Please turn in your Bibles this evening to Mark chapter 15 on this Good Friday as we look at the finished work of Christ on the cross of Calvary for us. Before we get to our text in Mark chapter 15 this evening, let me share this story with you that will set the stage for what we will be looking at. We are told:
The boy who held his little boat and said, “It’s mine, I made it,” suffered a keen disappointment. One day, with exuberant anticipation, he carried his boat to the shore of the lake and sailed it on the clear, blue water. The little boat skimmed along as the gentle breeze blew its sails across the rippling waves. Then suddenly, a gust of wind caught the little boat and snapped the string the boy was holding. Out farther and farther the little boat sailed until at last it vanished from sight. Sadly the boy made his way home – without his prized possession. It was lost.
The weeks and months went by. Then one day as the boy passed a toyshop, something caught his attention. Could it be? Was it really? He looked closer. It was. Yes, there in the display window was his own little boat. Overjoyed, the boy bolted into the store and told the owner about the boat on display. It really belonged to him. He had made it, hadn’t he? “I’m sorry,” the shopkeeper said, “but it’s my boat now. If you want it, you’ll have to pay the price for it.”
Sad at heart, the boy left the store. But he was determined to get his boat back, even though it meant working and saving until he had enough money to pay for it.
At last the day came. Clutching his money in his fist, he walked into the shop and spread his hard-earned money on the counter top. “I’ve come back to buy my boat,” the boy said. The clerk counted the money. It was enough. Reaching into the showcase, the storekeeper took the boat and handed it to the eager boy. The lad’s face lit up with a smile of satisfaction as he held the little boat in his arms. “You’re mine,” he said, “twice mine. Mine because I made you, and now, mine because I bought you.”
- Dale E. Galloway, Rebuild Your Life
That truly is our story folk’s. The Lord has created us and then we rebelled against Him, we went astray and were lost. Then He bought us back. You see, there was a reason why He had to purchase us back, our sin. It was our sin that has separated us from God! That is what we will be looking at this evening and I pray you will be able to answer the question correctly that Pilate gave to the Jewish religious leaders and the multitudes of Jews that gathered with them, “ . . . ‘What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’ . . .” Matthew 27:22.
Keep in mind that Jesus has endured three religious trials so far this early Thursday morning. First He went to Annas, who was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was the acting high priest but it seems that Annas was the power behind the scene. The people probably looked to Annas more than Caiaphas, but they both were corrupt. (John 18:12-14). Then he went before Caiaphas, who was the high priest, put there by Rome. (Matthew 26:57-58). And finally he went before the Sanhedrin or the Jewish religious Supreme Court you might say. (Matthew 27:1-2).
From there we see Jesus face three civil trials under Rome. First He went before Pilate. (John 18:28-38). Then, when Pilate found out Jesus was from Galilee, he sent Him to Herod who was in Jerusalem, probably for the feast of Passover. (Luke 23:6-12). When Jesus would not entertain him by doing miracles for him, Herod sent Him back to Pilate for his final verdict and sentence. (John 18:39-19:6).
Now, before we look at Mark, turn to Luke chapter 23, for Luke fills in for us some more details of this trial before Pilate. In Luke 23:13-15 we read "Then Pilate, when he had called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people, said to them, ‘You have brought this Man to me, as one who misleads the people. And indeed, having examined Him in your presence, I have found no fault in this Man concerning those things of which you accuse Him; no, neither did Herod, for I sent you back to him; and indeed nothing deserving of death has been done by Him.’"
Pilate comes out before the Jewish religious leaders with his view of the situation. You see, he was the judge over this case and his decision was final. And as he looked at the evidence he found Jesus innocent of the charges against Him. Even Herod could find no wrong in Jesus. That is an amazing statement for the trial should have been over at this point and Jesus set free! The problem here is these religious leaders who refused to go into the Praetorium or the Judgment Hall because it would defile them, are calling for the crucifixion of an innocent man! And for Pilate, who is worried about his position, already having two strikes against him with Rome, is going to do things he might not normally do to save himself and his position.
Thus, in Luke 23:16 we read, "I will therefore chastise Him and release Him." In other words he would have Jesus beaten, which would make the crowds feel better, and then he would release Him. And he then would be in good with the people. But keep in mind Jesus was innocent. He did not deserve this. And what we learn from this is the end never justifies the means, you never do something wrong thinking the end result will make it right, it won’t! Not for Pilate and not for you!
And understand that Roman scourging was deadly. They would tie you to a post and with a cat of nine tails, which had on the ends of it pieces of bone and metal, and as they struck the persons skin with this, it would rip the skin open. And with these blows they would start out easy, and with each succeeding blow it would get harder and harder until you confess the crime you committed and then they would ease up. You could get 40 lashes by these torturers! And it was so bad that 60% of the people that were scourged died at the scourging post. So a prisoner would want to confess quickly of what he did, and even if he didn’t do anything just to get out of this torture. This was the third degree to the extreme! Now we will pick-up our story back in Mark chapter 15, beginning in verse 6.
Now the dilemma for Pilate was that he knew that Jesus was innocent, he had no grounds to put this man to death. But the Jewish religious leaders wanted Jesus dead and Pilate, not wanting to make any trouble for himself with Rome since, like I have said, he already had 2 strikes against him and 3 strikes and he would be out and so he thought he had a way out of this mess.
During the feast of Passover Pilate extended this good-will gesture to the people, that one of the prisoners would be released, they would be free to go. I think Pilate thought that they would want Jesus set free since the other man was a rebel, a murderer named Barabbas!
But the Jewish religious leaders, inciting the Jewish crowds that were with them, cried out for Jesus to be crucified and Barabbas they wanted to be set free! Things were getting out of control and in Luke 23:20-23 we are told, “Pilate, therefore, wishing to release Jesus, again called out to them. But they shouted, saying, ‘Crucify Him, crucify Him!’ Then he said to them the third time, ‘Why, what evil has He done? I have found no reason for death in Him. I will therefore chastise Him and let Him go.’ But they were insistent, demanding with loud voices that He be crucified. And the voices of these men and of the chief priests prevailed.”
Pilate knows he is in trouble. You see, while he was waiting for their decision on who should be set free, before the religious leaders stirred up the crowd even more, we are told in Matthew 27:19-23, “While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, ‘Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.’ But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor answered and said to them, ‘Which of the two do you want me to release to you?" They said, ‘Barabbas!’ Pilate said to them, ‘What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’ They all said to him, ‘Let Him be crucified!’ Then the governor said, ‘Why, what evil has He done?’ But they cried out all the more, saying, ‘Let Him be crucified!’”
Pilate’s wife came to him to warn him to wash his hands of Jesus, let Him go, because of a dream she had regarding Him. Now as he listened to his wife, the religious leaders were stirring up the people to have Barabbas released and Jesus put to death. And their strong-arm tactics, their influence worked beautifully. And Pilate, thinking he had a great plan, can’t believe his ears, for they are asking for Barabbas to be released. Think about that for a minute. The ones who were charging Jesus with an insurrection against Rome were now calling for the release of a man who was guilty of causing an insurrection against Rome! My how sin blinds us!
But Pilate does all he can to free Jesus and not get in trouble with Rome and then the Jews gave Pilate a deathblow. In John 19:12 we are told, “From then on Pilate sought to release Him, but the Jews cried out, saying, ‘If you let this Man go, you are not Caesar's friend. Whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar.’” Pilate wants to free Jesus because he knows that Jesus is innocent. But the Jews tightened their grip on Pilate by telling him that if he lets Jesus go then he is going against Caesar. They will turn him in to Rome for his actions! Thus, that would make strike 3 and Pilate would be out! Out of a job, out of politics, it would be all over for him.
John continues on in verse 13, “Then Pilate therefore heard that saying, he brought Jesus out and sat down in the judgment seat in a place that is called The Pavement, but in Hebrew, Gabbatha. Now it was the Preparation Day of the Passover, and about the sixth hour. And he said to the Jews, ‘Behold your King!’ But they cried out, ‘Away with Him, away with Him! Crucify Him!’ Pilate said to them, ‘Shall I crucify your King?’ The chief priests answered, ‘We have no king but Caesar!’ Then he delivered Him to them to be crucified. Then they took Jesus and led Him away.” John 19:13-16.
That is very interesting to me because the Jews hated Rome, they wanted to be free from Rome and yet, they are crying out, “We have no king but Caesar!” What about God? I thought God alone was to be worshiped and to be their king! He was but they were interested in what they thought was right instead of what God wanted. And you know what, their own words condemned them as Jesus said in Matthew 12:37, “For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
At this point, by the time that Jesus is on the cross of Calvary it is 9:00 am and by 3:00 pm He will give up His spirit and die!
How could they do that? How could they murder an innocent man and yet let that dirty, filthy, murdering insurrectionist go free? Folks, I don’t want to hurt your feelings or make you feel bad, but this is just the reality – WE ARE BARABBAS!
Here’s the thing. The Romans had prepared three crosses for three criminals. On two of those crosses would hang thieves. But, on that third cross would hang Barabbas who was found guilty of treason against Rome, murder. What is interesting to me is that Barabbas never made it to that cross. Was he guilty? Absolutely he was guilty! Was he a condemned man? Absolutely he was a condemned man waiting on death row for this day!
Why wasn’t Barabbas executed for his crimes? Because someone else took his place on that cross. You see, on that middle cross was not a violent man, a profane man, a murdering rebel, but the sinless Son of God. As I have said, Barabbas was not set free because he was innocent, but because Jesus took his place. Now was Jesus crucified because He was guilty? Absolutely not as I have said, but He was crucified so He could take the place of Barabbas and all of the Barabbas’s, YOU AND ME!
Peter put it like this in I Peter 3:18, “For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He might bring us to God, being put to death in the flesh but made alive by the Spirit.” The Amplified Bible puts this verse like this, “For Christ [the Messiah Himself] died for sins once for all, the Righteous for the unrighteous (the Just for the unjust, the Innocent for the guilty), that He might bring us to God. In His human body He was put to death, but He was made alive in the spirit.” That is what Jesus has done for us – He suffered for our sins, the just, the innocent man paid the debt for the guilty, but why? In order to bring us to God or reconcile us back to God. You see, sin has separated man from God!
Now many don’t see themselves as a Barabbas, as a sinner, but God says that you are. In fact, in Romans 3:23 Paul tells us, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” That is the reality folk’s. A holy and righteous God cannot look with favor upon sinful man and thus, He redeemed man from his sin by paying the penalty in full. He took our place on that cross! It is as John Allen said, “I deserved to be dammed in Hell, but God interfered.” And folk’s I am so glad, I am so thankful that He did! It is as Peter tells us in I Peter 1:18-21, “knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God.”
Yes, Christ took the place for Barabbas on that cross, but does that mean he is saved? No, because Jesus paid for all our sins on the cross of Calvary but we don’t know if Barabbas ever received Jesus as Lord and Savior. We don’t know if he repented of his sins and asked God to come into his life. Was it available to him? Absolutely, but he needed to receive that free gift of life by faith.
So we are like Barabbas and Christ took our place on the cross of Calvary and that leads us to this, something that Pilate said in Matthew 27:22, “ . . . ‘What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’ . . .” That question is not just for those Jewish religious leaders and the Jewish people; it is for every one of us. That is the question we all must answer and will answer – what are we going to do with Jesus the Messiah? For Pilate, as far as we know, he did nothing. For the Jews, they cried out, “ . . . ‘Let Him be crucified!’” Matthew 27:22.
Because of envy by the religious leaders; because Pilate was worried about his job, his position; because the people succumbed to the pressure, they all rejected Jesus! Where are you at this evening? Are you letting pride, religious tradition get in the way of you coming to Jesus? Maybe it is a job situation or a position that you don’t want to lose and it is keeping you from Jesus. Or, maybe it is peer pressure and you don’t want to lose your friends by coming to Jesus, what would your friends think?
The bottom line is this. When you stand before God apart from Christ, it won’t matter what your religious affiliation was. It won’t matter what job or position you had. It won’t matter the peer pressure that you faced. You had an opportunity and you rejected Jesus and you will be judged accordingly!
Paul, in Romans chapter 1 deals with those who reject Christ and what it leads to in their life and it is not pretty. But it is a willful rejection of Jesus, they suppress the truth so they are not accountable before God and yet they are! Paul said this starting in verse 18 of Romans chapter 1, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because what may be known of God is manifest in them, for God has shown it to them. For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Professing to be wise, they became fools, and changed the glory of the incorruptible God into an image made like corruptible man — and birds and four-footed animals and creeping things. Therefore God also gave them up to uncleanness, in the lusts of their hearts, to dishonor their bodies among themselves, who exchanged the truth of God for the lie, and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever. Amen. For this reason God gave them up to vile passions. For even their women exchanged the natural use for what is against nature. Likewise also the men, leaving the natural use of the woman, burned in their lust for one another, men with men committing what is shameful, and receiving in themselves the penalty of their error which was due. . .
. . . And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting; being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers, backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful; who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.” Romans 1:18-32.
Yes, Jesus not only paid for our sins on the cross of Calvary, but He also took the wrath of God that was due upon us for our sins and He endured that! But, if you don’t appropriate that into your life, that free gift of salvation that is found in Christ, then it is meaningless to you. You will experience the wrath of God for your sin. A great example of this is given to us by Tim LaHaye who wrote:
In the archives of the United States Supreme Court is the Record of George Wilson, a man sentenced to die by hanging for a crime he had committed. His case came before President Andrew Jackson, who granted Wilson a pardon. To everyone’s amazement, Wilson tore the pardon to shreds and threw it on the floor of his prison cell. The ensuing legal argument concerned the validity of a pardon that was refused, and the question arose as to whether or not Wilson should be freed or hanged. After great deliberation, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled as follows: “A pardon is a writing, the value of which is dependent upon the acceptance by the individual for whom it is intended.”
It was therefore decreed by the court that George Wilson be hanged until dead – not because a pardon was not offered, but because it was not accepted.
This is a perfect picture of the sinner who hears the gospel of Jesus Christ, knows that God has written a pardon for him, yet rejects Him and thus forfeits his right to the pardon. If you are without the Savior today, it is because you choose to be. Your choice to reject Jesus Christ automatically invalidates your pardon and sentences you to the lake of fire.
Each of us is confronted with a choice. We can admit we are sinners in need of a Savior and invite Christ into our lives, or we can choose to reject Him. In either case we will live in eternity by our choice. Those who have chosen to put their faith in Christ will rule and reign with Him during the millennial kingdom and then go into the eternal ages surrounding His throne. Those who reject Him will be cast into the lake of fire and separated from Him forever. As the apostle Paul put it: “Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2).
- Tim LaHaye, Bible Prophecy, What You Need To Know
You see, that pardon that has been extended to all of us must be appropriated into our lives; we must receive it by faith! Paul expounds on this in Ephesians 2:8-9 as he wrote, “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.” The Amplified Bible puts these verses like this, “For it is by free grace (God's unmerited favor) that you are saved (delivered from judgment and made partakers of Christ's salvation) through [your] faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [of your own doing, it came not through your own striving], but it is the gift of God; Not because of works [not the fulfillment of the Law's demands], lest any man should boast. [It is not the result of what anyone can possibly do, so no one can pride himself in it or take glory to himself.]”
In other words, we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone. Works don’t save us. Then why does Paul go on to say in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.” Paul is not saying that good works save us, not at all! He is saying that we were created for good works and God has planed them out for our lives, but they don’t save us, they are the evidence that we are saved, but we are saved by grace alone, through faith alone in Christ alone, end of story! I can’t make that any clearer!
It truly is a choice as this story illustrates for us. We are told:
The town in which I live has an elevated railway. One of the stations is near a great burying ground, Calvary Cemetery. For many years, because in that part of the town there were many more dead than living folk, the trains did not stop at the cemetery except on request. Just after leaving the nearest station, the guard would open the door and say, “Next station is Calvary. Train stops on signal only. Anybody for Calvary?”
It is a parable of life’s train. At all the other stations every train stops. At Market Street, at School Street, at University Avenue, at Main Street, at Vanity Fair, at Broadway, at Church Street, at Home Avenue. No special notice is needed, but to get off at Calvary – that means a choice and an expressed desire.
- Christian Digest
The train will stop, but you must call upon the Lord! And when you look at it like this, just think of what God has done, the work He came to do for us, the first recorded words of Jesus were, “ . . . ‘Why did you seek Me? Did you not know that I must be about My Father's business?’” Luke 2:49. And His last words were, “It is finished!” John 19:30. In other words, God became flesh and dwelt among us and the reason for this was to finish the work the Father sent Him to do, pay the penalty for man’s sins. And this work of the Messiah, the coming of the Messiah is spoken of throughout the Old Testament and it begins way back in Genesis chapter 3! Now, as He is about to give up His spirit He tells us that the work was almost done? No, it is finished! Don’t go adding to it, because it is by faith and thus, live accordingly!
During the Spanish-American War, Clara Barton was overseeing the work of the Red Cross in Cuba. One day Colonel Theodore Roosevelt came to her, wanted to buy food for his sick and wounded Rough Riders. But she refused to sell him any. Roosevelt was perplexed. His men needed the help and he was prepared to pay out of his own funds. When he asked someone why he could not buy the supplies, he was told, "Colonel, just ask for it!" A smile broke over Roosevelt's face. Now he understood--the provisions were not for sale. All he had to do was simply ask and they would be given freely.
- Our Daily Bread, October 11, 1992
That is what the Lord is telling us, it is a free gift, already paid for by Him! Now, the bad news is this. We are all Barabbas’s. That is we are sinners, rebellious, we have murder in our heart. But there is the good news, the Gospel message; there is Jesus who took our place on the cross of Calvary just as He took the place of Barabbas. Why did He do that? Very simply, and I think these words we read so often become so common that we just go over them, not giving them a second thought. But listen carefully to this.
Jesus tells us in John 3:16-21, “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For everyone practicing evil hates the light and does not come to the light, lest his deeds should be exposed. But he who does the truth comes to the light, that his deeds may be clearly seen, that they have been done in God.” You see, God loves us so He sent His Son. The Son loves us and He finished the Work the Father sent Him to do. Today, God is not condemning us but He is saving us if you will only reach out to Him.
Paul, in Hebrews 9:27-28 tells us, “And as it is appointed for men to die once, but after this the judgment, so Christ was offered once to bear the sins of many. To those who eagerly wait for Him He will appear a second time, apart from sin, for salvation.” In other words, we all will die but if we receive Christ then He will appear to us for salvation. But, if we reject Him, He will appear in judgment! It is like this. If you are born once, you will die twice. And if you are born twice, you will die once! What does that mean? If you are born once, speaking of the physical birth, then you will die in your sins apart from Christ, the second death is being sent into the Lake of Fire for eternity! But, if you are born twice, both physical and being born again, a spiritual birth, if Jesus is your Lord and Savior, you will enter into eternity with Him! You see, born once, die twice. But, born twice, die once!
Several years ago a man and his wife were found frozen to death in their car. A blizzard had dumped tons of snow in the area, burying their vehicle. Before she died, the woman scribbled a note on a piece of paper and stuffed it in the glove compartment. The note read: "I don't want to die this way." Tragically, less than six feet from their icy grave was a stranded bus, whose festive passengers remained warm throughout the night.
- Today in the Word, October, 1990, p. 28
As I close this evening, that is the reality folk’s. God brings to us salvation but you must come to Him and many are so close but they don’t enter in and apart from Christ the Bible tells us that they will die in their sins! Won’t you receive that pardon that Christ has for you, that free gift of life right now? It is as simple as this. If you are ready, within your heart between you and the Lord, you can say these words:
Lord Jesus, I know that I am a sinner and I need you in my life. Lord, forgive me of my sins and be not only my Savior, but also my Lord. Help me to follow you all the days of my life. Amen!
If you said that prayer then you are a child of God, you have been adopted into the family of God! What an awesome gift God has given you. If you have made a decision for Christ this evening see me after study and I will get you some material to help you to grow in your relationship with Jesus. If you are listening on the air and you made this commitment to Christ, call the church number and I will send you the material. It is that important!
If you know the Lord, I pray you are walking the walk of faith. If not, then tonight, repent and get right with God and start walking! And for all of us, may we not forget what our Lord has done for us. May we not lose sight of what it cost Him so we might be saved. Thus, as Jesus said, “‘Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.’ Amen.” Matthew 28:19-20. May we go out and bring the Good News, the Gospel message to a world that is in darkness and invite them to come into the family of God through Christ.
Remember our story that we opened up with this evening, “I’ve come back to buy my boat,” the boy said. The clerk counted the money. It was enough. Reaching into the showcase, the storekeeper took the boat and handed it to the eager boy. The lad’s face lit up with a smile of satisfaction as he held the little boat in his arms. “You’re mine,” he said, “twice mine. Mine because I made you, and now, mine because I bought you.” God has not only created us, but He has bought us back by going to the cross of Calvary, don’t take that lightly, but rejoice in what the Lord has done! And can you answer the question, “ . . . ‘What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?’ . . .” Matthew 27:22. I pray you can!