4/09                 Matthew 27:23-25 

“Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?” But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!” 24 Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!” 25 And all the people yelled back, “We will take responsibility for his death—we and our children!” 

YES
 All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.  Even when we come to Christ sin continues to be a problem because we still want to play God in our life.  Surrender to Jesus.  Ask Him to forgive you of your sin and come into your heart.  When you do recognize that you are a sinner and Jesus is the only way to the Father and you accept Him you have made the right decision.  Jesus is Lord.  

4/08                 Matthew 27:22 

Pilate responded, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” They shouted back, “Crucify him!” 

REALLY

Did they really say that?  The testimony says they did.  Are you surprised?  Look at the way the lost abhor Christ.  Maybe even the way you once felt about Jesus.  Jesus is Lord and there is nothing you or anyone else can do about and people dead in their trespasses and sin hate Jesus.  Turn to Christ.  Make sure of your relationship with him.  It is an eternal relationship and you can choose right now but one day the opportunity for choice will be over.  Choose Jesus. 

4/07                 Matthew 27:20-21 

Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death. 21 So the governor asked again, “Which of these two do you want me to release to you?” The crowd shouted back, “Barabbas!”

REALLY

Blinded by sin the people chose Barabbas.  The baddest of the bad.  A truly evil person.  Evil thought it had won.  Jesus won.  He suffered and died for our sin. 

4/06                 Matthew 27:19 

Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Leave that innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about him last night.” 

LISTEN

Sometimes the Lord will use people to speak to you.  Carefully evaluate what people say.  The Lord is good and He loves you.

4/05                 Matthew 27:15-18 

Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner to the crowd—anyone they wanted. 16 This year there was a notorious prisoner, a man named Barabbas. 17 As the crowds gathered before Pilate’s house that morning, he asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 (He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.) 

SIN

This whole murder trial of Jesus was evil at work in the world.  Now the religious leaders had whipped up the foolish populace to demand Jesus be murdered.  We were there with them and just as they did we too nailed the nails into His hands and feet.  Evil killed Jesus.  God raised Him from the dead.  He paid the price for our sin and offers us entrée to His kingdom.  Praise God from whom all blessings flow.  

4/04                 Matthew 27:13 

“Don’t you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?” Pilate demanded. 14But Jesus made no response to any of the charges, much to the governor’s surprise. 

FATHER

Jesus listened to the Father and kept quiet.  There was nothing these people could do that would change the outcome.  He was going to the Cross for us.  His mission was an amazing mission and He would complete it.  Christ is King.  

4/03                 Matthew 27:11-12 

Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor. “Are you the king of the Jews?” the governor asked him. Jesus replied, “You have said it.”  12 But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent.

REPLY

What would you do?  Jesus, the Son of God, knew what they were going to do, kill him.  He denied himself and under the direction of the Father walked straight to the Cross.  He did that for you and for me.  He knew our great need and made His great sacrifice.  Jesus is Lord.  

4/02                 Matthew 27:3-10 

When Judas, who had betrayed him, realized that Jesus had been condemned to die, he was filled with remorse. So he took the thirty pieces of silver back to the leading priests and the elders.  4 “I have sinned,” he declared, “for I have betrayed an innocent man.” “What do we care?” they retorted. “That’s your problem.” 5 Then Judas threw the silver coins down in the Temple and went out and hanged himself. 6 The leading priests picked up the coins. “It wouldn’t be right to put this money in the Temple treasury,” they said, “since it was payment for murder.”  7After some discussion they finally decided to buy the potter’s field, and they made it into a cemetery for foreigners. 8 That is why the field is still called the Field of Blood. 9 This fulfilled the prophecy of Jeremiah that says, “They took the thirty pieces of silver— the price at which he was valued by the people of Israel, 10 and purchased the potter’s field, as the LORD directed. ” 

PROPHECY

Jeremiah prophesied this very act about 600 years ago.  God knew what was going on.  He always knows what is going on and out of what we call darkness the Lord speaks.  He knows all things and uses all things for His purpose.  There is a day coming when this vary same Jesus will return in judgment.  Stand fast.  Let the characters of darkness go their way but you follow the Lord.  

4/01                 Matthew 27:1-2 

Very early in the morning the leading priests and the elders of the people met again to lay plans for putting Jesus to death. 2 Then they bound him, led him away, and took him to Pilate, the Roman governor. 

CONTINUES

Evil continues and continues.  The drama is disgusting.  Those who operate in darkness think they are destroying the light.  They find their actions to be right and they are totally wrong.  Evil controls the moment and yet is playing right into God’s hands.  Christ will suffer and bleed for us.  The darkness of sin is overwhelming.  But the dawn will come and come soon.  

3/31                 Matthew 26:75 

Suddenly, Jesus’ words flashed through Peter’s mind: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny three times that you even know me.” And he went away, weeping bitterly.

FAILURE

Failure destroys us.  It abuses us.  But what we need to do is to take our failure to Jesus and let Him show us how to succeed.  Stay away from the negativity of life and let Christ guide you in the positive way to go.  Jesus is Lord and He loves you.