Read Matthew 27:15-44
There are several parts of this Reading which proclaims Christ’s innocence. Read Exodus 12:5; 1 Cor. 5:7; 1 Peter 2:22-25; Hebrews 7:26-28 to consider more Biblical connections. Read also Ephesians 5:25-27 and rejoice in how you are presented to the Father.
Because we are guilty before God, can we redeem anyone? Read Psalm 49:7-9.
This whole Reading also has us considering the rejection of Christ. Read Psalm 118:22-24. Jesus often refers to this Psalm as being fulfilled in Himself. Instead of rejecting Christ as the cornerstone, what should we do? 1 Peter 2:4-6; Ephesians 2:19-22.
Why do you think it was a custom of the Jews to have a prisoner released for them during the time of the Passover? What should it remind them of? How where they prisoners in Egypt?
Who do you think gave the dream to Pilate’s wife (Matthew 27:19)? What are some possible reasons she had that dream? What other important dreams have taken place in the Bible (Joseph, the adopted father of Jesus; Joseph, the son of Jacob; Daniel, etc). Are you personally impacted by dreams, both good and bad? How can a Christian faithfully deal with this? What are dangerous ways others deal with this?
Christ was crucified while Barabbas was freed. Innocent Christ was delivered over to death while guilty Barabbas was pardoned from the sentence he deserved. What do you deserve because of your sin? Consider Matthew 24:50-51. What do you receive because of Christ? Consider Revelation 21:1-5.
A large crowd had been proclaiming Christ’s glories earlier that week. Now a large crowd is yelling for His crucifixion. Gerhard writes, “Therefore, no one should rely on human favor and honor. Nothing is more fickle. Just as the ocean can rapidly become violent, even though it had previously been beautiful and clear, so also it happens with the children of men. All of the sudden their favor and honor gone.” Consider also John 5:41-44.
Here’s a stanza from one of our beautiful hymns, “My Song is Love Unknown,”
Sometimes they strew His way,
And His sweet praises sing;
Resounding all the day
Hosannas to their King:
Then “Crucify!”
Is all their breath,
And for His death
They thirst and cry.
O Lord Jesus Christ, let Your holy, innocent suffering be a medicine and cure for my great debt of sin. May Your holy patience, whereby You bore the violent screams of the Jews, become for me a help and a comfort when my conscience screams against and over me. Protect me, my Lord and God, that I indeed never come to the place where there is eternal screaming and wailing; instead take me to You in Your kingdom so that I may eternally praise You with a joyful voice. Amen.
As we consider the mocking and stripping and beating of Christ, why do you think our Lord was treated with such violence? What can we learn from this in a spiritual sense? Consider again that word violence again.
Read Isaiah 50:5-9 and Isaiah 53:3-6.
One of our Christian fathers in the faith, Bernard of Clairvoux, says this: “He was whipped for you, so that He could free you from the whipping of eternal wrath; He was crowned with thorns for you, so that He could crown crown you in heaven; He was wounded for you, so that He could heal you.”
We are rebellious by sinful nature. Read Luke 12:47 and consider why Christ had to do suffer for us.
Why did Christ have to be wounded in His whole body? Read Isaiah 1:5-6
We hear in our Matthew Reading that Christ was covered with a rob to mock Him. How does Revelation 19:11-16 describe what this robe looks like now? In Christ, what robe are we now covered with? Read how Isaiah 61:10 describes that robe?
Compare Isaiah 64:6-7 with Revelation 7:9-10.
Consider the crown of thorns and Read Genesis 3:17-18 & Genesis 22:13.
Now Read 2 Timothy 4:8
O Lord Jesus Christ, may Your scourging and stripes be a healing medication for my soul; may Your holy blood wash me from all my sins; may Your crown of thorns cut my heart so that with a penitent heart I fruitfully contemplate Your holy suffering. Amen.