What really stands out to me in Matthew 27 is how JESUS stayed completely in control. Though falsely accused and surrounded by hostility, HE remained composed, choosing silence over self-defense (Matthew 27:12, 14). HE was never out of control; HE knew exactly what was unfolding. From the beginning of time, HE understood that the cross was His destination. Why respond to accusations, when surrendering to the FATHER’s will was HIS purpose? This was the very reason HE entered HIS creation!
Isa 53:4-7, Surely He has borne our griefs And carried our sorrows; Yet we esteemed Him stricken, Smitten by God, and afflicted. (5) But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; The chastisement for our peace was upon Him, And by His stripes we are healed. (6) All we like sheep have gone astray; We have turned, every one, to his own way; And the LORD has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. (7) HE WAS OPPRESSED AND HE WAS AFFLICTED, YET HE OPENED NOT HIS MOUTH; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, AND AS A SHEEP BEFORE ITS SHEARERS IS SILENT, SO HE OPENED NOT HIS MOUTH.
Even Pilate knew HE was innocent; he knew that the Jewish leaders handing HIM over our of shear envy (Matt 27:18). Trying to free JESUS he gave the people a choice who to free, Barabbas a notorious prisoner, or JESUS, but they chose Barabbas?
Even Pilate recognized JESUS’ innocence. He saw through the motives of the religious leaders, knowing they had handed JESUS over out of envy (Matthew 27:18). Hoping to release HIM, Pilate offered the crowd a choice: JESUS, the CHRIST (verse 22) or Barabbas, a notorious criminal (verse 16). Yet the people chose Barabbas. It was hard for Pilate to believe, so he tried to wash his hands from the situation!
Mat 27:24, When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, HE TOOK WATER AND WASHED HIS HANDS BEFORE THE MULTITUDE, SAYING, “I AM INNOCENT OF THE BLOOD OF THIS JUST PERSON. YOU SEE TO IT.“
Truly, who among us can claim innocence concerning this righteous man’s blood? The cross wasn’t merely the result of one generation’s failure, but it was the failure of every generation! We are all guilty in the sight of GOD (Rom 3:23). We may not have stood in that crowd, shouting “Crucify Him!” Yet every sin we commit places us in that moment of time, echoing the same words “Crucify HIM”!
Dan 9:26, “And after the sixty-two weeks Messiah shall be cut off, BUT NOT FOR HIMSELF;
Without JESUS, we don’t stand a chance. We can’t fix ourselves, we can’t earn our way, or carry the weight of our own sin. HE’s the only one who can get us through.
Joh 14:6, JESUS SAID TO HIM, “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE. NO ONE COMES TO THE FATHER EXCEPT THROUGH ME.
IN NO WAY ARE WE INNOCENT, BUT IN HIM WE ARE FORGIVEN.
Joh 3:16-17, FOR GOD SO LOVED THE WORLD THAT HE GAVE HIS ONLY BEGOTTEN SON, THAT WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM SHOULD NOT PERISH BUT HAVE EVERLASTING LIFE. (17) FOR GOD DID NOT SEND HIS SON INTO THE WORLD TO CONDEMN THE WORLD, BUT THAT THE WORLD THROUGH HIM MIGHT BE SAVED.