Pinewood Easter: Trial & Crucifixion

Story: Love for my kids

Something we’ve always said to our kids is “I love you this much”. And we would hold our hands out as far as we could stretch. Then we’d ask “How much do you love me?”. The reality is that, as a parent, we love our kids more than anything else in the world. We would do anything for our kids. We protect, support, resource, discipline, nurture, and pray for our kids. Jess and I work hard to set them up for success. There’s nothing we wouldn’t do for our kids. The same is true for our Heavenly Father.

Sylah running in the street.

Something else we like to say is “I love you forever and always.”

“For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son (to live a sinless and obedient life), so that everyone who believes in him (His death, burial, and resurrection) will not perish but have eternal life.” - John 3:16

Knowing the mission Jesus was assigned to on earth, God gave the one thing that mattered most, His Son. And He did it because He loves you this much.

Title: I love you this much

Passage: Matthew 27:11-26 CSB

Now Jesus stood before the governor. “Are you the King of the Jews?” the governor asked him. Jesus answered, “You say so.” 12 While he was being accused by the chief priests and elders, he didn’t answer.

13 Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how much they are testifying against you?” 14 But he didn’t answer him on even one charge, so that the governor was quite amazed.

Pray: (Pause 3-5 seconds)

Background:

Sunday - Triumphal Entry into Jerusalem

Thursday - Preparation for Passover/Garden of Gethsemane

Friday - Trial and Crucifixion

Before we dive into this text I want to set the scene…

The night before, Jesus was arrested by soldiers and officers sent by the chief priests, led by one of his own disciples that betrayed him. They took him before the Sanhedrin and they mocked him, spit in his face, and physically abused Him. The whole assembly was in an uproar as they made countless false accusations about Jesus, but Jesus kept silent.

At one point in the night they blindfolded Jesus and repeatedly punched him in the face asking “Prophesy! Who was it that hit you!” Their hatred and anger towards Jesus was out of control! Their hunger for status, money, and power led them to fear the Kingdom Jesus spoke of and caused them to commit unthinkable acts of violence and hatred. The following morning the chief priests and elders conspired to put Jesus to death and they brought him before Pilate.

Main Points: Actions against Jesus. Jesus was...

1. Accused by the Priests
   1. Now Jesus stood before the governor. “Are you the King of the Jews?” the governor asked him. Jesus answered, “You say so.” 12 While he was being accused by the chief priests and elders, he didn’t answer. 13 Then Pilate said to him, “Don’t you hear how much they are testifying against you?” 14 But he didn’t answer him on even one charge, so that the governor was quite amazed.
   2. Pontius Pilate was the governor over the people. He was not particularly liked by the people. One of the many wrongs against the Jews was that Pilate built a running water system in Jerusalem and he took money from the temple to construct it. This made the Jews angry and hostile toward him. So Pilate was constantly trying to navigate keeping the Roman law, while at the same time not causing riots among the people. He didn’t want word to get to Caesar and lose his position as governor. Pilate was status, money, and power driven as well.

   3. Accusations against Jesus…

      1. In the Sanhedrin, the chief priest, elders, and scribes were accusing Jesus of blasphemy. That He was claiming to be God. But these weren’t the accusations they brought before Pilate. They knew that blasphemy would not result in the death penalty, only charges against Rome would do that.

      2. So they claimed 3 specific lies about Jesus. 1. That he was convincing people to not pay taxes. 2. That he was inciting riots. 3. That he claimed to be king. They were willing to stop at nothing to see Jesus crucified that day!

         4. In His silence He was fulfilling prophecy

      3. “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth. Like a lamb led to the slaughter and like a sheep silent before her shearers, he did not open his mouth.” Isaiah 53:7

      4. Jesus is always teaching, in his actions, with his words, and even in His silence.
         5. Pilate was amazed! This doesn’t look or sound like someone who is inciting trouble among the people.

      5. Rejected by the People

         1. 15 At the festival the governor’s custom was to release to the crowd a prisoner they wanted. 16 At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Who is it you want me to release for you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew it was because of envy that they had handed him over. 19 While he was sitting on the judge’s bench, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for today I’ve suffered terribly in a dream because of him.” (while Pilate was busy listening to the message from his wife, watch what happens) 20 The chief priests and the elders, however, persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to execute Jesus. 21 The governor asked them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” “Barabbas!” they answered. 22 Pilate asked them, “What should I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ?” They all answered, “Crucify him!” 23 Then he said, “Why? What has he done wrong?” But they kept shouting all the more, “Crucify him!”
         2. It was customary for the governor to release a prisoner that was on death row. This was a show or an act of mercy on behalf of the governor.
         3. Question: Who is Barabbas?

      6. Barabbas was a robber, murderer, and insurrectionist. He was a well known thug.

      7. Jesus was being accused of stirring up the people, the very kind of crime Barabbas had committed.

         4. Barabbas is Aramaic for “son of the father”

      8. Barabbas is made up of two Aramaic words: Bar, which means “Son of” & Abba, which means “the father”. The name means “Son of the father”. If you look at your footnotes, it will show that some early manuscripts give his name as Jesus… Jesus Barabbas. He is a picture of the depravity of humanity.

      9. So here we have Jesus (Son of an earthly father) and Jesus (Son of God), which will you choose? The crowds shouted “Give us Barabbas!” and when asked about Jesus they shouted “Crucify Him!”

         5. Question: I’ll ask again, Who is Barabbas?
         6. Story: I am Barabbas. You are Barabbas.

      10. Jesus taking our place, the substitutionary atonement.

      11. Barabbas may have thought that it was the people that set him free, but it was LOVE. The love of the Father. It was God saying “I love you this much!”
      12. Barabbas? A robber, murderer, and thug goes free while the perfect Son of God endures suffering and the cross? As I think of this story I can hear God say “I love Barabbas.” But Jesus, he’s a bad man… “I love Barabbas.”
      13. “but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” - Romans 5:8
      14. As the keys unlock my chains and I’m being released from my prison, I shout “I deserve this! I did this to myself!” What did Jesus do but heal people, serve the needy, care for the hurting, love the sinners. AND I’M BEING SET FREE?!
      15. Jesus looked back at me and He whispers “Go live your life!”... “I’ll take your shame, I’ll take your condemnation, I’ll take your sins, GO. You’re free!!!” But Jesus, I deserve these chains, that’s my cross, that’s my shame….. “Go Son!”
      16. Maybe some of you sitting here are thinking “I got saved by grace but now I’m in this deep dark place of bondage, and I better work hard to get myself out.” What!? That’s the opposite of the gospel. You’re no match for the powers of hell and the chains of sin. You will not overcome it, you will never overcome it on your own! You’ll never save yourself. Your own goodness, your own merit, your own righteousness will not save your marriage, your kids, or take away your guilt or shame. There’s only One! He’s the One who took your place! (Pause)(Say quietly) His name is Jesus! (Pause again).
      17. Condemned by Pilate
          1. When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that a riot was starting instead, he took some water, washed his hands in front of the crowd, and said, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. See to it yourselves!” 25 All the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!” 26 Then he released Barabbas to them and, after having Jesus flogged, handed him over to be crucified.
          2. “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.” - Romans 6:23
          3. Jesus bore death on our behalf. He took the penalty that we deserved, but how many of you here today are grateful that he didn’t stay dead! He may have gone to the cross, and was buried, but on that third day he rose victorious.
          4. Jesus conquered death and sin and He is alive today! And he’s saying “I’ve carried the weight of your sin, I’ve defeated it!, You are free!!!”

Closing: “I love you this much!” Can you hear it?

If you feel in chains, He’s a chain breaker

If you feel sick, He’s the great physician

If you feel addicted, He’s freedom and abundant life

If you feel lost, He’s a way maker

If you feel anxious, He’s the peace that transcends all understanding

If you feel condemned, He’s the grace giver

If you feel hopeless, He’s your living hope

Walking Points:

1. Confess your sins to Him today

   1. “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 1 John 1:9

   2. Put your faith in Him today

   3. “If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9

   4. Walk in freedom in Him today

   5. “For freedom, Christ set us free. Stand firm then and don’t submit again to a yoke of slavery.” - Galatians 5:1