Title: God’s love in death and glory!
Text: Matt 27:11-66
Text: Matt 27:11-66
Facebook live: God’s love in death and glory!
13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
Today we celebrate Palm Sunday and the Sunday of the Passion but also the greater reality of God’s love and death in this life and in the life to come.
The majesty of our procession today as we entered into worship, and the picture of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem contrasted with the reality of his trial, crucifixion and death is contrasted with our own sin, guilty verdict, and death in this life that we all know and share.
Today we will examine the human and divine work of the Lord’s passion and the reality of this pivotal story as we walk into Holy Week towards the death and resurrection of our Lord, the God/man himself, Jesus Christ.
Matthew brings to mind the human dimension of the Gospel story with the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. But also, the divine work of God.
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer.
So, we see Jesus, not taking the usual course of defense in his case. Pilot seems befuddled. He tries, it seems, every way he can.
13 … “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?”
Jesus answers nothing.
“What do I do with this man?” Pilate must have thought.
How can I keep peace in Jerusalem, satisfy the Jews and their religious customs, and still remain faithful to Rome in this notoriously difficult political environment?
“How can I be both just and righteous?”
Well in reality, Pilate didn’t care.
He wanted peace.
He knows the law and he has a plan.
“I’ll find another, a substitute!”
One who is already guilty, and one who surly the religious leaders and the people will be happy to see him put to death to satisfy their rage.
16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. [ Bar- Son, Abba – father] 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”
“Surly this will be simple solution.” – Pilate might have thought.
“For out on envy, they have accused and delivered this Jesus over, and even word from my wife who seems troubled about this, has now come to me. “
She says a dream.
A dream of all things!
What is this world coming to?
21 … “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?”
And they said, “Barabbas.”
22 … “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”
They all said, “Let him be crucified!”
23 … “Why? What evil has he done?”
But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”
Now hear the divine judge
Do you not hear all that the Law testifies against you?
You shall have no other Gods
Don’t misuse my name.
Keep my day holy.
Do not kill
Do not commit adultery
Do not steal
Do not bear false witness
Do not covet things and do not covet people.
What do I do with this people I have created?
The divine question is much like the earthly.
“How can I be both just and righteous?”
Well in reality, the problem is in God. We are fallen and there is nothing you or I can do about it.
God wanted peace. He wanted and to restore that which was lost in our fall into sin.
God has the Law and God has a plan to redeem those born under the Law.
“I’ll send another, I’ll send a substitute!
I’ll send my son!”
One who is guiltless, and one who born in the natural way is yet without sin.
He will be the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, giving his life as a ransom for the many, so that the righteous requirements of the Law are kept and the just verdict of the wages of sin is met and paid for …
… and my people, through his work, will be saved as my blessed possession for now and into eternity!
God must be both Just and righteous.
13 Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14 But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.
Today we celebrate Palm Sunday and the Sunday of the Passion but also the greater reality of God’s love and death in this life and in the life to come.
The majesty of our procession today as we entered into worship, and the picture of Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem contrasted with the reality of his trial, crucifixion and death is contrasted with our own sin, guilty verdict, and death in this life that we all know and share.
Today we will examine the human and divine work of the Lord’s passion and the reality of this pivotal story as we walk into Holy Week towards the death and resurrection of our Lord, the God/man himself, Jesus Christ.
Matthew brings to mind the human dimension of the Gospel story with the trial and crucifixion of Jesus. But also, the divine work of God.
11 Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.” 12 But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer.
So, we see Jesus, not taking the usual course of defense in his case. Pilot seems befuddled. He tries, it seems, every way he can.
13 … “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?”
Jesus answers nothing.
“What do I do with this man?” Pilate must have thought.
How can I keep peace in Jerusalem, satisfy the Jews and their religious customs, and still remain faithful to Rome in this notoriously difficult political environment?
“How can I be both just and righteous?”
Well in reality, Pilate didn’t care.
He wanted peace.
He knows the law and he has a plan.
“I’ll find another, a substitute!”
One who is already guilty, and one who surly the religious leaders and the people will be happy to see him put to death to satisfy their rage.
16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. [ Bar- Son, Abba – father] 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”
“Surly this will be simple solution.” – Pilate might have thought.
“For out on envy, they have accused and delivered this Jesus over, and even word from my wife who seems troubled about this, has now come to me. “
She says a dream.
A dream of all things!
What is this world coming to?
21 … “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?”
And they said, “Barabbas.”
22 … “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”
They all said, “Let him be crucified!”
23 … “Why? What evil has he done?”
But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”
Now hear the divine judge
Do you not hear all that the Law testifies against you?
You shall have no other Gods
Don’t misuse my name.
Keep my day holy.
Do not kill
Do not commit adultery
Do not steal
Do not bear false witness
Do not covet things and do not covet people.
What do I do with this people I have created?
The divine question is much like the earthly.
“How can I be both just and righteous?”
Well in reality, the problem is in God. We are fallen and there is nothing you or I can do about it.
God wanted peace. He wanted and to restore that which was lost in our fall into sin.
God has the Law and God has a plan to redeem those born under the Law.
“I’ll send another, I’ll send a substitute!
I’ll send my son!”
One who is guiltless, and one who born in the natural way is yet without sin.
He will be the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, giving his life as a ransom for the many, so that the righteous requirements of the Law are kept and the just verdict of the wages of sin is met and paid for …
… and my people, through his work, will be saved as my blessed possession for now and into eternity!
In the ride into Jerusalem,
8 … the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
Now the soldiers,
28 … strip [Jesus] and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand.
In the triumphal entry,
9 … the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
Now the soldiers,
Kneel before him, and they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
In the triumphal entry,
10 … the whole city was stirred up, saying,
“Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Now the soldiers,
35 … when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots.
And the world, and all who are born in sin,
39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself!
If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”
Well, Jesus did, come down.
With the help of a rich man, from Arimathea named Joseph, who asked Pilot for the body of Jesus.
59 … he took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.
Joseph was a follower and he was a disciple.
Are you? Are we?
Would we do the same, by letting our faith be known in a time of persecution in the world?
I would like to think so.
Would I stand up? Would you?
To claim Jesus as your own?
Friends, the human and divine come together in the God/man himself Jesus Christ for you and for me.
You can’t have Palm Sunday and Easter, without the Passion and the Cross.
8 … the crowd spread their cloaks on the road, and others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road.
Now the soldiers,
28 … strip [Jesus] and put a scarlet robe on him, 29 and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand.
In the triumphal entry,
9 … the crowds that went before him and that followed him were shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest!”
Now the soldiers,
Kneel before him, and they mocked him, saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!”
In the triumphal entry,
10 … the whole city was stirred up, saying,
“Who is this?” 11 And the crowds said, “This is the prophet Jesus, from Nazareth of Galilee.”
Now the soldiers,
35 … when they had crucified him, they divided his garments among them by casting lots.
And the world, and all who are born in sin,
39 And those who passed by derided him, wagging their heads 40 and saying, “You who would destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days, save yourself!
If you are the Son of God, come down from the cross.”
Well, Jesus did, come down.
With the help of a rich man, from Arimathea named Joseph, who asked Pilot for the body of Jesus.
59 … he took the body and wrapped it in a clean linen shroud 60 and laid it in his own new tomb, which he had cut in the rock. And he rolled a great stone to the entrance of the tomb and went away.
Joseph was a follower and he was a disciple.
Are you? Are we?
Would we do the same, by letting our faith be known in a time of persecution in the world?
I would like to think so.
Would I stand up? Would you?
To claim Jesus as your own?
Friends, the human and divine come together in the God/man himself Jesus Christ for you and for me.
You can’t have Palm Sunday and Easter, without the Passion and the Cross.
God must be both Just and righteous.
He must be put to death in the flesh, and raised in his body for we to die and rise with him.
The Jews asked Pilot for guards to secure the tomb. They fear a hoax that might deceive the people to follow and believe a lie.
65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard[ of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
They thought it was finished!
We too have a guard … the Holy Spirit.
He keeps our focus on Jesus the one who died for you and me and rose for our Justification.
We no longer fear death, as death has been swallowed up in the victory of the Christ’s work!
Triumphant, we stand on the rock of our salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord!
Who triumphantly entered Jerusalem and who triumphantly conquered sin, death and the devil at the cross, and proclaimed victory as he triumphantly rose from the dead for the justification of all who believe!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
The Jews asked Pilot for guards to secure the tomb. They fear a hoax that might deceive the people to follow and believe a lie.
65 Pilate said to them, “You have a guard[ of soldiers. Go, make it as secure as you can.” 66 So they went and made the tomb secure by sealing the stone and setting a guard.
They thought it was finished!
We too have a guard … the Holy Spirit.
He keeps our focus on Jesus the one who died for you and me and rose for our Justification.
We no longer fear death, as death has been swallowed up in the victory of the Christ’s work!
Triumphant, we stand on the rock of our salvation in Jesus Christ our Lord!
Who triumphantly entered Jerusalem and who triumphantly conquered sin, death and the devil at the cross, and proclaimed victory as he triumphantly rose from the dead for the justification of all who believe!
In the name of the Father and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit.
Amen
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