It's Our Responsibility : Matthew 27:23-26 : What Jesus Did! : HEARTLIGHT®

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It's Our Responsibility - Matthew 27:23-26

Pilate asked, "Why do you want me to kill him? What wrong has he done?" But all the people shouted louder, "Kill him on a cross!" Pilate saw that he could do nothing to make the people change. And he saw that the people were becoming upset. So Pilate took some water and washed his hands so that all the people could see. Then Pilate said, "I am not guilty of this man's death. You are the ones that are doing it!" All the people answered, "We will be responsible for his death. We accept for ourselves and for our children any punishment for his death." Then Pilate freed Barabbas. Pilate told some soldiers to beat Jesus with whips. Then Pilate gave Jesus to the soldiers to be killed on a cross. (ERV) Full Text

Key Thought

"Let it be on our heads!" Can you imagine anyone saying such a thing? Jesus' enemies are so intent on getting him crucified that they are willing to take full responsibility for rejecting and murdering Jesus. Of course, no matter what Pilate did, he could not absolve himself of guilt in this matter. But even so, the incited crowd is only too glad to accept the responsibility of Jesus' blood on themselves.
Incredibly, Jesus' death on the Cross was his way of taking our sin, our shame, and our guilt by shedding his blood to pay for it. Some of those who were calling for this horrible crucifixion would one day find forgiveness because this very blood was shed for them, too.

Today's Prayer

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Father, please forgive me; I often don't know what I'm doing. It's not always that I'm ignorant, but that I am sometimes weak and selfish, looking out only for my own interest. Please forgive me. I want to stand firm for my faith and be courageous in the face of bitter criticism. Thank you that Jesus died for my sins and help me to live victoriously acknowledging that Jesus saved me by his sacrifice. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.

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Today's Verses in Context

Jesus stood before Pilate the governor. Pilate asked him questions. He said, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus answered, "Yes, I am." When the leading priests and the older Jewish leaders accused Jesus, he said nothing. So Pilate said to Jesus, "You hear these people accusing you of all these things. Why don't you answer?" But Jesus said nothing to answer Pilate. Pilate was very surprised at this. Every year at the Passover time the governor would free one person from the prison. This was always a person that the people wanted to be made free. At that time there was a man in prison who was known to be very bad. His name was Barabbas. All the people gathered at Pilate's house. Pilate asked the people, "I will free one man for you. Which man do you want me to free: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Christ ?" Pilate knew that the people gave Jesus to him because the people were jealous. Pilate said these things while he was sitting in the place for judging. While he was sitting there, his wife sent a message to him. The message said, "Don't do anything with that man (Jesus). He is not guilty. And today I had a dream about him, and it troubled me very much." But the leading priests and older Jewish leaders told the people to ask for Barabbas to be made free and for Jesus to be killed. Pilate said, "I have Barabbas and Jesus. Which do you want me to make free for you?" The people answered, "Barabbas!" Pilate asked, "So what should I do with Jesus, the one called the Christ ?" All the people answered, "Kill him on a cross!" Pilate asked, "Why do you want me to kill him? What wrong has he done?" But all the people shouted louder, "Kill him on a cross!" Pilate saw that he could do nothing to make the people change. And he saw that the people were becoming upset. So Pilate took some water and washed his hands so that all the people could see. Then Pilate said, "I am not guilty of this man's death. You are the ones that are doing it!" All the people answered, "We willbe responsible for his death. We accept for ourselves and for our children any punishment for his death." Then Pilate freed Barabbas. Pilate told some soldiers to beat Jesus with whips. Then Pilate gave Jesus to the soldiers to be killed on a cross.

— Matthew 27:11-26 (ERV)

I mean that God was in Christ, making peace between the world and himself. In Christ, God did not hold people guilty for their sins. And he gave us this message of peace {to tell people}. So we have been sent to speak for Christ. It is like God is calling to people through us. We speak for Christ when we beg you to be at peace with God. Christ had no sin. But God made him become sin. God did this for us, so that in Christ we could become right with God.
2 Corinthians 5:19-21 (ERV)

Then Pilate ordered that Jesus be taken away and be whipped. The soldiers used some thorny branches to make a crown. They put this crown of thorns on Jesus' head. Then the soldiers put a purple robe around Jesus. The soldiers came to Jesus many times and said, "Hello, O king of the Jews!" They hit Jesus in the face. Again Pilate came out and said to the Jewish leaders, "Look! I am bringing Jesus out to you. I want you to know that I find nothing I can charge against him." Then Jesus came out. He was wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to the Jews, "Here is the man!"
John 19:1-5 (ERV)

So Pilate went outside to the Jews. He asked, "What do you say this man has done wrong?" Then Pilate went back inside the palace. Pilate called Jesus to him. He asked Jesus, "Are you the king of the Jews?" Jesus said, "Is that your own question, or did other people tell you about me?" Pilate said, "I am not a Jew! It was your own people and their leading priests that brought you before me. What have you done wrong?" Jesus said, "My kingdom does not belong to this world. If it belonged to this world, then my servants would fight so that I would not be given to the Jewish leaders. But my kingdom is from another place." Pilate said, "So you are a king!" Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king. That is true. I was born for this: to tell people about the truth. That is why I came into the world. And every person that belongs to the truth listens to me."
John 18:29, 33-37 (ERV)

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