I invite you to turn with me to Matthew 27. Matthew 27 as we read together and consider verses 11 through 26. Two weeks ago, we considered the episode just before what we have recorded here, or the recording of Judas bringing back the silver. The chapter begins with these words, Early in the morning all the chief priests and the elders of the people came to the decision to put Jesus to death. They bound him, led him away, and handed him over to Pilate, the governor. And then, of course, Matthew goes in to his discourse then about Judas. And once that is completed, we pick it up at verse 11, hearing once again the word of our holy God. Meanwhile, Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, Are you the king of the Jews? Yes, it is as you say, Jesus replied. When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. Then Pilate asked him, Don't you hear the testimony they are bringing against you? But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge, to the great amazement of the governor. Now it was the governor's custom at the feast to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. At that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, Which one do you want me to release to you, Barabbas or Jesus, who is called Christ? For he knew it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him. While Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message, Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him. But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. Which of the two do you want me to release to you? asked the governor. Barabbas, they answered. What shall I do then with Jesus, who is called Christ? Pilate asked. They all answered, Crucify him. Why? What crime has he committed? asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, Crucify him! When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. I am innocent of this man's blood, he said. It is your responsibility. All the people answered, let his blood be on us and our children. Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged and handed him over to be crucified. May God indeed add his blessing to the reading, the preaching, the hearing of his word this morning. Well, beloved, in Christ the Lord, the church of the day had spoken, hadn't they? As you recall, Christ's trial before the Sanhedrin was even before the episode regarding Judas. And there, the high priests, the teachers of the law, the elders, in their religious trial, in their church or ecclesiastical trial, they had condemned Jesus for blasphemy, for claiming to be God. And they sentenced Him to death. Yet we know, as they knew, that they did not have the power, they did not have the authority to carry out the sentence that they handed down. They needed Rome's approval, and therefore they had no choice but to take Jesus to Pilate in the hope of getting their way. And talk about swallowing their pride. Because Pilate was not a noble man. Pilate was a pagan, a heathen. And on top of that, he was no friend of the Jews, He was not like some of the governors who came before him, those who were somewhat sensitive to Jewish customs and practices, those who would do whatever they could to keep from doing what was offensive to the Jews. Pilate was not like that. Pilate was the opposite. He would rather do whatever he could to offend the Jews than to appease them. For example, at one time he even took money from the sacred temple treasury, Money which had been given by God's people, dedicated for the service of the temple, and he took it against the Jews' will to build a 50-mile aqueduct. And when the Jews protested, he had them attacked and beaten and killed. Luke 13, verse 1, also records a massacre of the Galileans, whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices. And it's to this very one who hated God and who hated God's people that the Jewish religious leaders had to cuddle up to in order to get their way. In congregation, we know this was all a part of Christ's suffering and shame. It was all a part of the injustice that He suffered in order to satisfy God's justice. John Calvin says that the Son of God should be dragged before a profane man and charged with a capital offense as a malefactor in chains was a shocking exhibition and highly incompatible with the majesty of the Son of God. Yet, Calvin continues, our salvation consists in the doctrine of the cross, which he reminds us that Paul says is foolishness. And he says the Son of God chose to stand before an earthly judge to receive the sentence of death. And that, beloved, is the very reason we can sing with confidence, what can wash away my sins? What can make me whole again? Nothing but the blood of Jesus. Now, all the Gospel writers we know include this trial of Jesus before Pilate. Some include more details than others, and we'll look to those a little bit. Matthew doesn't record as many details as some of the others. But what is striking, I believe, in Matthew's account is that we find here, in this context, we find two ignorant responses to Christ's shed blood. Two ignorant, foolish, sinful responses to the blood of Jesus that was going to be shed. The first one is Pilate. Pilate denies responsibility. He washes his hands. He says, I'm innocent. And the second party was the Jews themselves. His blood be upon us. They claim responsibility for the blood of Jesus. Two ignorant, foolish responses to Christ's shed blood. First of all, Pilate denies responsibility. Verse 24, when Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. I am innocent of this man's blood, he said. It is your responsibility. Ironically, the very same thing that these leaders had said to Judas when he came to them. See to it yourself. It's your responsibility. We have nothing to do with your part of this scheme. And now Pilate says the very same thing to them. Now, washing the hands like this was indeed a Jewish custom. We don't know how Pilate may have known about it, but indeed its significance would not have been lost upon the Jewish people. We find it recorded especially in Deuteronomy chapter 21. There we find the section with regard, you recall, to if a man was found who had been slain, murdered. And they didn't know who did it. They would measure to the nearest town, and the elders of that town would have to go through a bit of a ritual to claim their innocence, to somewhat take an oath for their innocence. In verse 6 of chapter 21, we read, Beginning there, Then all the elders of the town nearest the body shall wash their hands over the heifer whose neck was broken in the valley, and they shall declare, Our hands did not shed this blood, nor did our eyes see it done. Accept this atonement for your people Israel, whom you have redeemed, O Lord, and do not hold your people guilty of the blood of an innocent man. And the bloodshed will be atoned for. So you will purge from yourselves the guilt of shedding innocent blood, since you have done what is right in the eyes of the Lord. Pilate is using a Jewish custom here, yet here with Pilate it's a mockery. Because for Israel, as we see in Deuteronomy 21, the meaning was to clear those who were innocent from any wrongdoing. But Pilate is anything but innocent, as we will see in these details. Pilate is responsible for his part, including in the very end, handing Jesus over to execution. But here he denies responsibility after failing to free Jesus. He had every opportunity, every reason to free Jesus, but he failed to free Jesus following unfounded accusations. Now John gives us the fullest account of this trial, and there we read that Pilate asks the leaders, what charges are you bringing against this man? And it's very possible that that question took the leaders somewhat by surprise because the history books tell us that very possibly, most likely, the religious leaders had contacted Pilate late the night before and gotten his consent to try this case first thing in the morning and had given him a bit of evidence of some sort. And therefore, as they brought Jesus before Pilate, they figured it would be an open and shut case. But here Pilate says, well, what charges are you bringing against this man? What a surprise. After all, Pilate never really cared about justice before. And the response of the people that John records shows that surprise, I believe, when they respond, well, if he were not a criminal, we can almost hear them stammering a little bit, well, if he were not a criminal, we would not have handed him over to you. We wouldn't be wasting your time if we weren't sure. But yet we know it was a bold-faced lie. We know without shame they increased their guilt. and luke chapter 23 reminds us of a whole list of accusations that they came with we have found this man subverting our nation he opposes payment of taxes to caesar and claims to be christ a king he stirs up the people all over judea by his teaching he started in galilee and has come all the way here all these accusations which of course were false except for the fact that he was christ A king. And notice Matthew picks that accusation up alone. Has Pilate picking up that accusation. Pilate asks Jesus, are you the king of the Jews? And the emphasis there in the original is on you. Are you? As if he's looking him up and down. Really? Are you the king of the Jews? But notice in all this entire list of accusations, Notice the one that's missing. Did you catch that? The sentence of blasphemy. Of claiming to be God. They didn't tell Pilate that one. Because they knew that Pilate wouldn't care about that one. So they paint Jesus, indeed as a king, but not just any sort of king, as a revolutionary, as a troublemaker, as a rabble-rouser. Ironically, the very kind that they were looking for. but they paint him in that way so that Pilate could not ignore the threat. But as Pilate says to Jesus, Are you the king of the Jews? Jesus' only defense, even when Pilate gave him opportunity to answer the charges, the only thing Jesus said is, Yes, it is as you say. And John records Jesus also saying, But my kingdom is not of this world. You see, the accusations were unfounded. They were false. We know that from the testimony of Scripture as the leaders were looking for false testimony against them. And therefore, justice demanded Pilate to free Jesus, but he failed to. He didn't do it. And not even after his wife's warning. In verse 19, while Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message, don't have anything to do with that innocent man, For I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him. Now the history books record her name as Claudia Procula. And of course there's much speculation about her. What did she know about Jesus? How did she learn about him? Was she simply paying attention? Some say she was a Jewish proselyte and then one who became a Christian. Others say that the Greek church elevated her to sainthood. But all of that you see is unfounded. But on this particular night, for whatever reason, she has a nightmare. But the message that was given to her and then on to Pilate was that Jesus was an innocent man, a righteous man. Yet another means that God used through unbelievers to attest to Christ's innocence. Have nothing to do with Him, she says, ironically, exactly what Pilate was trying to do. He was trying to have nothing to do with Him. as we notice that he fails to free Jesus even after his failed schemes. You see, in Luke chapter 23, we learn that Pilate tried everything he could to avoid pronouncing sentences. John says that he did whatever he could. He tried to free Jesus. But notice how he did it. He could have simply said, there is no basis here. You're free. But he tried to avoid pronouncing sentence. First of all, Luke records by sending Jesus over to Herod. Oh, he's a Galilean. Well, Herod's in town. I'll give it to him. He can handle it. That failed. And then Luke records that he offered to punish Jesus without an execution, but of course the Jews rejected that. John records that Pilate did try to gain the pity of the people for Jesus by presenting him to them bloody and beaten, and that didn't work. All the gospel records record Pilate giving the people a choice between Jesus and Barabbas. And that too backfired. Surely, Pilate thought, they would choose to release Jesus. As Pilate purposely picked a wicked man, the worst of the worst, in contrast to what he knew Jesus was. He picked one the Jews should have resented because his tactics of revolt against Rome would do the Jews more harm than good, but the people say release Barabbas and instead they demand crucifixion for Jesus and nothing less than that in order that he be visibly displayed as one who was cursed of God. Beloved Pilate's attempts to free Jesus by every failed scheme or every scheme failed. And as an earthly judge who was called to represent the sovereign judge of the universe, he failed to use his own authority, which he could have used to free him, even after his own continual claims of Christ's innocence. In verse 18, we read, For he knew that it was out of envy that they had handed Jesus over to him. Verse 23, Why? What has he done? The Jewish leaders envied the power of Jesus. They envied his following. They wanted Jesus to be stripped of these things. And John records that Pilate says no less than three times, I find no fault in Him. Again, God's purpose to show the Son's undeserved condemnation in order to more brightly display the true satisfaction for our sins. And Matthew lets us know that Pilate was amazed at Christ's silence when normally the guilty do all that they can to talk their way out of punishment. They will say whatever they can to get themselves free. Jesus, fulfilling the prophecy of Isaiah, remains silent. The one who could have spoken one word and proven his innocence says nothing. And the Scriptures make it clear to us that Pilate knew that Jesus did not fit the Jews' accusations of a troublemaker, of a rabble-rouser. In some ways, we do need to applaud Pilate because he did try the case properly. There were the charges. The evidence was presented. He gave an opportunity for the defense. He rendered a verdict of not guilty. Yet he failed as judge. He didn't provide justice for Jesus. Instead, he denies his responsibility for the blood of Jesus while handing Jesus over, treating Jesus as guilty. Already, treating Him as guilty and giving the people a choice between Barabbas and Jesus as if their choice was between two guilty men. And in the people's choice, we cannot help but to hear the words of David who said, Let us fall into the hands of the Lord, for His mercy is great, but do not let me fall into the hands of men. Jesus experienced the merciless treatment of men. Here, because of Pilate's injustice and because of Pilate's desire to please men, the mob grew restless, Matthew tells us. And even though, as John says, Pilate feared Jesus, even though he tried to set Jesus free, the Jews shouted, if you let this man go, you are no friend of Caesar. Anyone who claims to be a king opposes Caesar. Interesting. The people are taking the side of Caesar, rejecting the true king, taking the side of King Caesar, and claiming that if Pilate lets Jesus go, they are not on Caesar's side. Pilate's desire clearly was not to please the Jews, but to please Caesar. His job, his reputation, his employment depended upon it. Beloved, Pilate knew what was right. But he didn't do what was right. And instead, he stood before the people, he washed his hands, he claimed to be innocent, he claimed to be without penalty, he claimed to be clear, scot-free, when it came to the blood of Jesus to be shed. As he washes his hands and then hands Jesus over, he tries to pacify his own conscience, and he tries to pacify the people by disowning the act on one hand, yet doing it on the other. By acquitting himself, yet making the act happen. Pilate was ignorant with regard to the blood of Jesus, not knowing that there's only one thing that can wash away sin. The water that he used to wash his hands could not wash away Pilate's sin, or his responsibility, or his guilt. It could not wash away the stain of Christ's blood that was upon his hands any more than the leaders could deny responsibility with Judas in the betrayal of Jesus. And really, when Pilate says, I am innocent of this man's blood, he is casting a judgment on himself, one who claimed Jesus to be innocent. As he declares, in some versions, he declares the blood of Christ to be righteous. Beloved Pilate, like all of sinful mankind, including you and me, was responsible and guilty for the crucifixion of Jesus because of our sin. But he wasn't the only ignorant party there that day. There was another ignorant party, as I have already said, the Jews. The Jews claim responsibility, ignorantly claim responsibility. Verse 25, all the people answered, let his blood be on us and our children. Now that very statement ought to cause shivers to go up and down our spines. With those very words, beloved, we see the depth of the wickedness with their desire of Christ's blood at any cost. They didn't care. In their hatred, they would do anything. They would say whatever it takes to get rid of one they did not agree with. How often do we justify our sinful attitudes and actions to get rid of, to silence those with whom we disagree? How often do we work to reinterpret the Word of God in some way to fit our motives, to fit our desires, instead of humbly conforming to the Word of God? Their wickedness is seen in their desire for Christ's blood at any cost, including unashamedly presenting these false charges. Again, the Jews hated Pilate. They hated Rome. Yet notice, they crafted the charges against Jesus in such a way to make it look like they had Pilate and Rome's best interest in mind. Oh, he must die, you see, in order to preserve peace. As well, they twisted the truth. They completely distorted the truth. But again, Scripture makes it clear that Pilate could see that Jesus was not the troublemaker the Jews made him out to be. And they also choose a sinner over the righteous one. Barabbas was the very opposite of Christ. He was one like themselves. He couldn't save himself, let alone save them. Barabbas was one who did not have their best interest in mind while they were rejecting the very one who suffered for our greatest interest. And people of God, into their ignorance, they were not afraid to claim all this sin, to take it upon themselves. We can handle it. We can take care of it. Yet they did not see it as sin. You see, without reservation, they pronounce a curse upon themselves and their children as if they were fully convinced they had a righteous cause before God, as if they were doing His will. But beloved, they truly did not know what they were doing. They truly did not understand the punishment that they were calling upon themselves for claiming responsibility for Jesus' blood as they were pacifying Pilate's guilt as if to say, well, don't worry. We won't hold you responsible. You see, maybe they were thinking, if we say that, then we can get him to give in to our wishes quicker. Don't you worry. We'll take it all upon ourselves, yet in their ignorance. There was only one who could pay for sin. There's only one who could take it upon himself. There's only one who could release Pilate and the people from their guilt, and that is the very one they condemned as guilty. In their ignorance, they were lacking true knowledge of their actions. Beloved, the very blood of Jesus, which they thought they could take upon themselves, which they sought to be rid of, is the blood they needed to pay for their sin and to cleanse them from guilt. they were rejecting their only hope before the covenant God. Oh dear people of God, we know that Christ's path to the cross is covered with sin. That's the reason He came. And here in a specific way we see that that path is covered with the sin of man, hatred, envy, lies, physical abuse, rejection, murder, and any other sin you can see in here. Christ's path to the cross is covered with the very sin for which He came to pay for those who believe in Him. And the same ignorant responses of Pilate and the Jews are the way of so many today who reject Christ. Those who claim either, well, I haven't been so bad. What have I done that's so bad that God should punish me for eternity? I've been rather good, I think. That was Pilate's attitude. Or on the other hand, those who say, well, I don't need Jesus. I don't need a Savior. I can do it by myself. I don't need any help. That was the attitude of the Jews. And that's the attitude of so many today, beloved, who reject Jesus Christ. And the danger is that apart from repentance and faith, the blood of Jesus does not wash away their sins, but that blood is on their hands. They are guilty. And those who are not washed in the blood of Jesus, but instead reject that blood, they will get exactly what they want for all eternity, separation from Him and His saving work. Those who reject the Lord Jesus Christ fail to understand that unlike unjust Pilate, our God is a God of justice. He will punish the guilty for eternity, but He will set free those who are not guilty. And that is why the Gospel, that very best news of Jesus Christ is to be preached. Because by the grace of God, those who are in Christ by faith have been set free. Because in the injustice of men, God's justice has been carried out against. It has been satisfied by our Savior in Him alone, beloved. We are not guilty. We are set free. Oh, indeed, in Christ's trial, we sadly see our sinful representatives be used in God's divine plan to lead to the necessary crucifixion and death of our only representative before the throne of God. Who was sentenced to the curse of God by the likes of those whose curse he came to take away. All for our benefit. And beloved, our benefits include that because the Son of God stood as a criminal before mortal men, wrongly accused, wrongly condemned. In Him we stand righteous. And we stand boldly before God. Our benefits include that because Christ was pronounced guilty on earth, we are acquitted before the judgment seat of God. The charges have been dropped. Our benefits include that because Christ remains silent to His false charges, He is now our perfect advocate and intercessor to speak for us on account of our true charges that were against us. Our benefits include that because he was condemned for our sin, now, as Paul says, there is no condemnation for us who are in Christ Jesus. God's purpose was to treat that Christ be treated as the worst of men, even by God himself, so that we might be raised up, that we might be treated with heavenly glory. And, beloved, may that truth and that assurance inspire you and me to praise Him with our every breath and with our every action. To those who are ignorant in sin, Christ's blood is foolish, it is worthless. But to those who, by the grace of God, whose eyes have been opened by the regenerating power of the Holy Spirit, may we praise God that He has brought us to see that our hope and our peace and our righteousness is ours by nothing but the blood of Jesus. As Paul says, he died in order that we might have peace with God. Oh, precious is the flow that makes me white as snow. No other found I know nothing but the blood of Jesus. You see, dear people of God, there's only one correct response to the blood of Jesus. By faith to recognize that blood is the ocean of cleansing power in which we are alone to place our trust. We are to see His blood as a fountain of God-saving love which has flowed for us, for which we are to praise Him. Therefore, beloved, rejoice in the precious blood of Jesus by which alone God washes away all of our sins and by which He has made us His own forever and ever. Amen. Let's pray. dear heavenly father indeed we come before your word humbled as you open our eyes to see the complete and the total injustice that was carried out against our savior the injustice of sin the sin for which he came to die we are in awe of the fact that he would endure it all the way to hellish agony that we might be rescued from the same. We thank you, O Lord, that you sent your Son to suffer the bitter depths of hell. That in your grace we might be raised to the heights of glory. And Father, we thank you that you have done this work for us because we could not do it. And it is our gift from your hand, so precious, so free. And may it be that by your Spirit we would respond with thanksgiving and praise both now and forever for your gift of salvation to us. Thank you, dear Jesus. In his name alone we pray. Amen. Thank you.