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Matthew 27:1-2
In Matthew 27:1 we learn that the accusations and beating of Jesus lasted through the night. “When morning came,” (Matthew 27:1, NKJV) the chief priests and elders realized that they must now come up with a new accusation against Jesus as blasphemy would not rate the death penalty from the Roman governor as any death penalty must be administered. We will soon find out that arguably no reason was derived against an innocent Jesus as they will turn to pleading with Pilate to exchange Jesus for a notorious prisoner. This is an irony as Jesus would take the place and pay the death penalty for Barabbas as he will literally be set free, a prelude to the cross in which Jesus would take everyone’s place in death so that all may be set free by putting our faith in Him – that He died to set us free from sin.
This is an example that the worst of sinners may be set free through Christ Jesus.
I often hear people speak of others who, in their opinion, are so bad that God would never forgive them, which is simply not true. We like to promote ourselves as not being as bad as someone else in an attempt to find self-worth as if God will have mercy on us but not someone else. This too is simply not true. Jesus died for the sins of the world. We are not at liberty to decide for ourselves if one is worthy of forgiveness and another not. We are all not worthy of forgiveness. No, not one. Ring a bell? Psalm 14:1-3, 53:1-3 teach us, “There is none who does good, No, not one.” But let the humble in heart rejoice because there is One in which we can place our trust – our faith, and He will wrap us in His righteousness. When we die and stand before God wrapped in the righteousness of Christ Jesus, that’s all God sees – the righteousness of His Son who died so that all who profess Him savior, and believe in your heart that He is, will be hidden in Christ Jesus, forever in His glory.
Dear LORD,
Please help us to not focus on the sins of others as if to say, “They are worse off than we,” but please convict us of our own sins so that we would humble ourselves to the gift of salvation in Christ Jesus for all who believe, regardless of past sins, because Jesus died for all sins – all sins of the world – not to condemn the world but that the world might be saved through Him (John 3:16-17). Please help us to believe and truly be…children of God. In Jesus name I pray, amen.