Jesus Took Our Place on the Cross (Matthew 27:15-26)

Jesus took our place on the cross and this is demonstrated beautifully when He died in the place of Barabbas, a notorious sinner (Matthew 27:15-26). Matthew 27:26, says, "Then Pilate released Barabbas to them; and when he had scourged Jesus, he delivered Him to be crucified." Put yourself in Barabbas’s place. When the guards came to get him, what do you think he thought…and didn’t think? He thought, “This is the time for me to be punished.” He didn’t, “This is the time for me to be released.” What do you think the guards said to him? Maybe something like, “Barabbas, you’re a guilty, evil man. You deserve to be punished, but you’re going to be released b/c Jesus of Nazareth is going to die in your place and receive the punishment you deserve.” The cross Jesus died on was probably the cross intended for Barabbas. https://youtu.be/yyC2Jw1UCqk Jesus took our place on the cross and His substitutionary atonement is demonstrated beautifully when He died in the place of Barabbas. Table of ContentsSermon Lessons for Jesus Took Our Place on the CrossFamily Worship Guide for Jesus Took Our Place on the CrossSermon Notes for Jesus Took Our Place on the CrossLesson 1: Zechariah prophesied the Jews would reject Jesus and choose Barabbas.Lesson 2: the Jews hated Jesus more than they hated (part 1) BarabbasLesson 2: the Jews hated Jesus more than they hated (part 2) crucifixion.Lesson 2: the Jews hated Jesus more than they hated (part 3) Caesar.Lesson 3: the Jews chose the wrong, “Jesus son of the father.”Lesson 4: we are Barabbas. Sermon Lessons for Jesus Took Our Place on the Cross Lesson 1: ________________ ____________________ the Jews would reject Jesus and choose Barabbas (Zech 11:12¬15; Mark 15:7). Lesson 2: The Jews hated Jesus more than they hated: (Part I) ________________ (Matt 27:21). (Part II) ______________________ (Matt 27:22–23; Deut 21:23 cf. Gal 3:13). (Part III) _____________ (John 19:12–15). Lesson 3: The Jews __________ the __________, "Jesus Son of the Father" (John 8:42–44; Matt 27:26). Lesson 4: ____ ______ Barabbas (Matt 27:22). Family Worship Guide for Jesus Took Our Place on the Cross Day 1: Zec 11:15-16, Matt 27:18-23, Mark 15:7, and discuss: How was Barabbas like the foolish shepherd mentioned in Zechariah? Why did Pilate choose Barabbas to exchange for Jesus? How was he surprised by the people's choice? How was their choice a reflection of the depravity of their heart's desire? Day 2: John 19:12-15, Matt 27:24 and discuss: Was the Jew's condemnation of Jesus a show of their loyalty to Caesar? Why or why not? How was their choice for Caesar to rule over them a utter rejection of Christ? How else has man expressed their hatred of Jesus by their choices? How did Pilate try to remove himself from being responsible for what happened to Jesus? What ways do people try to absolve themselves of their responsibility regarding what to do with Jesus? Day 3: Matt 27:16, John 8:42-44, John 18:38, John 14:6, Matt 27:22, and discuss: What ways was Barabbas a counterfeit of Jesus? How does Barabbas represent us in our fallen state? How is Jesus being exchanged for Barabbas a picture of salvation? Sermon Notes for Jesus Took Our Place on the Cross The title of this morning’s sermon is, “He Took Our Place.” We’re going to pick up close to where we left off last week, which is to say, soon after Judas returned the money and hung himself. If you were able to tune in to Wednesday night’s study, two weeks ago, we began w/ some verses in Zechariah 11, and we are going to continue where they left off too. Here’s how I want to invite you to view Zechariah 11… It’s like a summary of the last hours of Jesus’ life. Zechariah acts out a drama with him playing the part of two different shepherds: One represents the True Shepherd: Jesus Christ The other represents the Foolish Shepherd: Barabbas The people reject the True Shepherd and embrace the Foolish Shepherd. We’ll start at verse 12 to briefly review. Here’s the context… Shepherds deserve to be paid. Zechariah is acting like Jesus, and he asks the people for His wages. It’s like he says: “How do you think I’ve done as your Shepherd? What do you think I’m worth?” Zechariah 11:12 Then I said to them, “If it is agreeable to you, give me my wages; and if not, refrain.” So they weighed out for my wages thirty pieces of silver. The shepherd – or Jesus – asks very graciously: “Go ahead and pay me if that seems good to you, but if not, don’t worry about it.” They pay him 30 pieces of silver, and it’s important to understand this is an insult. It’s like giving a waiter a few pennies. If you look at verse 13 it’s sarcastically called a princely price. According to Exo 21:32 this was the amount paid for a slave that had been gored by an ox. You can imagine how worthless a slave gored by an ox would be…and that’s how they viewed Jesus as their Shepherd. We recognize this is the prophecy of Judas betraying Jesus for thirty pieces of silver. The Lord is so disgusted w/ the amount look what He says to do w/ it in verse 13… Zechariah 11:13 And the Lord said to me, “Throw it to the potter”—that princely price they set on me. So I took the thirty pieces of silver and threw them into the house of the Lord for the potter. This is another prophecy about Judas. We read the fulfillment last week… Matthew 27:5 [Judas] threw the [thirty] pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself. Look what the True Shepherd does as a result of being rejected by the people… Zechariah 11:14 Then I cut in two my other staff, Bonds, that I might break the brotherhood between Judah and Israel. While Zechariah was acting like Jesus he took the implements of a shepherd, including a rod and staff. He broke the staff, picturing the way God broke the nation of Israel in 70AD when Rome conquered Jerusalem as a punishment for rejecting their Messiah. Now is the transition from the True Shepherd the Jews rejected to the Foolish Shepherd they embraced… Zechariah 11:15 And the Lord said to me, “Next, take for yourself the implements of a foolish shepherd. Zechariah changed roles and took new implements – or shepherd tools – to act the part. If you write in your Bible, circle the words foolish shepherd and write, “Barabbas.” And this brings us to Lesson 1… Lesson 1: Zechariah prophesied the Jews would reject Jesus and choose Barabbas. We hear the word foolish and think of stupid or unintelligent, but if you think of the way foolish is used in Scripture it means immoral or evil. For example, Proverbs describes foolish people, but they’re not ignorant; they’re ungodly or evil. I mention this, b/c Barabbas was far from stupid or unintelligent: He was charismatic enough that many people followed him. He was a strong enough leader that he was able to carry out an uprising. Mark 15:7 A man called Barabbas was in prison with the insurrectionists who had committed murder in the uprising. Barabbas was an insurrectionist. Some translations call him a revolutionary. Apparently during a previous uprising he committed murder along w/ other rebels. Following Barabbas was going to get the Jews in plenty of trouble w/ Rome. Keep this in mind as we’ll discuss it more later. For now look at verse 16… Zechariah 11:16 For indeed I will raise up a shepherd in the land who will not care for those who are cut off, nor seek the young, nor heal those that are broken, nor feed those that still stand. But he will eat the flesh of the fat and tear their hooves in pieces. This describes what the foolish or worthless shepherd won’t do. It’s like a list of things that would make someone a bad shepherd. He won’t: Care for those who are cut off Seek the young Heal the broken Feed those that stand These are all things the True Shepherd, Jesus, did do…but they rejected Him. Let’s go to Matthew 27 to see all this fulfilled! Two books to the right. Here’s the important background… We’re jumping into the middle of Jesus’ trials. He’s before Pilate, who’s stuck between a rock and a hard place… He knows the religious leaders want Jesus crucified But he also knows Jesus is innocent. So you say, “Why doesn’t Pilate just say that he’s not going to turn over an innocent man?” The answer is… The people might riot. Pilate’s had many problems governing his region and he’s on thin ice w/ Rome. He knows if he has one more issue it’s going to cost him his job…at the least. The religious leaders know this, so they use it against him. But… Right in the middle of the escalating situation Pilate thinks he found a way out. It was customary for him to release one prisoner. Look at verse 15… Matthew 27:15 Now at the feast (referring to Passover, which is when Jesus was crucified) the governor (referring to Pilate) was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. 16 And at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 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 Christ?” 18 For he knew that they (the religious leaders) had handed [Jesus] over because of envy. History shows Pilate to be a cruel and ruthless man, unkind to the Jews and indifferent to everything except power, but even he knew the religious leaders turned Jesus over out of jealousy and hatred. Notice verse 16 says Barabbas was notorious. This means the people knew him. What made him notorious? Mark 15:7 and Luke 23:19 say he was a murderer and rebel John 18:40 says he was a robber To put this in perspective, Barabbas was the kind of man everyone slept better at night knowing was imprisoned. No reasonable person would want him released. Let me be clear about something… ...