What an interesting chapter. There are so many storylines that we can relate to. The reading of God’s Word is important because it is God speaking to us and giving us truth. This is why reading and studying God’s Word is foundational. What you learn today will be applicable to many areas of life throughout your life. Applications of God’s Word now are wonderful, but remember we are also building up truth to be used in tomorrow’s situation as well.
It opens with Judas, who was with Jesus and saw all the miracles the other 11 saw, but he betrays Jesus. Judas heard the same teachings, and felt the love of Christ. But Judas loved money, and Satan filled Judas and blinded him to the truths of God. The scariest thing about spiritual blindness is you still see naturally so you become unaware of your blindness.
The Second group is the Pharisees. They were religious and self-righteous. The Pharisees knew they were God’s people. They were blinded not by biblical teaching, but by tradition. This is the way we have always done it. Don’t make our ways the right way, unless they are truly biblical truths and teachings we can find in God’s Word.
The third scene is Peter, who grabs a sword and takes the ear off of Malchus. The zeal of Peter is awesome, but it is misplaced. Here Peter is standing up for Christ where Christ does not want Him to stand. Peter did not get that this was the will of God. It was the will of God for Christ to be taken and to die for our sins. Peter who was confused even denies Christ near the end of the chapter. Why? Peter had his own view on how things are to work. Peter was so determined to let Christ in as Lord; He forgot to listen to the Lord. Don’t make your path so straight that God cannot place a detour in your life. Our ways if not planned by God will always bring us confusion.
We see Caiaphas who really did not want anything to do with Jesus. So Caiaphas just passed the responsibility down to someone else. However, when it comes to Christ, no decision is, in reality, a decision against Christ.
Jesus is then brought before Pilate who finds no fault in Him. Pilate liked Jesus, but the crowd does not. Too many times we go along with the crowd, what everyone is doing, instead of standing with Jesus even when we know it is the right thing to do.
What about Barabbas? A criminal that deserves death gets life. Jesus takes His place physically, as He has taken our place spiritually. Barabbas did not deserve grace and neither do you and I. Have you ever wondered why the gospel made it to you? I have. It is pure amazing grace! The grace goes beyond me receiving God’s love and forgiveness but that I got the opportunity to hear it. Don’t even take the opportunity to be saved for granted. To be honest once you hear of His grace, how can you refuse it? Barabbas walked out a free man! I walked out of church that morning I got saved a free man. Praise God for grace!
Of course there is Jesus! Jesus is freely giving His life for you and me.
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