1 00:00:03,320 --> 00:00:09,840 One of the most powerful prayers in all of the Bible is found in 2 00:00:09,840 --> 00:00:18,040 Psalm 73, verse 25, where Asaph tells the Lord, Whom have I in 3 00:00:18,040 --> 00:00:23,520 heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth I 4 00:00:23,520 --> 00:00:30,720 desire besides you. Only those who have tasted of 5 00:00:30,720 --> 00:00:35,640 the goodness of the Lord and experienced His all satisfying 6 00:00:35,920 --> 00:00:43,920 presence can Amen such a verse. There is truly no substitute for 7 00:00:43,920 --> 00:00:51,640 Him in this life. No one, no thing can come close 8 00:00:52,160 --> 00:00:59,080 to bringing the needy human soul to this height of happiness and 9 00:00:59,080 --> 00:01:03,360 this depth of wholeness. The only God can provide. 10 00:01:05,560 --> 00:01:09,920 And I really hope and pray that everyone of us in this place can 11 00:01:09,920 --> 00:01:18,080 genuinely say that knowledge of God and communion with God has 12 00:01:18,080 --> 00:01:24,760 no comparison. To walk with him, to talk to 13 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:32,040 him, to sit alone at his feet and discover him. 14 00:01:33,400 --> 00:01:37,360 There is nothing else that can come close to the joy, the 15 00:01:37,360 --> 00:01:41,520 thrill, the fulfillment of that kind of pursuit. 16 00:01:42,720 --> 00:01:47,120 It is no wonder that the prophet Jeremiah said in Jeremiah 923 to 17 00:01:47,120 --> 00:01:53,320 24. Thus says the Lord, Let not the 18 00:01:53,320 --> 00:01:59,520 wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in 19 00:01:59,520 --> 00:02:06,360 his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches, but let him 20 00:02:06,360 --> 00:02:11,320 who boast, boast in this, that he understands and knows me, 21 00:02:11,840 --> 00:02:16,320 that I am the Lord who practices steadfast love, justice, and 22 00:02:16,320 --> 00:02:20,360 righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, 23 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:29,320 declares the Lord, wisdom might riches do not come close to the 24 00:02:29,320 --> 00:02:35,520 one who knows him. And if you're there, then 25 00:02:35,520 --> 00:02:40,880 perhaps at one point in your journey you have asked yourself 26 00:02:40,880 --> 00:02:47,760 this. Why and how do people choose 27 00:02:47,760 --> 00:02:57,560 other things over this? How does someone reject a saving 28 00:02:57,560 --> 00:03:01,240 relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ? 29 00:03:02,800 --> 00:03:08,000 And I've I've pondered over that question many times, especially 30 00:03:08,000 --> 00:03:10,760 in the early years of my walk with Christ. 31 00:03:11,000 --> 00:03:15,160 As I've observed, loved ones and close friends and coworkers and 32 00:03:15,160 --> 00:03:21,160 classmates have such a tight grip on falsehood and idols 33 00:03:21,160 --> 00:03:23,560 instead of their Creator and Redeemer. 34 00:03:25,200 --> 00:03:29,400 And if you've wondered that yourself, then know this, that 35 00:03:29,400 --> 00:03:32,440 we're going to arrive at some answers to this mystery. 36 00:03:33,920 --> 00:03:38,000 Because what we have before us in our main text today is a 37 00:03:38,000 --> 00:03:43,080 scene, a dramatic scene with a variety of characters who have 38 00:03:43,080 --> 00:03:47,200 this one striking trait in common. 39 00:03:47,960 --> 00:03:53,280 They renounce the Lord Jesus Christ and shockingly, chose an 40 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:58,280 inferior option. And as I meditated on what we're 41 00:03:58,280 --> 00:04:02,840 about to read, I realized that though these parties all had the 42 00:04:02,840 --> 00:04:07,840 same decision, they did so for different reasons. 43 00:04:08,080 --> 00:04:10,680 In other words, there were different factors at work that 44 00:04:10,680 --> 00:04:17,920 encouraged each of these parties to deny Jesus Christ, and we're 45 00:04:17,920 --> 00:04:20,640 going to explore those reasons in detail. 46 00:04:20,640 --> 00:04:25,200 But let's first read this text and see how the stage is set for 47 00:04:25,200 --> 00:04:28,680 this strange decision to be made. 48 00:04:30,280 --> 00:04:36,440 Mark 15 beginning in verse 6. Please meet me in that place and 49 00:04:38,840 --> 00:04:47,960 we will read down to verse 15. Mark 15, verse 6 reads Now at 50 00:04:47,960 --> 00:04:51,680 the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they 51 00:04:51,680 --> 00:04:54,800 asked. And among the rebels in prison 52 00:04:54,800 --> 00:04:58,800 who had committed murder in the insurrection, there is a man 53 00:04:59,040 --> 00:05:02,560 called Barabbas. And the crowd came up and began 54 00:05:02,560 --> 00:05:05,680 to ask Pilot to do as he usually did for them. 55 00:05:06,080 --> 00:05:09,360 And he answered them, saying, Do you want me to release for you 56 00:05:09,360 --> 00:05:13,120 the king of the Jews? For he perceived that it was out 57 00:05:13,120 --> 00:05:15,960 of envy that the chief priest had delivered him up. 58 00:05:17,000 --> 00:05:19,560 But the chief priest stirred up the crowd to have him released 59 00:05:19,560 --> 00:05:23,520 for them Barabbas instead. And Pilate again said to them, 60 00:05:23,520 --> 00:05:26,120 Then what shall I do with the man you called the king of the 61 00:05:26,120 --> 00:05:28,920 Jews? And they cried out again, 62 00:05:28,920 --> 00:05:32,640 Crucify him. And Pilate said to them, Why, 63 00:05:32,760 --> 00:05:36,080 what evil has he done? But they shouted all the more, 64 00:05:36,080 --> 00:05:41,840 Crucify him. So Pilate, wishing to satisfy 65 00:05:41,840 --> 00:05:47,120 the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged 66 00:05:47,160 --> 00:05:50,480 Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. 67 00:05:51,600 --> 00:05:53,640 Lord, we need your help with this word. 68 00:05:56,720 --> 00:06:00,040 May the Holy Spirit be our portion and our help. 69 00:06:01,680 --> 00:06:05,440 And Lord, we just ask that not just the accurate explanation of 70 00:06:05,440 --> 00:06:10,600 this text, but the precise, empowered delivery of this word 71 00:06:11,160 --> 00:06:15,280 would be as you wish. And Lord, we do ask, we all ask 72 00:06:15,280 --> 00:06:20,000 together, that we would only see and hear your Son Jesus Christ. 73 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:24,560 And so, Lord, do miracles today. We believe that your word can 74 00:06:24,560 --> 00:06:30,280 perform miracles, but we don't trust just in human words. 75 00:06:30,280 --> 00:06:32,760 We need what First Thessalonians 15 tells us. 76 00:06:32,760 --> 00:06:36,720 We need power, we need conviction, we need the Holy 77 00:06:36,720 --> 00:06:41,040 Spirit, and we ask and trusted that will be true today in Jesus 78 00:06:41,040 --> 00:06:45,120 name, Amen. Evidently there was a tradition 79 00:06:45,120 --> 00:06:49,400 that Pilot established with the Jews during his reign, during 80 00:06:49,400 --> 00:06:51,920 his political career, and it's made known to us in this 81 00:06:51,920 --> 00:06:55,440 passage. Once a year, around the feast of 82 00:06:55,440 --> 00:06:58,320 the Passover, Pilot would release for the Jews any 83 00:06:58,320 --> 00:07:00,160 criminal that they would want to be free. 84 00:07:01,160 --> 00:07:03,800 Now we are not given any explanation for this custom, but 85 00:07:03,800 --> 00:07:05,560 we can guess. There's a strong guess. 86 00:07:05,560 --> 00:07:09,480 Why Pilot instituted such a thing? 87 00:07:10,280 --> 00:07:12,720 It's very likely because he wanted to be on good terms with 88 00:07:12,720 --> 00:07:15,440 the Jews, especially because when you look at, yes, in the 89 00:07:15,440 --> 00:07:18,560 Bible, even in history, Pilate did not do a lot of things that 90 00:07:18,560 --> 00:07:22,640 made the Jews happy. And so this is one thing to give 91 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:26,200 them some kind of relief, some kind of understanding that Rome 92 00:07:26,200 --> 00:07:31,200 is somewhat merciful. And so he gave them a level of 93 00:07:31,400 --> 00:07:35,080 supposed power and authority, though it was very limiting. 94 00:07:36,000 --> 00:07:39,160 And we see here that Herod, even in the Bible acted in a similar 95 00:07:39,160 --> 00:07:40,080 way. You don't have to turn there. 96 00:07:40,080 --> 00:07:43,000 But in Acts chapter 12, when we're told there that Herod 97 00:07:43,000 --> 00:07:46,920 killed James, the brother of John, he perceived that it 98 00:07:46,920 --> 00:07:49,400 pleased the Jews. And so he proceeded to arrest 99 00:07:49,640 --> 00:07:52,160 Peter also. So this is this is what Pilot is 100 00:07:52,160 --> 00:07:53,080 doing. He's doing what a lot of 101 00:07:53,080 --> 00:07:57,800 politicians like to do. He's promising them a yearly 102 00:07:57,800 --> 00:08:00,680 amnesty here to maintain and enhance his popularity and 103 00:08:00,680 --> 00:08:04,920 political standing. But on this particular Passover, 104 00:08:05,160 --> 00:08:07,640 things are different, very different. 105 00:08:09,080 --> 00:08:11,920 Pilot is known as a brutal man, a cold man. 106 00:08:13,280 --> 00:08:17,920 But even a man like Pilot, after briefly investigating the Lord 107 00:08:17,920 --> 00:08:24,120 Jesus Christ, determined he's innocent, He's not deserving of 108 00:08:24,120 --> 00:08:26,960 any of this. And you get the sense as you 109 00:08:26,960 --> 00:08:33,240 read the Gospels that this man, yes, tough, yes, powerful, yes, 110 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:35,919 very indifferent to the Jewish people, is wrestling. 111 00:08:36,679 --> 00:08:38,960 He's wrestling with this specific case. 112 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:40,760 He doesn't want to deal with it lightly. 113 00:08:40,760 --> 00:08:42,799 He doesn't want to deal with it unjustly. 114 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:50,160 And so you find him here now hoping to release Jesus, hoping 115 00:08:50,160 --> 00:08:53,800 that through this custom though the religious leaders are 116 00:08:53,800 --> 00:08:56,160 convinced that they want this man dead. 117 00:08:56,920 --> 00:09:00,560 Perhaps the populace, the majority, the masses in their 118 00:09:00,560 --> 00:09:03,960 vote with this custom will overrule the religious leaders 119 00:09:03,960 --> 00:09:05,320 and they can't do anything about it. 120 00:09:05,520 --> 00:09:08,880 That is what Pilot is hoping for. 121 00:09:09,800 --> 00:09:13,440 And if you have any doubt that this is what he wants, let me 122 00:09:13,440 --> 00:09:17,040 quote to you Luke 23 verse 20. It's a very brief verse just to 123 00:09:17,040 --> 00:09:20,320 prove my point. It says there Pilot addressed 124 00:09:20,320 --> 00:09:25,800 them once more desiring to release Jesus. 125 00:09:26,880 --> 00:09:30,360 He wanted to set this man free. Then you see with the 126 00:09:30,560 --> 00:09:33,120 combination of the Gospel accounts how even in Providence 127 00:09:33,520 --> 00:09:38,360 there are different ways that Pilate perceived that he had to 128 00:09:38,800 --> 00:09:41,000 he had to try to disassociate himself with this. 129 00:09:41,000 --> 00:09:43,840 You remember his wife had a dream about Jesus and she 130 00:09:43,840 --> 00:09:46,760 approached Pilate says have nothing to do with this man. 131 00:09:48,680 --> 00:09:52,480 But what do we read? Pilate never releases Jesus. 132 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:58,080 Instead, he releases a man named Barabbas. 133 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:02,480 Who is this Barabbas? We don't know much about him, 134 00:10:02,480 --> 00:10:07,800 but what we do have suffices. In verse 7, he is a rebel. 135 00:10:08,320 --> 00:10:11,800 He was in prison. He had committed murder, but he 136 00:10:11,800 --> 00:10:15,440 was not just a murder. He was part of an insurrection. 137 00:10:15,440 --> 00:10:18,560 An insurrection is a violent uprising against any 138 00:10:18,560 --> 00:10:22,960 authoritative body or government, and to do that at 139 00:10:22,960 --> 00:10:26,120 this time warranted a death sentence. 140 00:10:27,000 --> 00:10:30,000 In another Gospel account, we're told that Barabbas was a 141 00:10:30,000 --> 00:10:34,800 notorious criminal. He was a famous prisoner. 142 00:10:36,840 --> 00:10:42,360 Ironically, his name, Barabbas, means Son of the Father. 143 00:10:44,240 --> 00:10:48,800 And what do you have here? You have the people choosing a 144 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:53,600 murderer though, Son of the Father instead of Jesus the 145 00:10:53,600 --> 00:10:56,520 sinless son of the Heavenly Father. 146 00:10:58,480 --> 00:11:03,080 How could this happen? How could bloody Barabbas 147 00:11:03,920 --> 00:11:09,360 receive pardon while Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God face a 148 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:13,280 horrific death? Simple answer. 149 00:11:14,040 --> 00:11:16,120 Barabbas was the People's Choice. 150 00:11:16,680 --> 00:11:19,280 Staggering, isn't it? Indeed it is. 151 00:11:20,200 --> 00:11:22,680 And I want to present to you in this brief time before we break 152 00:11:22,680 --> 00:11:28,560 bread together, at least three reasons why the people exchanged 153 00:11:28,560 --> 00:11:33,040 Jesus for Barabbas. And what you're going to realize 154 00:11:33,040 --> 00:11:36,840 is that the very same reasons that explain why the people did 155 00:11:36,840 --> 00:11:41,200 this will also give some kind of commentary to why people today, 156 00:11:41,520 --> 00:11:47,440 maybe even in this room, are replacing Jesus for another 157 00:11:47,440 --> 00:11:55,440 option. Number one, some people reject 158 00:11:55,560 --> 00:12:03,440 Jesus, replace Jesus because they want to be their own God. 159 00:12:05,600 --> 00:12:07,240 Look at verse 9 and 10 again with me. 160 00:12:09,120 --> 00:12:12,000 And he answered them saying, do you want me to release for you 161 00:12:12,000 --> 00:12:15,160 the king of the Jews? For he perceived that it was out 162 00:12:15,160 --> 00:12:18,320 of envy that the chief priest had delivered him up. 163 00:12:18,520 --> 00:12:23,400 Pilate wasn't dumb. He was a smart man, a strategic 164 00:12:23,400 --> 00:12:28,080 man, and he could read people, at least to an extent. 165 00:12:28,800 --> 00:12:31,400 And at this point he could easily pick up that this whole 166 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:35,000 proceeding was fueled by one thing, jealousy. 167 00:12:36,560 --> 00:12:42,080 It's not very difficult to see how this is boiled over because 168 00:12:42,080 --> 00:12:45,800 of envy. In fact, most people who are 169 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:50,040 envious tend to expose themselves when they resent 170 00:12:50,040 --> 00:12:52,400 somebody else for something that they have or something that they 171 00:12:52,400 --> 00:12:56,040 do. They tend to reveal themselves 172 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:57,800 in a way that they might not even realize. 173 00:12:57,800 --> 00:13:00,320 And one of the ways that they do that is they desperately try to 174 00:13:00,320 --> 00:13:02,680 find something in that person to denounce. 175 00:13:02,960 --> 00:13:07,320 And it is indeed a reach. And they want to do so in order 176 00:13:07,320 --> 00:13:10,040 to disqualify that person in one way or another. 177 00:13:10,440 --> 00:13:12,280 And that's exactly what these Pharisees are doing. 178 00:13:12,280 --> 00:13:16,800 But Pilot isn't buying it. He sees right through it, and he 179 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:18,400 understands that this is personal. 180 00:13:19,120 --> 00:13:21,240 This is not about law. This is not about righteousness. 181 00:13:21,240 --> 00:13:25,000 This is about insecurity. This is about power, this is 182 00:13:25,000 --> 00:13:27,280 about position. But why? 183 00:13:28,640 --> 00:13:32,360 Why are the Jews envious of Jesus? 184 00:13:33,160 --> 00:13:38,600 He healed, He restored, He forgave, He fulfilled. 185 00:13:41,440 --> 00:13:45,440 Well, it's clear there are at least two things that Jesus 186 00:13:45,440 --> 00:13:49,720 Christ of Nazareth possessed that these religious leaders 187 00:13:49,800 --> 00:13:54,960 lack. Two things number one, authority 188 00:13:55,920 --> 00:14:01,600 #2 popularity. Authority and popularity. 189 00:14:02,320 --> 00:14:04,520 You have to understand that before Jesus Christ arrived on 190 00:14:04,520 --> 00:14:09,960 the scene, these religious men were esteemed as the pious 191 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:15,840 theologians and experts they demanded, and they secured the 192 00:14:15,840 --> 00:14:21,480 praises of the people. And all that would change in 193 00:14:21,480 --> 00:14:24,840 such a short amount of time, because now this rabbi from 194 00:14:24,840 --> 00:14:28,160 Nazareth comes and he performs miracles, and he does so with 195 00:14:28,160 --> 00:14:32,440 great power, unparalleled ability, and his teachings, his 196 00:14:32,440 --> 00:14:34,800 words, even compelled the crowds. 197 00:14:35,120 --> 00:14:38,240 They would make Him have people wait out in the wilderness for 198 00:14:38,240 --> 00:14:43,200 three days without eating because they wanted to hear what 199 00:14:43,200 --> 00:14:45,520 He had to say and they wanted to see what He can perform. 200 00:14:47,440 --> 00:14:51,240 And So what these Pharisees and the Sanhedrin and the chief 201 00:14:51,240 --> 00:14:55,360 priests and elders knew and enjoyed was taken away from 202 00:14:55,360 --> 00:14:58,440 them. Do you remember what the 203 00:14:58,440 --> 00:15:02,160 Pharisee said and reaction to Jesus when he healed more than 204 00:15:02,160 --> 00:15:04,520 just healed when he resurrected Lazarus from the dead? 205 00:15:04,880 --> 00:15:06,560 Let me remind you. And if you want to see with your 206 00:15:06,560 --> 00:15:16,240 own eyes, you can in John chapter 12, verse 18 and 19 and 207 00:15:16,240 --> 00:15:20,720 John 1218 and 19, it says here the reason why the crowd went to 208 00:15:20,720 --> 00:15:24,720 meet Him was that they heard He had done this sign. 209 00:15:24,720 --> 00:15:26,440 What sign? He raised Lazarus from the dead. 210 00:15:26,520 --> 00:15:30,280 That's authority. That's power from heaven. 211 00:15:31,320 --> 00:15:33,240 Christ had the Spirit without measure. 212 00:15:33,520 --> 00:15:35,640 And so people were coming to Him, flocking to Him because He 213 00:15:35,640 --> 00:15:39,200 had done this sign authority. But look at verse 19. 214 00:15:39,520 --> 00:15:42,600 So the Pharisee said to one another, you see that you are 215 00:15:42,600 --> 00:15:47,040 gaining nothing. Look, the world has gone after 216 00:15:47,040 --> 00:15:48,960 Him. That's popularity. 217 00:15:52,400 --> 00:15:54,320 And these Pharisees looked at one another, and they couldn't 218 00:15:54,320 --> 00:15:56,200 help but confess it. Look what's happening. 219 00:15:56,720 --> 00:15:59,080 You're losing. We're losing. 220 00:15:59,480 --> 00:16:03,960 The world is going after him. And because they realized that 221 00:16:03,960 --> 00:16:07,080 this was being taken away, they determined we're going to get 222 00:16:07,080 --> 00:16:11,720 rid of him. That's how the Pharisees felt. 223 00:16:12,400 --> 00:16:17,600 This man is robbing us of what we ultimately desire. 224 00:16:17,600 --> 00:16:19,720 That's why they said you are gaining nothing. 225 00:16:20,120 --> 00:16:21,560 And what was it of the ultimate desire? 226 00:16:21,560 --> 00:16:29,040 Praise, prestige, power. And they lusted after that so 227 00:16:29,040 --> 00:16:31,800 much that they were willing to kill for it. 228 00:16:34,800 --> 00:16:37,720 Do you know why some people reject Jesus? 229 00:16:38,360 --> 00:16:42,000 Because they feel that if Christ takes his rightful place in 230 00:16:42,040 --> 00:16:46,920 their hearts, that he will take something from them that they 231 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:53,640 really want to keep. They see Jesus Christ as an 232 00:16:53,640 --> 00:16:59,960 obstacle, more than a treasure, as a hindrance, more than as a 233 00:16:59,960 --> 00:17:05,040 savior, as an intrusion, more than a glorious intervention. 234 00:17:07,400 --> 00:17:12,800 Someone that threatens their self-made image, their ambitions 235 00:17:12,800 --> 00:17:16,760 that give them purpose and worth, their cherished 236 00:17:16,760 --> 00:17:22,800 relationships, the resources that they invested, blood, sweat 237 00:17:22,800 --> 00:17:25,359 and tears and, and oh this one. We can't forget about this one, 238 00:17:25,359 --> 00:17:27,760 right? Their favorite sins. 239 00:17:29,240 --> 00:17:30,880 It's as simple as that, my friends. 240 00:17:31,920 --> 00:17:35,440 In John 319 we are told that this is the judgment that has 241 00:17:35,440 --> 00:17:38,480 come to the world, that light has come to the world, but 242 00:17:38,480 --> 00:17:45,800 people loved darkness rather than light, for their works are 243 00:17:45,800 --> 00:17:50,040 evil, saying why do why? Why do people turn their back on 244 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:52,560 Jesus? You ready for this deep insight? 245 00:17:52,560 --> 00:17:59,880 They love something else more, their idols, their sins, their 246 00:17:59,880 --> 00:18:05,840 autonomy, their ability to govern, the sense of freedom 247 00:18:05,840 --> 00:18:09,280 that I have. Nobody who is telling me what to 248 00:18:09,280 --> 00:18:14,360 do. And if you think that this is a 249 00:18:14,360 --> 00:18:15,680 new thing in our day, no, no, no. 250 00:18:15,680 --> 00:18:18,080 It's ancient. It's been there since the 251 00:18:18,080 --> 00:18:22,400 beginning. So there are some people who 252 00:18:22,400 --> 00:18:25,840 reject Jesus, like these Pharisees, because they feel as 253 00:18:25,840 --> 00:18:29,640 though if I invite Jesus in, he's going to take over. 254 00:18:29,840 --> 00:18:35,360 No, I'm not trading this. I'm going to protect it. 255 00:18:35,840 --> 00:18:40,640 And if protecting it means that I have to choose Barabbas over 256 00:18:40,640 --> 00:18:50,440 Jesus, give me barabbas #2 Why do some people reject, replace, 257 00:18:50,920 --> 00:18:54,680 deny, choose an inferior thing over Jesus? 258 00:18:55,320 --> 00:18:58,440 Because some people are impressionable and easily 259 00:18:58,440 --> 00:19:01,680 persuaded. Come here and look at verse 11 260 00:19:01,680 --> 00:19:06,320 and Mark 15. But the chief priests stirred up 261 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:08,320 the crowd to have him released for them. 262 00:19:08,320 --> 00:19:12,920 Barabbas instead stirred up the crowd. 263 00:19:13,640 --> 00:19:17,640 In Matthew's account in 27 Matthew 2720, we're told that 264 00:19:17,640 --> 00:19:20,800 the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd. 265 00:19:21,640 --> 00:19:24,120 They persuaded the crowd. Now, you have to remember that 266 00:19:24,120 --> 00:19:28,360 this setting is in Jerusalem, and it's very, very, very likely 267 00:19:29,160 --> 00:19:32,960 that most of the people who were in that crowd before pilot this 268 00:19:32,960 --> 00:19:37,480 morning, we're also there a few days earlier, chanting honor and 269 00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:42,200 praises for Jesus as he entered into Jerusalem on a donkey. 270 00:19:44,480 --> 00:19:46,440 Now, most of us are familiar with that insight. 271 00:19:47,160 --> 00:19:50,760 The same crowd that said Hosann are the same people who said 272 00:19:50,760 --> 00:19:53,520 crucify him. But have you ever just sat and 273 00:19:53,520 --> 00:20:00,280 meditated on how this happened? How were they able to switch so 274 00:20:00,280 --> 00:20:04,400 easily? How were they able to change 275 00:20:04,400 --> 00:20:07,680 their minds? Especially because check this 276 00:20:07,680 --> 00:20:10,920 out, there was no investigation made on their part. 277 00:20:12,400 --> 00:20:16,400 There's no idea here that there was reflection and contemplation 278 00:20:16,400 --> 00:20:22,080 and compare comparison. No careful analysis at all. 279 00:20:22,240 --> 00:20:25,600 They just accepted whatever they were being told from supposed 280 00:20:25,840 --> 00:20:31,600 trusted voices. And I make the case today that 281 00:20:31,600 --> 00:20:38,120 this crowd reflects the masses who put little to no thought on 282 00:20:38,120 --> 00:20:41,120 the claims of Christ and Christianity, and because of 283 00:20:41,120 --> 00:20:47,160 such negligence and apathy, they ignore and ultimately deny Jesus 284 00:20:47,160 --> 00:20:49,200 Christ. I've seen it throughout the 285 00:20:49,200 --> 00:20:52,880 years, especially in those days where we evangelize on the 286 00:20:52,880 --> 00:20:57,040 streets for many months and you ask people, why do you believe 287 00:20:57,040 --> 00:20:58,760 what you believe? And here's what you get. 288 00:20:58,760 --> 00:21:01,640 This is what I saw at least on so many occasions. 289 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:04,800 Again, with apathy. I, I don't know. 290 00:21:04,800 --> 00:21:07,120 I just, you know, I guess this is just how I grew up. 291 00:21:07,120 --> 00:21:12,000 But why do you believe what you believe? 292 00:21:13,360 --> 00:21:16,120 I never really thought about it. I like, look, we all have our 293 00:21:16,120 --> 00:21:18,160 truth, I guess, and this is my truth. 294 00:21:19,600 --> 00:21:21,400 Listen, if you think like that and you're sitting here today, 295 00:21:21,400 --> 00:21:24,680 please, I say this in love. Eternity is too long to be wrong 296 00:21:24,680 --> 00:21:31,280 about this. Well, I just read a book and I 297 00:21:31,280 --> 00:21:33,840 just heard this guy, oh, this guy that I looked up to said 298 00:21:33,840 --> 00:21:35,640 this and I thought it was pretty convincing. 299 00:21:36,800 --> 00:21:40,840 No scrutinizing of the legitimacy of things, no 300 00:21:40,840 --> 00:21:44,000 thought. Like if Jesus Christ claims to 301 00:21:44,000 --> 00:21:47,760 be Lord and Savior of the world and he is not my Lord and 302 00:21:47,760 --> 00:21:55,360 Savior, why why isn't he? What convinced you to be on this 303 00:21:55,360 --> 00:22:01,440 side? 1,000,000 millions are like 304 00:22:01,440 --> 00:22:04,080 this. Just whatever is the newest 305 00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:05,480 thing. Just going with the crowd. 306 00:22:05,680 --> 00:22:07,200 This is what I heard. This is what I've been taught in 307 00:22:07,200 --> 00:22:11,360 my living room, in my classroom. No challenge, no pushback, no 308 00:22:11,360 --> 00:22:16,120 litmus test, no pondering, no reflection. 309 00:22:16,160 --> 00:22:20,200 Just this is what? OK, Yeah, your soul, are you 310 00:22:20,200 --> 00:22:23,240 gambling with eternity? You are gambling with eternity. 311 00:22:26,520 --> 00:22:29,240 This crowd is a sobbing illustration of how susceptible 312 00:22:29,240 --> 00:22:34,880 we are, we all are, to believing lies and even believing them to 313 00:22:34,880 --> 00:22:37,600 be absolute truth. And you know, when I was musing 314 00:22:37,600 --> 00:22:40,440 over this part, I wondered if there was any way to know what 315 00:22:40,440 --> 00:22:45,040 the Pharisees said, what they whispered with their slippery 316 00:22:45,040 --> 00:22:49,720 snake like tongues to whip this crowd up in a frenzy. 317 00:22:50,000 --> 00:22:53,000 And you know what? I believe there is a major clue 318 00:22:53,160 --> 00:22:56,240 in this very chapter that we just read together, at least 319 00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:58,680 this section of the chapter. Look back at verse 7. 320 00:23:00,840 --> 00:23:04,080 And among the rebels in prison who had committed murder in the 321 00:23:04,080 --> 00:23:07,240 insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. 322 00:23:08,960 --> 00:23:12,680 He was not just a murderer, he was an insurrectionist. 323 00:23:13,680 --> 00:23:17,280 You know what that means, right? That Barabbas was a Jewish man 324 00:23:17,440 --> 00:23:22,440 who was part of a revolt aimed at toppling the oppression of 325 00:23:22,440 --> 00:23:27,160 the Roman regime. So in the eyes of the Romans, 326 00:23:27,200 --> 00:23:31,400 Barabbas is a man worthy to be put to death. 327 00:23:32,560 --> 00:23:35,600 But in the eyes of the Jewish population, it's very likely 328 00:23:35,600 --> 00:23:42,440 that he was seen as a hero. Now, you have to remember that 329 00:23:42,480 --> 00:23:45,240 most of the Jews at this time, we're so attracted to Jesus 330 00:23:45,240 --> 00:23:47,920 because he displayed and manifested such power. 331 00:23:48,160 --> 00:23:50,800 And he had these claims and they put it together and they 332 00:23:50,800 --> 00:23:54,960 thought, here is this man who is very likely going to fulfill the 333 00:23:54,960 --> 00:23:58,080 political aspects of the messianic promise. 334 00:24:01,440 --> 00:24:06,120 But on this morning, what they saw, I'm sure, deflated whatever 335 00:24:06,120 --> 00:24:10,400 misguided hype they had. Because the same Jesus who 336 00:24:10,400 --> 00:24:14,320 healed people with his hands and commanded demons to flee with 337 00:24:14,320 --> 00:24:19,120 his word is now standing sheepishly at the mercy of Rome, 338 00:24:19,560 --> 00:24:23,200 bloody, with dry spit on his face and hair. 339 00:24:28,000 --> 00:24:30,760 This is the one that we've been shouting about just a few days 340 00:24:30,760 --> 00:24:32,680 earlier. Look at him. 341 00:24:33,480 --> 00:24:36,000 All Pilate has to say is he's done and he's done. 342 00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:40,880 And I have a hunch that these clever Pharisees took advantage 343 00:24:40,880 --> 00:24:43,960 of this. And so they split up and they 344 00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:47,520 went to pockets of people and they began to remind them your 345 00:24:47,520 --> 00:24:50,800 hopes in this Jesus being the son of David. 346 00:24:50,800 --> 00:24:53,040 Look at it. You think this is your savior? 347 00:24:54,360 --> 00:24:56,520 If you really want liberation, which is all. 348 00:24:56,880 --> 00:25:00,040 This is what they really wanted, freedom, liberty. 349 00:25:00,160 --> 00:25:04,720 If you really want liberty, your best option out of the two is 350 00:25:04,720 --> 00:25:08,240 Barabbas, because he proved it before. 351 00:25:08,440 --> 00:25:12,320 He was willing to put his life on the line to overturn Rome. 352 00:25:12,880 --> 00:25:14,560 So why don't we give him another chance? 353 00:25:15,120 --> 00:25:16,600 Look at Jesus. He didn't do anything like 354 00:25:16,600 --> 00:25:19,800 Barabbas said. Barabbas is our better option. 355 00:25:19,960 --> 00:25:22,120 Pick him. Do you see? 356 00:25:25,520 --> 00:25:27,280 I was going to make this a separate point, but I'll just 357 00:25:27,280 --> 00:25:31,280 say it here. The reason why some people 358 00:25:32,360 --> 00:25:37,520 choose something else over Jesus is because they believe that 359 00:25:37,520 --> 00:25:40,320 something else has something better to offer than Jesus. 360 00:25:43,800 --> 00:25:48,520 Barabbas has more promise that there are better saviors out 361 00:25:48,520 --> 00:25:51,600 there, that there are better masters out there, including 362 00:25:51,600 --> 00:26:00,520 yourself. And I was going to say that 363 00:26:00,520 --> 00:26:03,360 Barabbas here, though he did promise something. 364 00:26:04,680 --> 00:26:10,080 It was cheap and limiting. I hope you know this well. 365 00:26:10,080 --> 00:26:12,360 And if you don't, let me tell you this good news. 366 00:26:12,600 --> 00:26:19,120 Only the Lord Jesus Christ can offer a lasting and meaningful 367 00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:23,920 healing, restoration, and forgiveness, because what He 368 00:26:23,920 --> 00:26:27,400 brings reaches the innermost parts of your being, a 369 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:31,360 redemption from the penalty and the power of sin. 370 00:26:33,400 --> 00:26:38,320 No other option can grant that. And yeah, there is an allurement 371 00:26:38,320 --> 00:26:42,640 out there, many allurements, just like Barabbas was enticing. 372 00:26:44,280 --> 00:26:46,080 But what kind of comparison is there? 373 00:26:46,240 --> 00:26:50,040 No comparison. Oh, I was reading this late last 374 00:26:50,040 --> 00:26:51,800 night and this text came to mind. 375 00:26:52,080 --> 00:26:57,400 Let me share it with you. In Isaiah 55 verse 2 where the 376 00:26:57,400 --> 00:27:02,440 prophet says on behalf of the Lord, why do you spend your 377 00:27:02,440 --> 00:27:06,720 money for that which is not bread and your labor for that 378 00:27:06,720 --> 00:27:10,720 which does not satisfy? Listen diligently to me and eat 379 00:27:10,720 --> 00:27:12,880 what is good and delight yourself in rich food. 380 00:27:12,880 --> 00:27:15,440 Look at that second line. Doesn't it move your soul? 381 00:27:17,840 --> 00:27:22,200 Why do you spend your money for that which is not bred and labor 382 00:27:22,200 --> 00:27:27,480 for that which does not satisfy? How many are doing that? 383 00:27:27,480 --> 00:27:29,520 How many? Maybe there's somebody in you're 384 00:27:29,520 --> 00:27:33,080 laboring. People outside of Christ are 385 00:27:33,080 --> 00:27:35,440 working very hard to know satisfaction. 386 00:27:35,440 --> 00:27:37,560 You understand that, right? They're not doing it aimlessly. 387 00:27:39,200 --> 00:27:43,080 So there's a quest out there. There's a universal quest that 388 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:47,920 people are on to know this kind of completeness, the sense of 389 00:27:47,920 --> 00:27:52,280 serenity and wholeness that I, I, I have wait to my life now. 390 00:27:52,440 --> 00:27:54,160 I'm not just floating around here. 391 00:27:54,320 --> 00:27:55,960 I actually have a sense of purpose. 392 00:27:56,160 --> 00:27:59,360 That's something that people are searching for and working hard 393 00:27:59,360 --> 00:28:01,560 for. And they try to find it in 394 00:28:01,560 --> 00:28:03,520 career paths. They try to find it in having as 395 00:28:03,520 --> 00:28:06,520 many children as they can. They try to find it in even 396 00:28:06,520 --> 00:28:08,960 ministerial positions. They try to find it in money. 397 00:28:09,080 --> 00:28:13,600 They try to find it in their bicep size, they try to find it 398 00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:15,600 in health, they try to find it in influence. 399 00:28:15,760 --> 00:28:18,200 They're looking for something and they're investing and 400 00:28:18,200 --> 00:28:21,160 paying, whether it's money or health or energy or 401 00:28:21,160 --> 00:28:24,080 relationships. I need, I need to be satisfied. 402 00:28:24,240 --> 00:28:27,320 And here's the prophet who says why do you spend your money for 403 00:28:27,320 --> 00:28:29,640 that which is not bread and your labour for that which is not 404 00:28:29,640 --> 00:28:34,360 satisfied? In other words, you're not going 405 00:28:34,360 --> 00:28:37,120 to find satisfaction. Apart from what the last part, 406 00:28:37,160 --> 00:28:40,440 listen diligently to me. That's where you're going to 407 00:28:40,440 --> 00:28:44,040 find your satisfaction. Listen diligently to me and eat 408 00:28:44,040 --> 00:28:46,720 what is good and delight yourself in rich food. 409 00:28:46,720 --> 00:28:51,400 Rich food. OK, well, you piqued my 410 00:28:51,400 --> 00:28:52,800 interest. Now I am looking for 411 00:28:52,800 --> 00:28:55,680 satisfaction. And I can say that confidently 412 00:28:55,680 --> 00:28:59,080 about perhaps some here because I myself at 20 was looking for 413 00:28:59,080 --> 00:29:01,480 satisfaction. I know what it's like to hunger 414 00:29:01,480 --> 00:29:03,080 and have that ache in your belly. 415 00:29:04,880 --> 00:29:09,240 So you piqued my interest. What does it cost? 416 00:29:10,960 --> 00:29:12,040 Do I have to go to school for it? 417 00:29:12,040 --> 00:29:13,920 Do I have to? What kind of investments do I 418 00:29:13,920 --> 00:29:17,520 need a guru? What does it cost for me to know 419 00:29:17,520 --> 00:29:20,400 the satisfaction? The price is found in verse one. 420 00:29:22,320 --> 00:29:27,600 Come everyone who thirst come to the waters and he who has no 421 00:29:27,600 --> 00:29:30,480 money come by and eat. Come buy wine and milk without 422 00:29:30,480 --> 00:29:33,200 money and without price. It's free. 423 00:29:37,240 --> 00:29:38,760 There is no price tag attached to it. 424 00:29:40,520 --> 00:29:43,560 There is not anything that you have to do to yourself or for 425 00:29:43,560 --> 00:29:47,800 yourself in light of the gospel. Jesus Christ paid the price. 426 00:29:48,920 --> 00:29:54,040 He shed His blood in order to wash your heart and to make it a 427 00:29:54,040 --> 00:29:57,560 home for the presence and the glory of God to abide in. 428 00:29:58,800 --> 00:30:03,160 He made a way. And what you do is you realize 429 00:30:03,160 --> 00:30:07,240 that yes, your soul needs saving, it needs your your 430 00:30:07,240 --> 00:30:10,720 record of sin to be dealt with, but your soul also needs 431 00:30:10,720 --> 00:30:14,920 satisfaction and Christ provides it. 432 00:30:15,920 --> 00:30:21,200 And when you realize the price that has been paid, you come and 433 00:30:21,200 --> 00:30:23,360 you open your hands and you receive it. 434 00:30:23,360 --> 00:30:27,600 And not only do you receive a theoretical idea or confession 435 00:30:27,640 --> 00:30:30,760 or a worldview, you receive satisfaction. 436 00:30:32,080 --> 00:30:34,920 God the Holy Spirit will make his way in your life where you 437 00:30:34,920 --> 00:30:38,040 know you know. In the same way that you know 438 00:30:38,040 --> 00:30:41,520 you're full. When you stuff your face, you 439 00:30:41,520 --> 00:30:43,480 will know. There's something in the 440 00:30:43,480 --> 00:30:48,040 innermost part of my being that's settled, and it's free. 441 00:30:48,040 --> 00:30:50,480 That's why we as Christians call this the Good News. 442 00:30:51,280 --> 00:30:54,840 Not one penny, so to speak, needs to be reached for 443 00:30:55,480 --> 00:30:59,040 everything has been covered by the cross of Christ. 444 00:31:02,320 --> 00:31:05,920 But unfortunately, some people don't even want to look into the 445 00:31:05,920 --> 00:31:07,880 claims that I'm making. You know, if we really believe 446 00:31:07,880 --> 00:31:10,920 we are people of truth, then we are not intimidated by scrutiny. 447 00:31:13,080 --> 00:31:14,520 Take it. Don't take my word for it. 448 00:31:14,520 --> 00:31:18,080 Take the Bible. Look at these things, examine 449 00:31:18,080 --> 00:31:22,280 them and see if they're true. Some people, unfortunately, are 450 00:31:22,280 --> 00:31:28,000 so impressionable, so easily persuaded, so mindless, just 451 00:31:28,000 --> 00:31:30,840 want to float around in life and not consider the implications of 452 00:31:30,840 --> 00:31:35,080 their existence, of death, of afterlife. 453 00:31:36,040 --> 00:31:38,680 And that's a shame because unfortunately, it's many of them 454 00:31:38,680 --> 00:31:40,640 just like this crowd. Let's come to our final thought 455 00:31:40,640 --> 00:31:44,280 of why some people replace, reject, deny, choose an inferior 456 00:31:44,280 --> 00:31:50,600 option to Jesus. Some people, some people are 457 00:31:50,600 --> 00:31:56,280 afraid to choose Jesus because of the potential repercussions. 458 00:31:57,480 --> 00:31:59,800 Come back to Mark 15. Let's read the final verses 459 00:31:59,800 --> 00:32:07,280 together, verse 12. And Pilate again said to them, 460 00:32:07,280 --> 00:32:09,960 then what shall I do with the man you called the king of the 461 00:32:09,960 --> 00:32:11,560 Jews? And they cried out again, 462 00:32:11,560 --> 00:32:16,160 crucify him. And Pilate said to them, why, 463 00:32:17,000 --> 00:32:21,560 what evil he has done. But they shouted all the more, 464 00:32:21,560 --> 00:32:24,080 crucify him. So Pilate, listen to this 465 00:32:25,280 --> 00:32:30,600 devastating phrase. So Pilate wishing to satisfy the 466 00:32:30,600 --> 00:32:36,080 crowd released for them Barabbas and having scourged Jesus, he 467 00:32:36,080 --> 00:32:38,800 delivered him to be crucified. You know how you're supposed to 468 00:32:38,800 --> 00:32:43,680 rightly understand this? So Pilate wishing to satisfy 469 00:32:43,800 --> 00:32:49,400 himself satisfied the crowd saying, what do you mean? 470 00:32:49,600 --> 00:32:52,840 Turn to this passage to understand in John chapter 19 471 00:32:52,840 --> 00:33:00,560 verse 12, when Pilate was so close to giving the word to say 472 00:33:00,560 --> 00:33:07,520 set the Nazarene free. We read this in John 1912. 473 00:33:07,520 --> 00:33:11,920 From then on Pilate sought to release him, but the Jews cried 474 00:33:11,920 --> 00:33:15,880 out, If you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. 475 00:33:17,800 --> 00:33:21,600 Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar. 476 00:33:23,080 --> 00:33:26,120 Read between the lines. This is a threat. 477 00:33:27,800 --> 00:33:29,800 This is a threat that's being made against Pilot. 478 00:33:29,800 --> 00:33:31,040 In essence, what they're saying is this. 479 00:33:31,040 --> 00:33:35,160 If you release this Jesus who claimed to be a king, then you 480 00:33:35,160 --> 00:33:41,720 are challenging and betraying the authority of Caesar, making 481 00:33:41,720 --> 00:33:47,000 yourself an enemy. You want us to report you to 482 00:33:47,000 --> 00:33:50,560 Caesar after you released this man who claims to be a king? 483 00:33:51,520 --> 00:33:55,880 Pilot understood the threat and Pilot understood I'm not willing 484 00:33:55,880 --> 00:33:58,120 to get myself in that kind of trouble. 485 00:33:59,200 --> 00:34:04,480 And so this was really the final thing that pushed Pilot over the 486 00:34:04,480 --> 00:34:06,920 edge. It boiled down to this, my 487 00:34:06,920 --> 00:34:13,400 friends self preservation. He caved since he could not 488 00:34:13,400 --> 00:34:16,000 imagine facing Caesar with such accusations. 489 00:34:16,000 --> 00:34:18,639 But do you know what Pilot overlooked? 490 00:34:19,000 --> 00:34:21,440 Something that some people perhaps even hear overlooking. 491 00:34:22,679 --> 00:34:29,760 Pilot will one day stand before God, never mind standing before 492 00:34:29,760 --> 00:34:31,040 Caesar. Who's Caesar? 493 00:34:34,320 --> 00:34:37,679 He's going to stand before God. You know, history tells us that 494 00:34:37,679 --> 00:34:42,320 an AD 36 Pilot made another very unwise decision. 495 00:34:43,520 --> 00:34:46,320 He called for an ambush against some Samaritan worshippers who 496 00:34:46,320 --> 00:34:49,760 were making pilgrimage to Mount Gerasim, and he slaughtered them 497 00:34:49,760 --> 00:34:54,400 at the foot of that mountain. And so great was this slaughter 498 00:34:54,400 --> 00:34:59,600 that the Samaritan leaders called to the governor of Syria. 499 00:34:59,760 --> 00:35:05,200 And this all ended up having Rome recall Pilot and remove him 500 00:35:05,200 --> 00:35:10,040 from his position. We're not certain what happened 501 00:35:10,040 --> 00:35:15,000 to Pilot after this, but he just seems to fade from the public 502 00:35:15,000 --> 00:35:18,520 scene and more than one historian tells us that 503 00:35:18,520 --> 00:35:22,600 eventually Pilate, the same pilot who years before that had 504 00:35:22,600 --> 00:35:26,080 Jesus of Nazareth put to death, ended up committing suicide. 505 00:35:30,320 --> 00:35:36,280 However this man may have died, one thing is for certain, he has 506 00:35:36,280 --> 00:35:42,080 an appointment with the judge of all the earth, and the same one 507 00:35:42,160 --> 00:35:47,400 who thought he had the fate of Jesus in his hand will have his 508 00:35:47,400 --> 00:35:53,080 eternal fate in the hand and the decision of Jesus. 509 00:35:56,680 --> 00:36:00,920 There's some people who do not want to choose Jesus because 510 00:36:00,920 --> 00:36:04,920 they are afraid, so they go with Barabbas. 511 00:36:06,280 --> 00:36:09,400 They fear what it might cost them in this life, what their 512 00:36:09,400 --> 00:36:13,960 family might say or do, how their spouse might react, what 513 00:36:13,960 --> 00:36:17,280 their employer might say, what their childhood friends, because 514 00:36:17,520 --> 00:36:21,280 some of them are Muslim or Hindu or Buddhist or gay activists or 515 00:36:21,280 --> 00:36:23,520 agnostics. What, what will they say if I 516 00:36:23,520 --> 00:36:27,160 become a true follower of Jesus? Never mind what Caesar has to 517 00:36:27,160 --> 00:36:30,720 say. God is going to get the last 518 00:36:30,720 --> 00:36:35,080 word, and God's Word is all that matters. 519 00:36:37,480 --> 00:36:40,320 If you really frame your life, especially this decision in 520 00:36:40,320 --> 00:36:45,000 light of eternity, you find a lot more courage and boldness 521 00:36:45,000 --> 00:36:48,360 and strength. If you're limiting yourself and 522 00:36:48,360 --> 00:36:50,640 your understanding of what happens in this life based on 523 00:36:50,640 --> 00:36:52,880 your decisions is especially with the most important decision 524 00:36:52,880 --> 00:36:56,400 in your life, you're setting yourself up for unnecessary 525 00:36:56,400 --> 00:36:59,800 obstacles to the greatest way of life you can imagine. 526 00:37:03,440 --> 00:37:08,320 And who cares? Honestly, in this day of age, 527 00:37:08,680 --> 00:37:09,960 you should be more bold than ever. 528 00:37:09,960 --> 00:37:11,800 Look at the craziness of the world out there. 529 00:37:12,320 --> 00:37:14,560 Look at what you get when you deny God over time. 530 00:37:15,360 --> 00:37:17,920 If anybody has a reason to be embarrassed, it's them. 531 00:37:21,280 --> 00:37:25,200 So here's Jesus Christ, who in his love for me was willing to 532 00:37:25,560 --> 00:37:29,280 be exposed and hung on a cross. And I'm ashamed publicly to say 533 00:37:29,280 --> 00:37:32,280 I serve him. Far be it from me, far be it 534 00:37:32,280 --> 00:37:35,480 from me. Let the world deny Christ. 535 00:37:36,320 --> 00:37:38,640 He died for me. By His grace, I will live for 536 00:37:38,640 --> 00:37:45,160 Him. Some people, though, can't see 537 00:37:45,160 --> 00:37:48,080 it that way. They're so earthbound. 538 00:37:50,760 --> 00:37:53,280 They fail to remember that one day your breath is going to give 539 00:37:53,280 --> 00:37:56,240 up and you're going to leave everybody behind. 540 00:37:57,200 --> 00:37:59,760 And on that final day, everybody will be in the backdrop. 541 00:37:59,760 --> 00:38:02,320 The only one that will take center stage is the one who came 542 00:38:02,320 --> 00:38:06,560 and died on the cross for you. That's where it's all leading 543 00:38:06,560 --> 00:38:11,480 to, and I have determined, and I hope you have determined to make 544 00:38:11,480 --> 00:38:13,880 your decision based on that reality. 545 00:38:16,960 --> 00:38:21,760 How much more can be said? You can imagine, but let me end 546 00:38:21,760 --> 00:38:25,880 it by saying this. This portrait offers us more 547 00:38:25,880 --> 00:38:29,760 than just an exhibition of the depths of man's wickedness and 548 00:38:29,760 --> 00:38:35,800 depravity that they're willing to choose a Barabbas over Jesus. 549 00:38:36,440 --> 00:38:39,000 I argue that what you have at the same time here is an 550 00:38:39,000 --> 00:38:42,640 incredible manifestation and demonstration of the love of 551 00:38:42,640 --> 00:38:44,800 God. You're saying how? 552 00:38:45,440 --> 00:38:49,320 Because although the religious leaders had a say, and although 553 00:38:49,320 --> 00:38:53,560 the crowd was persuaded, and although Pilate finally gave in, 554 00:38:53,600 --> 00:38:57,200 the one who really had a choice in this matter was Jesus Christ. 555 00:38:57,680 --> 00:39:01,440 I lay down my own life. No one takes it from me. 556 00:39:01,680 --> 00:39:04,280 No pilot, no crowd, no Pharisees. 557 00:39:04,320 --> 00:39:09,560 I make a decision to do this. So ultimately the destiny of 558 00:39:09,560 --> 00:39:14,560 Christ is up to Christ. So you know what Christ does in 559 00:39:14,560 --> 00:39:22,400 this moment. He lets Barabbas go free, and he 560 00:39:22,400 --> 00:39:24,760 willingly chose to take his place. 561 00:39:26,920 --> 00:39:28,760 This is a gospel picture, my friend. 562 00:39:30,440 --> 00:39:35,640 The guilty are made innocent, while the innocent one is made 563 00:39:35,640 --> 00:39:40,080 guilty. What's the story about Barabbas? 564 00:39:40,080 --> 00:39:43,360 Yeah, it is about how people are willing to choose, for different 565 00:39:43,360 --> 00:39:45,680 reasons, something inferior to Christ. 566 00:39:46,000 --> 00:39:49,520 But it's also, more importantly, a picture of how Jesus was 567 00:39:49,520 --> 00:39:56,440 willing to take this man's place as a precursor of taking a place 568 00:39:56,440 --> 00:39:58,560 for all those who put their faith and trust in Him. 569 00:40:01,080 --> 00:40:03,560 He can take your place if you have not yet repented and 570 00:40:03,560 --> 00:40:08,800 believed on Him. A verse came to my mind that I 571 00:40:08,800 --> 00:40:11,520 want to read to you. In closing, before we relish and 572 00:40:11,520 --> 00:40:15,080 rejoice over this divine exchange in the gospel. 573 00:40:16,280 --> 00:40:18,400 It's what Jesus said, and I want you to see it. 574 00:40:18,400 --> 00:40:21,320 So if you haven't turned your Bibles much today, turn it to 575 00:40:21,320 --> 00:40:26,680 this place in John 14 verse 30. And I think this will be a 576 00:40:26,680 --> 00:40:28,880 wonderful way to prepare ourselves for this ordinance. 577 00:40:36,090 --> 00:40:41,010 John 1430, Jesus says, I will no longer talk much with you, for 578 00:40:41,010 --> 00:40:43,090 the ruler of this world is coming. 579 00:40:43,090 --> 00:40:46,210 Look at this last part. He has no claim on me. 580 00:40:48,530 --> 00:40:49,530 Have you ever thought about that? 581 00:40:51,250 --> 00:40:53,170 The ruler of this world, he's not talking about Rome. 582 00:40:53,170 --> 00:40:54,930 He's not talking about Caesar. He's not talking about Pilate. 583 00:40:54,930 --> 00:40:59,720 He's not talking about Caiaphas. He's talking about Satan, who is 584 00:40:59,720 --> 00:41:01,840 known as the Prince of the power of the air. 585 00:41:02,520 --> 00:41:05,360 And at this time he was beelining it towards Jesus 586 00:41:05,360 --> 00:41:09,520 Christ, thinking that he had some say and some claim on him. 587 00:41:10,720 --> 00:41:13,280 And here's what Jesus says. He has no claim on me. 588 00:41:13,760 --> 00:41:16,320 That means many things, but let me drive this one point. 589 00:41:16,320 --> 00:41:22,000 What Christ is getting is that Satan had no legal claim on 590 00:41:22,000 --> 00:41:25,480 Christ. He has an accusation against 591 00:41:25,520 --> 00:41:27,280 every single one of us since Adam. 592 00:41:27,720 --> 00:41:30,200 There is sin in us. There is sin that we've 593 00:41:30,200 --> 00:41:34,160 performed, that we have done that gives Satan some ammunition 594 00:41:34,160 --> 00:41:37,720 to use to even come before the throne of God and say he 595 00:41:37,720 --> 00:41:41,240 deserves your wrath. She deserves your judgement. 596 00:41:41,640 --> 00:41:44,360 But when it came to Jesus Christ, Satan could find 597 00:41:44,360 --> 00:41:46,360 nothing. Nothing. 598 00:41:47,200 --> 00:41:50,600 No thought, no word, no deed, no reaction, no action, no mis 599 00:41:50,600 --> 00:41:53,800 action, nothing. And Jesus could confidently say 600 00:41:53,800 --> 00:41:55,560 this is a declaration of his perfection. 601 00:41:55,760 --> 00:42:02,440 He has no claim on me. He has no say in my fate. 602 00:42:03,400 --> 00:42:08,720 I'm spotless, I'm perfect. I'm the exact imprint of his 603 00:42:08,720 --> 00:42:12,960 nature, God's nature. And we rejoice in that because 604 00:42:12,960 --> 00:42:16,320 we say, yes, he is perfect, He is God who became man. 605 00:42:16,480 --> 00:42:18,240 But you have to understand something with the complete 606 00:42:18,240 --> 00:42:20,960 story of the Bible. Jesus says he has no claim on 607 00:42:20,960 --> 00:42:22,560 me. But then we're told that through 608 00:42:22,560 --> 00:42:27,320 the transaction of faith we receive Christ's righteousness. 609 00:42:27,880 --> 00:42:30,760 Paul uses the word that we are clothed in his righteousness. 610 00:42:30,920 --> 00:42:34,160 He uses the word that we are hidden in Christ so 611 00:42:34,160 --> 00:42:36,480 positionally, not because of our own merit, not because of our 612 00:42:36,480 --> 00:42:40,680 own efforts, but positionally. When Jesus says he has no claim 613 00:42:40,680 --> 00:42:45,520 on me, we can also say he has no claim on us because we belong to 614 00:42:45,520 --> 00:42:46,800 him. You're saying, Oh no, you're 615 00:42:46,800 --> 00:42:48,160 taking this too far. No, no, I'm saying this is 616 00:42:48,160 --> 00:42:51,480 exactly what the gospel is. And Paul said in his own way in 617 00:42:51,480 --> 00:42:56,880 Romans 833. Who then can condemn the elect? 618 00:42:57,400 --> 00:43:00,440 For it is God who justifies. Nobody can. 619 00:43:00,800 --> 00:43:04,120 Nobody can condemn us. Nobody can change our position 620 00:43:04,120 --> 00:43:09,160 before God, even Satan himself, because of what Christ has done. 621 00:43:09,720 --> 00:43:12,160 He has no claim. He has no claim. 622 00:43:12,160 --> 00:43:16,840 That is a legal truth. That is something that nothing 623 00:43:16,960 --> 00:43:21,240 can obliterate. It has been set for eternity if 624 00:43:21,240 --> 00:43:25,480 you truly belong to Him. That's how secure we are in Him. 625 00:43:25,680 --> 00:43:28,200 He has no claim on me. I'm talking to a people today 626 00:43:28,200 --> 00:43:31,720 who are ready to take some bread and drink from the cup, who 627 00:43:31,720 --> 00:43:35,200 believe with all their hearts I'm free. 628 00:43:37,560 --> 00:43:41,680 That even if Satan with all his hordes of demons choose to 629 00:43:41,680 --> 00:43:44,360 whisper in my ear or even make an attendance before the throne 630 00:43:44,360 --> 00:43:49,200 of God to say condemn him, destroy him, get rid of him, 631 00:43:49,360 --> 00:43:53,440 because of what Christ has done on my behalf, there is no claim 632 00:43:53,440 --> 00:43:56,920 against me. Totally free, totally redeemed, 633 00:43:57,080 --> 00:44:00,240 totally secure because of Jesus Christ our Savior. 634 00:44:00,800 --> 00:44:14,920 Let's pray. Help us, Lord, rejoice in that 635 00:44:14,920 --> 00:44:22,680 truth, especially for those who have truly been born again, who 636 00:44:22,680 --> 00:44:27,040 love you, who long for you, who desire you, but feel as though 637 00:44:27,040 --> 00:44:33,840 their performance might cause them to doubt their 638 00:44:33,840 --> 00:44:38,520 justification. Help us remember, Lord today, 639 00:44:38,880 --> 00:44:42,680 that it's what You did on our behalf that wins our 640 00:44:42,680 --> 00:44:46,080 righteousness. And Lord, if there is anybody 641 00:44:46,080 --> 00:44:50,760 here today who does not believe on you, trust in You who has not 642 00:44:50,840 --> 00:44:57,720 yet chosen you, Reveal to them the reasons why and show them 643 00:44:58,440 --> 00:45:04,840 that these reasons do not compare to who You are and what 644 00:45:04,840 --> 00:45:08,840 you have to offer. May faith be born in the hearts 645 00:45:09,240 --> 00:45:12,960 of even one person here who has not trusted in Christ, who has 646 00:45:12,960 --> 00:45:15,400 not surrendered their lives to the Lordship of Christ. 647 00:45:16,520 --> 00:45:19,320 And so Lord, we thank you. We want to sing your praises 648 00:45:19,320 --> 00:45:23,600 today as we reflect on the fact that we are redeemed and that 649 00:45:23,600 --> 00:45:27,400 there is no accusation that can be made against us forever and 650 00:45:27,400 --> 00:45:29,040 ever. We thank you. 651 00:45:29,480 --> 00:45:32,640 In Jesus name we pray, Amen. Amen. 652 00:45:33,760 --> 00:45:37,000 As a praise thing comes up, it is my duty to exhort you in this 653 00:45:37,000 --> 00:45:40,360 manner. For those who you may not be a 654 00:45:40,360 --> 00:45:42,760 Christian, we welcome you. We're so glad that you can join 655 00:45:42,760 --> 00:45:45,200 us at this church service. But this, what we're about to 656 00:45:45,200 --> 00:45:49,000 participate in, is reserved for Christians, for people who have 657 00:45:49,120 --> 00:45:52,360 put their faith and trust in Christ and who are following 658 00:45:52,360 --> 00:45:54,560 him. And so we ask that you would 659 00:45:54,560 --> 00:45:57,840 just respectfully observe as people approach this table and 660 00:45:57,840 --> 00:46:01,240 receive these elements. But we also want to look at you 661 00:46:01,240 --> 00:46:03,680 and say, oh, we hope that one day you can join us at this 662 00:46:03,680 --> 00:46:06,520 table. And the way that you can enjoy 663 00:46:06,600 --> 00:46:10,400 this meal is when you understand your need for Christ. 664 00:46:10,800 --> 00:46:14,560 Christ died for you. He wants to forgive you every 665 00:46:14,560 --> 00:46:16,400 single sin that you've ever committed. 666 00:46:17,400 --> 00:46:19,240 He does not delight in the death of the wicked. 667 00:46:19,240 --> 00:46:23,560 The Bible says he delights more in granting mercy and in his 668 00:46:23,560 --> 00:46:25,640 love. He wants to wash you and cleanse 669 00:46:25,640 --> 00:46:28,520 you and transform you. And the way that takes place is 670 00:46:28,520 --> 00:46:30,280 not through religious formalities. 671 00:46:30,480 --> 00:46:33,520 It's not through jumping hoops. It's from you just realizing 672 00:46:33,520 --> 00:46:36,960 your need, confessing with your mouth that Jesus Christ is Lord, 673 00:46:36,960 --> 00:46:39,440 and believing in your heart that God raises them from the dead. 674 00:46:39,720 --> 00:46:42,640 It's a personal decision that you make you between you and 675 00:46:42,640 --> 00:46:45,840 God, even in this very room, can take you from death to life. 676 00:46:48,080 --> 00:46:53,920 A believer, you're here to do something in honor of Christ and 677 00:46:53,920 --> 00:46:56,880 help of your faith. As you approach this table 678 00:46:56,880 --> 00:46:59,560 positionally, you are reminded that I am saved. 679 00:46:59,560 --> 00:47:02,240 But also Christ wants us to come in an honorable manner. 680 00:47:03,000 --> 00:47:07,360 And so if our practice knowingly is not aligned to our 681 00:47:07,360 --> 00:47:11,280 profession, it's better for us to stop and to reconcile with 682 00:47:11,280 --> 00:47:15,000 our brother, repent of our sins before we rush mindlessly to 683 00:47:15,000 --> 00:47:17,200 this table. And so I encourage you now, even 684 00:47:17,200 --> 00:47:20,080 as we sing, reflect on your heart, reflect on your life. 685 00:47:20,840 --> 00:47:23,720 This doesn't mean that you have to be perfect because this whole 686 00:47:23,720 --> 00:47:25,360 table is meant to tell you're not perfect. 687 00:47:25,680 --> 00:47:28,240 Christ is perfect. But if there is any sin that you 688 00:47:28,240 --> 00:47:31,600 know of that you have not repented of and you're holding 689 00:47:31,600 --> 00:47:34,600 on to for whatever reason, let go of it before you grab hold of 690 00:47:34,600 --> 00:47:37,800 anything here that will honor Christ more than anything else. 691 00:47:38,720 --> 00:47:41,320 Let us stand together, shall we? Let's worship the Lord before we 692 00:47:41,320 --> 00:47:42,320 worship at the table.