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BULLETIN
SERMON TEXT BELOW
Fifth Sunday in Lent 2023
Immanuel Lutheran Church, Hamilton, Ohio
Vicar Kaleb Yaeger
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Text and Audio: immanuelhamiltonchurch.com click “sermons”
Text: pastorjud.org
Audio: pastorjud.podbean.com
itunes: bit.ly/pastorjud
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Dawn breaks over Jerusalem. Blood-red light shines in the sky. Dark clouds streak the horizon. The day has begun. A day of decision. A day of death. Friday morning: Judgment day.
On this judgment day, a man is brought before the governor. Pilate is the Roman governor of the region. As the representative of Rome, he holds the power of execution. Sitting on his judgment seat, he hears the case set before him. The accusations are weak. The man standing before him, bound and beaten does not seem like some great villain. Pilate knows this is an innocent man.
There are many accusations brought against this man, this Jesus of Nazareth. He appears to be some kind of teacher. Most of the accusations conflict with one another. All, Pilate reasons, seem false and unfounded. Certainly none of them deserve death. Rome is a civilized nation. There must, at least, be a pretense of justice.
There is one accusation that Rome might put this man to death for. Something about Him calling Himself the King of the Jews. As Roman subjects, the Jews should have no king but Caesar. So, Pilate asks the man:
“Are you the King of the Jews?”
Jesus said, “You have said so.”
Pilate does not know what he has asked Jesus. Jesus is, of course, the King of the Jews. He is also the King of the Romans, King of all that was and all that will ever be. To Pilate’s ears, this man has humbly acknowledged that people may call Him King, but He does not seem to act on the title. The chief priests and the elders of the people continually bring their accusations, but Jesus does not answer them a word. He knows that He does not need to defend Himself against such obviously false accusations.
Pilate’s respect for this teacher grows. He sees that this Jesus has been delivered to him out of jealousy and spite, not out of any actual crime. Yet, Jesus is not reacting like most men would if they were falsely accused. He doesn’t act like a man who fears death, but like a man who knows His cause is just.
Pilate knows this man is innocent. He doesn’t want to crucify an innocent man. He thinks of a way. There is a custom that might sway the crowds.
Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted.
Pilate wants to tip the scales in Jesus’ favor. So he chooses, not just any criminal, but Barabbas, a notorious rebel and murderer. Jesus was accused of being a rebel against Rome. Barabbas was actually a rebel. So, Pilate presents his case to the people.
“Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”
Two men. One innocent. The other guilty. Who will live and who will die?
Pilate’s is not the only trial this day. There is another trial taking place. One of far greater importance. The same man stands before the judgment seat. Jesus of Nazareth. Son of Mary. Son of God. An innocent man. A man in whom there is neither spot, nor blemish, nor any imperfection.
God the Father sits in the judgment seat, the cup of His wrath in His hand.
Jesus not the only one on trial. Opposite the innocent Lamb of God stands a guilty soul, a rebel against God, a poor, miserable sinner. You stand in the heavenly courtroom, and you are guilty. You hold the list of your sins. For each and every one, the penalty is clear. Death.
The judge knows you are guilty. The judge knows Jesus is innocent. Today, one will go free and the other will die. The cup of God’s wrath will be poured out this day.
This should be a foregone conclusion. You know what you have done. You know your thoughts, your words and your deeds. God’s justice demands your blood.
Pilate’s trial continues. He has set a choice before these people. Innocent or guilty. Murderer or teacher. Sinful Son of Adam or innocent Son of God.
In heaven, the cup of God’s wrath begins to tip.
On earth, the crowds shout a name. Their fingers point to the man they wish released.
God utters His judgment. His wrath will be poured out, fully and completely. His cup will be emptied to the dregs. Death will be dealt. Suffering will be had for sin.
Pilate’s jaw opens in shock. A man goes free. Barabbas goes free. A guilty man is released from the punishment for his crimes.
Heaven trembles as God declares judgment. He declares a man guilty. Guilty of your sin. Guilty of thought, word and deed. Guilty and deserving of death. Guilty, though these sins are not His own. Guilty, though this man has lived a perfect life. Guilty, though this man is the guiltless Son of God.
He is guilty. You are guiltless. The sin is yours. The punishment is His. He took your sins and in exchange gave you His robe of righteousness. This judgment day, one would go free and one would die. You are freed. Christ would die. The cup of God’s wrath would fall, but not on you. On Him. On Christ. The Son of God.
Barabbas will be freed. On earth, Pilate’s trial continues.
Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”
They all said, “Let him be crucified!”
And he said, “Why? What evil has he done?”
But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”
The crowd calls for the crucifixion of the innocent man. Pilate is losing control. He sees the crowd is about to turn into a riot. Hoping to assuage his own conscience,
He took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.” And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
Pilate is not innocent. He is cowardly. He’s thinking politically. He wants to keep his seat, so he tries to appease the crowds. But God used this human weakness to further His plans. In Pilate’s trial, the guilty man would go free. The innocent man would be crucified. So too in the heavenly courtroom.
Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.
Though you are Barabbas. Though you are guilty of a thousand sins. Though the law of God speaks rightly when it condemns your sin, Jesus is the One who is crucified. He is scourged. Whipped. His blood flows out onto the earth. For Jesus will be the sacrifice for sin. The law demands blood. Jesus will give it. He is prepared like a sacrificial animal. This scourging is just the first breath of the suffering that Jesus will face. The cup of God’s wrath has tipped. Its first drops begin to fall on Jesus. Soon, it will be poured out. Soon, Jesus will face death, even death upon a cross.
You, on the other hand, will not face death. You stand in the heavenly courtroom, shocked as Jesus is bound, whipped, and delivered over to death. You no longer hold the list of your sins. In its place, you have a new robe wrapped around you. A robe that is white as light itself.
This robe is the robe of Christ’s righteousness given to you in baptism. In this trial, Christ has exchanged His righteousness for your sin. As the bearer of your sin, Christ receives the death you deserve. You receive His righteousness. When God looks at you, He does not see your disobedience and rebellion. Instead, He sees the obedience of Christ. Obedience that merits life.
Christ has received what you deserve. So now, you receive what Christ deserves. Not death, but life. Not punishment, but reward. With His death, Jesus wins life for you. Forever. Soon, you will see that death. Good Friday approaches. Soon, you will see the breadth of the love of Jesus. He will have his arms spread wide on the cross that He can spread them wide to welcome you into eternity.
Amen