which we have ever, say, voted during an election reflected this mentality?
My point in all of this is to simply remind us of the fact that the kinds of sins that we see leading up to the crucifixion of the Lord Jesus Christ are not ones that we’re foreign to. He went to His death, not ultimately because of the chief priests and elders, Pilate, or the crowds, but because of you and I and the billions of people who have walked this planet. The characters we read about in this passage are simply our representatives. Praise God that Jesus’ blood is enough for those of their day and for ours. May we embrace and spread His plan of remarkable redemption through personal repentance and proclaimed faith in Jesus today.
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