Matthew 27:15-24
Today is “Yom Kippur” or the Day of Atonement.
Yom = The Day
Kippur = To Atone
Yom Kippur = The Day of Atonement
The Day of Atonement is the one day of the entire year that the high priest would make a sacrifice to make amends for the sin for all of Israel.
This had a very specific ritual that ultimately led to the sins of the people being forgiven:
•
Two goats are
brought before the high priest to cast lots on. One would be presented as
“Lord’s goat” and the other presented as the “scapegoat.”
•
A scarlet rope
made of wool was placed around the neck of the lord’s goat and another scarlet
rope tied around the horns of the scapegoat.
•
The high priest
then would kill Lord’s goat and catch its blood in a bowl.
•
That blood of the
sacrifice would be taken to the Holy of Holies and sprinkled on the mercy seat
of the Ark of the Covenant.
•
The high priest
would then go to the scapegoat and lay his blood soaked hands on its head and
confess the sins of the people.
• The scapegoat would then be led into the wilderness where it was released.
This was an image of Jesus:
•
Jesus became both
the sacrifice and the scapegoat on our behalf.
•
Just as a scarlet
rope was tied around both goats, a scarlet robe was placed on Jesus before He
would be crucified (Matthew 27:28).
Matthew 27:28 (ESV) - “And they stripped him and put a
scarlet robe on him,”
•
The sacrificial
goat was then taken into the tabernacle which was in the shape of a cross to be
killed.
•
The blood of the
goat was then taken to the Holy of Holies and sprinkled on the mercy seat which
was the top of the Ark of the Covenant. In the same way, Jesus who is our
ultimate High Priest, presented His own blood in the Holy Place to our father
in Heaven, securing our redemption once and for all (Hebrews 9:11-12).
Hebrews 9:11-12 (ESV) - But when Christ appeared as a high
priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater
and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places,
not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own
blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
•
In the same the
sins of Israel were confessed upon the scapegoat, Jesus who was innocent, bore
all of our sin and it was so that it would be remembered no more (2 Corinthians
5:21).
2 Corinthians 5:21
(ESV) - “For our
sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the
righteousness of God.”
There were two goats but only one offering.
One goat was put to death while the other goat was set free.
We see this same situation played out in the Gospels.
Matthew 27:15-24
(NLT)
“15 Now it was the governor’s custom each year during the Passover celebration to release one prisoner to the crowd—anyone they wanted. 16 This year there was a notorious prisoner, a man named Barabbas. 17 As the crowds gathered before Pilate’s house that morning, he asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you—Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 (He knew very well that the religious leaders had arrested Jesus out of envy.) 19 Just then, as Pilate was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent him this message: “Leave that innocent man alone. I suffered through a terrible nightmare about him last night.” 20 Meanwhile, the leading priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas to be released and for Jesus to be put to death. 21 So the governor asked again, “Which of these two do you want me to release to you?” The crowd shouted back, “Barabbas!” 22 Pilate responded, “Then what should I do with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” They shouted back, “Crucify him!” 23 “Why?” Pilate demanded. “What crime has he committed?” But the mob roared even louder, “Crucify him!” 24 Pilate saw that he wasn’t getting anywhere and that a riot was developing. So he sent for a bowl of water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood. The responsibility is yours!”
Pontius Pilate presented two men before the crowd. He asked for one to be set free and the other to be put to death. One was Jesus the Messiah and the other was Barabbas.
Early manuscripts of Matthew name him “Jesus Barabbas,” ensuing that his name could have been Jesus as well.
Also, the name “Barabbas” (Bar = son, Abba = Father) means “son of abba” or “son of the father.”
Therefore, you have two Jesus’; one whose name means “son of the father” and the other who actually is “son of the father” in heaven.
In the OT you had two goats, in Matthew 27 you have 2 men.
One Jesus is the Messiah, the truth, the innocent one.
The other, Barabbas, was bound and locked up. He was guilty of murder and was sentenced to death row, awaiting the day of his judgement.
Both men were brought out before the crowd who was asked which one they wanted to set free.
They chose Barabbas.
Jesus not only became the sacrificial goat, but He also became the scapegoat. All of our sin, guilt and shame was placed upon Jesus and He carried them all the way to the cross and into death.
But as for Barabbas, he walked away free.
Imagine being in the shoes of Barabbas. Knowing that he was guilty, locked up in a prison cell, awaiting the judgement that he knew he deserved; death. Any day now he will be pulled from his cell and most likely crucified for his crimes.
The cell opens. He is walked outside to the roar from a crowd yelling “crucify Him! Crucify Him!” Imagining the entire time those words were meant for him. He is bound in chains imagining this was the moment that he would carry his cross to his death.
But then all of a sudden, the chains are unlocked and taken off and is being told that he was free. As he looks to the side he sees what seems to be an innocent man who takes his lashing, his beating, and takes up the cross that was meant for him and walks it to His death. Barabbas might be the only person who could say that Jesus literally carried his cross.
In that moment, Barabbas was given the freedom that Jesus deserved. Jesus bore his guilt, and shame, and disgrace and death that Barabbas deserved. Barabbas received the freedom and life that Jesus deserved.
Doesn’t this sound familiar??
It is because, I am Barabbas!!…..
Without Jesus, we are guilty of
sin, locked up in a spiritual prison.
We were bound in chains, helpless to get free. We were sentenced to death, awaiting the judgement that we deserved. We had no hope of redemption; we were lost. Yet in an instant, someone took our place and took upon our sin, took all of our guilt and shame and took it to the cross!
Thank you Jesus!!
Jesus was the answer for Barabbas
Jesus was the answer for the
disciples
Jesus was the answer for You
Jesus was the answer for Me
Jesus was the answer for all of us
Jesus is the answer TODAY
1.
Remember
the Cross - Remember that Jesus took
our penalty and we walked away free. Be thankful for the cross, and let it
never become common to us. Jesus died for us so that we can live for Him. The
best way to remember what Christ did for us on the cross is by living for Him.
2.
Pray for
our nation - Yesterday a national day
of prayer was held on behalf of our country. Our nation needs us to pray for
God to intervene.
3.
Choose
Jesus - Jesus is the answer! No
matter the situation, Jesus is sufficient. Let us not lean on our own knowledge
or opinions; let’s choose Jesus in every situation.
