He Chose You
Read Matthew 27:1-26
Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. 2 So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 ‘I have sinned,’ he said, ‘for I have betrayed innocent blood.’
‘What is that to us?’ they replied. ‘That’s your responsibility.’
5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
6 The chief priests picked up the coins and said, ‘It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.’ 7 So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. 8 That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: ‘They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, 10 and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.’
11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, ‘Are you the king of the Jews?’
‘You have said so,’ Jesus replied.
12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, ‘Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?’ 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge – to the great amazement of the governor.
15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus[b] Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, ‘Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ 18 For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.
19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: ‘Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.’
20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed.
21 ‘Which of the two do you want me to release to you?’ asked the governor.
‘Barabbas,’ they answered.
22 ‘What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?’ Pilate asked.
They all answered, ‘Crucify him!’
23 ‘Why? What crime has he committed?’ asked Pilate.
But they shouted all the louder, ‘Crucify him!’
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood,’ he said. ‘It is your responsibility!’
25 All the people answered, ‘His blood is on us and on our children!’
26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
Big Idea: Jesus chose the punishment of the cross for you.
As the crowds that day stood in front of Pilate, they were offered a choice. They could choose to release the prisoner, Barabbas or they could instead choose Jesus. As the crowds rejected Jesus and chose Barabbas, Jesus was choosing you.
Jesus was choosing you when He walked towards Jerusalem in Matthew 20:17-19 knowing He was going there to be betrayed, beaten, mocked and crucified.
Jesus was choosing you knowing His closest friends would betray Him (Matthew 26:31-32) and that a time would come when even the Father would turn away (Matthew 27:46).
Jesus was choosing you when He submitted to be arrested in Matthew 26:53-54 even though He knew He had all authority to call down legions of angels to come to His defense.
As the Word, Jesus knew the prophecy of Isaiah 53 that He would be “despised and rejected by mankind, a man of suffering, and familiar with pain.” And yet He walked towards Jerusalem and was nailed to the cross to take your punishment on His shoulders.
Today as you wake up, make decisions, live, breath, and hang out with your friends… remember that Jesus chose you. And in the remembering, choose Him in all your ways offering your life back to Him in thankfulness and praise.
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