You Need His Blood

 

Matthew 27:11-26

Jesus before Pilate

¹¹ Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor questioned Him, saying, “Are You the King of the Jews?” And Jesus said to him, “It is as you say.” ¹² And while He was being accused by the chief priests and elders, He did not answer. ¹³ Then Pilate *said to Him, “Do You not hear how many things they testify against You?” ¹⁴ And He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so the governor was quite amazed.
¹⁵ Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. ¹⁶ At that time they were holding a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. ¹⁷ So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” ¹⁸ For he knew that because of envy they had handed Him over.
¹⁹ While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him a message, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous Man; for last night I suffered greatly in a dream because of Him.” ²⁰ But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowds to ask for Barabbas and to put Jesus to death. ²¹ But the governor said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” ²² Pilate *said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all *said, “Crucify Him!” ²³ And he said, “Why, what evil has He done?” But they kept shouting all the more, saying, “Crucify Him!”
²⁴ When Pilate saw that he was accomplishing nothing, but rather that a riot was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this Man’s blood; see to that yourselves.” ²⁵ And all the people said, “His blood shall be on us and on our children!” ²⁶ Then he released Barabbas for them; but after having Jesus scourged, he handed Him over to be crucified.

Wow. Condemnation without causation. What a vivid picture of the corruptness and negligence man is consumed with. This hits on so many levels. The biggest is the reality of our condition and the grace of our God.

“His blood shall be on us and on our children!” –My ancestors

The people wanted the blame. Pilate willingly gave it to them. In a fit of outrage, the people threw all caution to the wind knowing that with everything within them that this man deserved to die. He didn’t. They cried for the ramifications of his murdering to be not only on them but also on their children. Praise God they did.

While the people claim that they want his blood, God above is saying, “You need His blood.”

Grace so amazing that He would offer the blood that we asked for, not for the purpose we asked of it, but as an atonement for the asking of the blood. Selah.