Somebody Loves You

Guest (Male): There's always those that are righteous before God that have your accusers, those that point the finger at you. And it's really important that you don't get upset, you don't get mad, but that you just wait upon the Lord and trust the Lord as you've committed your life to him that God will defend you in whatever the accusation may be.

Welcome to Somebody Loves You Radio, the Bible teaching ministry of Raul Ries in Diamond Bar, California. Thanks for joining us today for our continuing Easter series celebrating Jesus' world-changing work on a cross. Today, Raul will urge you to honestly consider whether you see Christ as your savior or view him merely as a good man who died a violent death. Keep listening to think about the accusations and torture that Jesus endured without protest. Today's lesson is titled "The Great Question." Join us in Matthew Chapter 27, verse 11.

Raul Ries: Now, Pilate here is going to have to make a decision. Do I release him or do I kill him? It's very interesting that as I was reading first of all in chapter 27, let's look at verse 11 and 12, the accusation that is brought forth against Jesus. He starts out by saying, "Now Jesus stood before the governor," that's Pilate, "and Pilate asked him a question saying, 'Are you the King of the Jews?'" Notice the question that is being asked. It's very important that we understand that the question that actually Pilate is asking is to make sure there's no mistake in trying Jesus.

Pilate not only has been set up by Rome, but Pilate is going to compromise to please the people in trying Jesus. But notice on the question again that Pilate is asking Jesus, "Are you the King of the Jews?" And he answers and says, "Yes, I am. Yes, I am." These are the religious leaders listening. But this is Pilate, the one in charge by Rome over Palestine, and he is wanting an answer from Jesus to make sure that he understands the arrest. Jesus gives the answer by saying, "Yes."

Verse 12: "And while he was being accused by the chief priests and the elders, he answered not one word to them." Notice that, the accusation and the accusers, the leaders. He didn't waste his time in trying to defend himself. Think how many times you and I defend ourselves with people that are coming against us. When you defend yourself, you're already guilty. If you know that you're righteous, you know that you did not do that thing, then why do you waste your time talking to people that are ignorant and judgmental and trying to ruin your reputation?

It's better not to say one word and eventually have them be caught in their own lie by becoming false witnesses against you. This is the situation here. Jesus is being falsely accused by the leaders of Israel. These are the religious leaders in Israel. You notice there in verse 12 the self-control that Jesus has in defending himself. He says nothing. This is a prophecy being fulfilled from Isaiah 53:7, where it says that he kept his lips closed. He didn't say one word to them, a fulfillment of prophecy.

And these are the leaders that constantly are harassing and at the same time coming to Jesus and trying to be witnesses against Christ to have him killed by Rome. Notice again, verses 13 and 14, the second part, the Lord's attitude. And then Pilate comes back and says to Jesus, "Do you not hear how many things these people are testifying against you? Don't you care? Here they are in front of you. They're accusing you. Don't you have anything to say to them, your false accusers?" The question is being asked.

Here is the answer, verse 14: "But Jesus answered him not one word." He didn't say one word. It's really important that we understand what Jesus is doing here. He's trusting in the perfect will of the Father. He already has committed himself to the Father. He knows he's going to die. So why defend yourself? Why not allow God the Father to defend you and allow these people that are against you, your enemies, to understand that Jesus is not really being judged, but he will judge them one day.

They're the ones that are going to be judged. They're standing before the King of Kings, the Judge of all Judges. And one day they're going to have to stand before the Lord as the books are opened. And it says if their names are not written in the Book of Life, they're going to be cast into the Lake of Fire. Judgment of God will come. And as Jesus is standing watching them and hearing their phony excuses and at the same time their phony accusations against him, verse 14: again, he answered them not one word so that the governor Pilate marveled greatly. He was blown away. How can you not say one word to your enemies? Why don't you defend yourself?

Notice again the third thing in verses 15 to 23, the angry crowd now. And now at the feast of Passover, remember from the book of Exodus chapter 12 was the first Passover. And ever since then, the Passovers would be celebrated. And now he's coming and he's going to be the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world. This is the last Passover where today at this particular moment, no lamb will be sacrificed, but Jesus Christ will become the Lamb of God that takes away the sins of the world.

He will pay with his very life. He will go to the cross and he will die for the sins of the world. Matthew here gives us all the details concerning this Passover that Jesus is going to fulfill. And notice that he says, "And now at the feast the governor was a custom to release unto the multitude," notice, "one prisoner whom they wished." So this was a time where Rome would give an opportunity during Passover to be kind and graceful to release one of the prisoners to keep the people happy. And this very day, during Passover, there are two people, Barabbas and Jesus, that are going to have to be judged.

And at that time, they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. He was a murderer, according to John 18:40. And then he says this: "And therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, 'Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas or Jesus who is called the Messiah or the Anointed One of God?'" What is Pilate doing here? He's selling his way out. He's trying to get out of this mess. He's trying not to judge Jesus. But at the same time, he's trying to satisfy the Jews that are there falsely accusing Jesus. But the pressure's becoming greater with Pilate. He doesn't really want to see a riot in Jerusalem because it would look bad in Rome for him.

So the pressure is on him. So who do you want me to release to you? Barabbas or Jesus who's called the Messiah, the Anointed One of God? Verse 18: "For Pilate knew," notice he has a knowledge, "he knew that they, the Jewish leaders, had handed Jesus over because of envy." And while he was sitting in the judgment seat, remember 2nd Corinthians 5:10, the judgment seat, his wife sent to him saying, "Have nothing to do with this just man." His wife had a dream. Notice they recognized that Jesus was a righteous man, and yet they accused him. If Jesus is accused for being righteous, then don't get offended if they accuse you.

But there's always those that are righteous before God that you have your accusers, those that point the finger at you. And it's really important that you don't get upset, you don't get mad, but that you just wait upon the Lord and trust the Lord as you've committed your life to him that God will defend you in whatever the accusation may be. And here Jesus standing there not saying one word, and then on the other side, the greatest murder of all murderers, Barabbas standing there.

And then check this out, this is amazing, verse 20: "But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask for Barabbas to destroy Jesus." After she tells her husband that she had a dream, Jesus' enemies full of hatred begin to gather a crowd together and say, "You guys got to help us to get this man to be crucified." So let's start rioting, let's start yelling and screaming to let Barabbas go but to crucify Jesus Christ. Think of these people that were sitting there coming against Jesus and falsely accusing Jesus and gathering an audience to crucify Jesus Christ, and yet he has nothing to say to them. He says in verse 21, "And the governor answered and said to them again, 'Which of the two do you want me to release to you?'" Notice, another opportunity. Which one do you want me to release? And what do they say? Barabbas. He was a murderer.

Guest (Male): You're listening to Somebody Loves You Radio with Raul Ries. Visit somebodylovesyou.com for a variety of resources that will help solidify your faith and guide your steps in following Christ. If you have Bible questions you'd like Raul to address, you can email him at pastorraul@somebodylovesyou.com. Let's continue now with the final part of our study.

Raul Ries: Think of our system today. In the Old Testament, when you read the Old Testament law of God, and you go to Leviticus in chapters 20 through 24, you will read that every person, for example, a teenager that was rebellious with their parents and was always defaming the character of their parents or being disobedient, the parents had the legal right to take them from the home down to the city gate where the judges were. And then accuse their children for what they were doing in disobedience to the judges.

The judges would write an order in a piece of paper, and they would judge the child, and the actual judgment for being disobedient to your parents and rebellious was to be taken outside of the city gates, placed on the wall and being stoned to death. And then if you were a homosexual, a lesbian, a child molester, if you were into animals sexually and all these things that the Bible talks about, every one of those cases was by stoning to death. Look at our prison system today.

How many people are in jail for molestation, for things, crimes like murder? And yet, according to the Old Testament, if you were a murderer, the actual capital punishment is death. Look at our system today, the hundreds and thousands of these people in jail today. 20, 30 years. Some of them get out and what do they do? They go and they get places by the schools that are child molesters so they can keep their eyes on young kids. They live in your neighborhoods. The homosexual community not ashamed of what they're doing. They say, "Well, we were born like this." The Bible teaches we're born like that. It is sin.

And God doesn't hate any person like that. God gives opportunity for any person like that to turn from their sin before the judgment of God comes. And yet the world has changed rapidly, but God's word doesn't change. We compromise, we manipulate just like here we see Pilate manipulating, trying to escape the judgment so that he's not blamed for it. So he wants the people to actually not only give an answer, but he wants them to make judgment against Barabbas or Jesus Christ. Who do I release to you? And they said, "Barabbas."

Verse 22: and then Pilate said to them, "What then shall I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?" What do you want me to do with Jesus? This is the third time now he's asking the question. And then all of them said to him, "Let him be crucified." Notice the hate. Let him die. Yet he's done nothing, nothing at all. The hate that these people had for Jesus. Have you noticed all the hate that people have today for Jesus? If Jesus was here today, they still would crucify him.

And yet by the grace of God, you and I and those that are Christians have come to know Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior. And Paul says what? And now that we know Christ Jesus our Lord, we crucify ourselves with him so that we can walk by the Holy Spirit and not fulfill the desires and the lust of the flesh. We have to murder our flesh to become more like Jesus Christ. Crucifixion was death, the most horrible death you would ever see. By putting nails into your hand, into your feet, and hanging there as you would begin to suffocate little by little in the heat of the sun. And your tongue would cleave to the top of your roof of your mouth and you would become very thirsty, and no water would be given to you.

And before that, you'll see in a moment the actual scourging that came before the crucifixion. So he says what? They all said to him, "Let him be crucified." Verse 23, the question again: "Then Pilate the governor said, 'Why? What evil has he done?'" Notice, he knows that Jesus is blameless. He knows it. But he wants to hear it from his enemies because he wants to compromise with his enemies so that Rome can hear that he is a great governor. Totally compromising and going against the dream that his wife had.

How many times when God warns us, we continue to transgress the law of God? And God's warned us. But we don't really listen to the warnings of God. We think that we know better than God and we know and we think we're going to escape the judgment of God. No one escapes the judgment of God. No one. Every one of us will be judged one day. And today as we stand before God every single day, that's why we repent before God so that his grace will be upon us and his blood will cover us from all of our sins.

And then I think of the millions and billions of people that one day, like in the days of Noah, 130 billion people drowned in the flood and only eight people survived it, eight righteous people. 130 billion people drowned in the flood. And think of today's world, when Jesus Christ comes again and judgment will come upon this world, especially in the last seven years of world history for those that have not believed but rebelled against God. Well, here's the opportunity. Watch this, verse 23: "And then the governor said, 'Why? What evil has he done?'" But they cried out all the more saying, "Let him be crucified." Notice the hate. They want him dead.

Now notice the fourth point: the governor washes his hands, verse 24. And when Pilate saw that he could not gain or prevail at all, but rather that the riot was rising, so there's almost a riot, they're getting ready to have a riot. He took water in front of them and he washed his hands before the multitude saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this," notice, "righteous person. You see to it." He's escaping like a scapegoat. "You guys do what you want. I have nothing to do with it." Yes, you do, Pilate. The Jews and the Gentiles crucified Jesus Christ. Every one of us had a part in crucifying the Lord.

And think of how many people do this today to get rid of their guilt and to become even more guilty by washing your hands and blame it on somebody else, whatever you've done. Instead of Pilate coming up and saying, "You know what? I don't see any fault in this man. He's not guilty and I stand to release him and I want no part of this," he compromised like so many of us compromise because of the pressure. And yet when we manipulate people, people will see our weaknesses even in a greater way because instead of pleasing God, we become pleasers of men when we should have been pleasers of God.

Verse 25: "And all the people answered and said, 'His blood be on us and on our children.'" They should have never ever said that. You know what they just did? They judged themselves. From that point on into the present time, guess what happened? God has been judging Israel. That's why Christ has to come back and restore Israel. It is very important that we see here the verdict of the Jewish nation of Israel. They, not God, they judged themselves. What he actually says, "Let his blood be on us and our children," from the past to the present and to the future. They made their judgment. They decided what they wanted to do.

Watch verse 26: "And then Pilate released Barabbas to them. And when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified." Let me go back just a little bit on scourging. Very, very painful. Let me read to you what The Wars of the Jews by Josephus says. He says the scourging was a whip constructed of a short stick about 12 to 14 inches long, having several strips of leather about three foot long attached. One of the leather strips had stone metal particles on bone fragments embedded so that to tear the flesh from the back. Josephus describes the victim's appearance as their inward parts appeared not only taken apart but totally stripped because of the glass and the animal teeth and the nails that were on the whip. This is why in Isaiah chapter 53 verse 5 and 1st Peter 2:24, it says that when you looked at Jesus, you could not recognize him as a man. And it speaks of his whipping.

Guest (Male): Just like Pilate, each of us has been given the opportunity to receive Jesus as our Savior and Lord. We urge you to call on him today in full repentance and faith. You're listening to Somebody Loves You Radio with Raul Ries. Today's study was titled "The Great Question." If you'd like an unedited version, we'll be happy to send one to you for a donation of $5 or more. Just call us at 800-634-9165.

We'd also like to tell you about this entire Easter series titled "Why the Cross Mattered and Still Does." It's a 13-part study that's available on both CD and flash drive. In every lesson, you'll learn more about God's merciful salvation plan made possible through the willing sacrifice of Jesus Christ. You'll also learn about the rich eternal blessings that come from absolute surrender and genuine repentance.

Visit somebodylovesyou.com or call 800-634-9165 to order Raul's 13-message study titled "Why the Cross Mattered and Still Does." We'll send you the CD set for $25 or the thumb drive for just $16. That's 800-634-9165 or write to Somebody Loves You Radio, Post Office Box 4440, Diamond Bar, California, 91765. Download the Somebody Loves You app for live-streamed Bible teaching, digital Bible studies, and an online Bible reading group. Be sure to check out the Somebody Loves You worldwide YouTube channel as well. It's home of Raul's Straight Talk program streaming live every Tuesday at 10 a.m. West Coast time.

This is a listener-supported ministry, and we appreciate our faithful partners. Every tax-deductible contribution helps us keep sharing the good news of the Lord Jesus Christ. Tune in again next time as we conclude this Easter series with a more detailed look at the limitless love that propelled Jesus to a cross. Together we'll ponder Jesus' excruciating suffering and humiliating death and celebrate how he conquered the grave for our salvation. Here's Raul with a closing comment.

Raul Ries: And then they took him and they cover his face and they begin to hit him full power without him moving from the blow. And then they took him and they spit upon his face. And then they gave him a crown of thorns on his head, Palestinian crown three inches into his skull. And then they gave him a cross. And the cross he put on his shoulders and he walked through the city of Jerusalem to Mount Golgotha, the Mount Calvary there. And there in Mount Calvary they took him and they crucified our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. The one that has paid the penalty of sin for you and for me. Christianity is not cheap. A great price has been paid for our salvation and for the grace and the love of God and his mercy through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ so that you and I can experience the peace of God in our lives today.