Convicting The Son Of God - [John 19:7-16]

The Injustice and Speed of Jesus’ Trial

John chapter 19 this week. Just thinking about all the drama of these trials I decided to look up the most famous trial movies of all time. And I found a database of 70 movies, and I'm not gonna tell you any of them.

I Thought 70 was an interesting number. You know mostly because it's not 50 and it's not a hundred so right about there. You know they're like here the top 70. I guess after that it just sort of drops off a cliff.

But I thought why so many movies? About trials. About justice. About juries. There's an American fascination with the topic. I Mean if I asked you you could name some of your favorite movies. I'm not going to.

But you can name them. You can recite lines from those movies. Now if I asked you what the Sixth Amendment was probably most of you couldn't get that but it has to do with trials. Here are some of the aspects of a trial and just keep in mind.

I'm gonna bring You know scripture to bear on this, but just think about Jesus as we do this, and I'll help you along. Sixth Amendment is the right to a speedy and public trial by an impartial jury now as you think about Jesus.

Did he have a speedy trial? Oh? It was speedy. I mean it was the drive-thru. I mean just there it was done a Few hours trials sometimes take years in the United States. Now what about public was it public a?

Little bit some of it was a lot of it wasn't I Mean if you were up at three o 'clock in the morning and wandering around you might have stumbled into. You know some of it, but the answer is not really.

How about an impartial jury a? Jury of his peers. First of all he doesn't have any peers, but secondly this jury was not impartial. How about a Notice of the charges against him. What was he being charged with?

The answer is no. They're basically making it up as they went along. In fact I said last week that at one point they almost accused him of Mopari, which is a real or imagined crime. It's a nothing crime.

It's not even you know. It's vagrancy. It's nothing. How about. The right to confront the witnesses against you there were no witnesses. There was no evidence. This was a mock. It was a sham of a trial.

How about you have the right to assistance of counsel you have the right to? Have an attorney, and if you can't afford one one will be appointed for you. No. None of that there was nobody with Jesus as an example of justice.

This is the biggest injustice of all time as an example of trials. This is the biggest mockery of trials of all time. RC Sproul was once asked he said. Or they said they asked him they said why do bad things happen to good people?

Tom's nodding because he knows the answer. What did RC say he famously said it happened once and He volunteered. One time in all of history. Did a bad thing happen to a good person? Why could he say that because there's no one good, but God Jesus Christ alone.

Everything during these last hours leading to the crucifixion. Really ultimately was no less wicked than the cross itself, right? I mean everything that was done to Jesus was wrong was sinful. In fact we would Not be straining it to say that this is the full power of the kingdom of darkness coming against the king of light.

This is Satan doing everything in his power to cause suffering and pain upon the Lord Jesus. Now let's read our text. I'm going to start John chapter 19 verse 1. We covered some of this last week, but I want to read it so that we'll we'll have a better picture.

19 -1. Then Pilate took Jesus and flogged him and The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns and put it on his head and arrayed him in a purple robe. They came up to him saying hail king of Jews king of the Jews and Struck him with their hands.

Pilate went out again and said to them see I am bringing him out to you so that you may know that I find No guilt in him. So Jesus came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe. Pilate said to them behold the man.

When the chief priests and the officers saw him they cried out Crucify him crucify him. Pilate said to them Take him yourselves and crucify him for I find no guilt in him. The Jews answered him we have a law and according to that law He ought to die because he has made himself the Son of God.

When Pilate heard this statement, he was even more afraid. He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus Where are you from? But Jesus gave him no answer. So Pilate said to him You will not speak to me.

Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you. Jesus answered him You would have no authority over me at all Unless it had been given you from above. Therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin from then on.

Pilate sought to release him but the Jews cried out if you release this man. You are not Caesar's friend. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar. So when Pilate heard these words He brought Jesus out and sat him down on the judgment seat at a place called the stone pavement and an Aramaic Gabbatha.

Now it was the day of preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews Behold your king. 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. So he delivered him over to them to be crucified. Now over the past few weeks, we've seen Jesus Brought before Annas kind of the power behind the Sanhedrin The former high priest but he was scheming.

He was crafty. He was still basically Calling the shots for the Sanhedrin and this was an informal hearing done in the middle of the night completely illegal. But Annas was the man with the most power.

He was feared and respected and While Jesus was before him if you recall They gathered together the members of the Sanhedrin they went out and gathered them all up and brought them to Caiaphas's mansion.

So that they could have a legitimate Hearing. I just did air quotes Sorry, so they could have a legitimate hearing Before Annas the the chief priest the the high priest in in name anyway He was the man in charge At least placed by the Romans and this religious trial of Jesus was conducted Early in the morning just after dawn Just after six o 'clock and its goal was to get Jesus to incriminate himself.

They had no witnesses and they had no interest in a fair trial. They had already decided his fate. They had long decided long ago decided his fate. Caiaphas said even pronounce it after Jesus had called Excuse me called Lazarus out of the tomb.

They decided they were going to kill him. Why. They were angry because he was interrupting their profiteering. He made sport of their profiteering by going into the temple and turning over Tables, he was interrupting the family business as it were.

And they were also concerned that if they didn't Eliminate him that he represented a threat to them and their rule over the Jewish people now. It was a rule given to them by the Romans but they didn't want anything to come before their their prophet and their power.

Now last week we saw Jesus before Pontius Pilate the Roman governor over Judea The southern half of Israel and also specifically over Jerusalem and he's in town along with some extra Roman soldiers because of the Passover.

They want to make sure that they keep a lid on the Jews and there's no writing and there's no outbreaks of violence. And if you recall three times Pilate says of Jesus that he's innocent in fact that was in 1838 he says I find no guilt in him in 1904 I find no guilt in him in 1906 I find no guilt in him innocent innocent innocent and in any kind of legitimate trial that would be it an Innocent man a man in whom there is no guilt even a righteous man Would be released.

That would be the outcome we would expect. But that's not what happens. Pilate Has a jury so to speak really a mob that he's trying to appease and He's afraid of angering the Sanhedrin by releasing Jesus.

As I said Jerusalem's packed for the holiday. And if the people start getting stirred up it could get ugly and his job could be on the line. So he doesn't want the Sanhedrin to get the people excited to get them in a rebellious mood.

But Pilate not only declared Jesus innocent he tried to convince the Jews if you'll recall that they should release him, right? He brought out the worst man in Jerusalem the most notorious man Barabbas and he said listen would you rather release Barabbas this horrible excuse for a human being or this beaten downtrodden Bleeding man Jesus he tried flogging Jesus he wanted to release him.

But if you recall when he says how about I release Barabbas remember? The Sanhedrin the Jewish leaders went out among the people and they were like the rudder steering the mob they were inciting the mob to release Barabbas instead of Jesus and Finally as we just read Pilate Mocked the Jews inviting them to crucify Jesus look he's innocent you guys crucify him yourselves.

Because he knew that he alone had that authority they couldn't and This morning we will see the religious leaders level a new charge at Jesus one that sends Pilate Reeling I mean he wants this thing over and they put this new charge out there, and he doesn't know what to do.

It ultimately leads to the unjust I'll call it conviction. I want to use air quotes again the conviction of Jesus. So this morning we're going to see this new charge. Four phases of this so-called trial here this morning the new charge the response of pilots.

Then the third stage the threat of the Jews and the fourth the verdict. So the first phase the new charge. What is that new charge here it is he claims to be God. Look at the text verse 7 the Jews answered him.

We have a law and According to that law he ought to die. Because he has made himself the Son of God the Jewish leaders now tried to or they previously tried to Get pilot to crucify him without charges right.

I said Mopar II well In 1830 they said this if this man were not doing evil We would not have delivered him over to you in other words. He's just a bad guy. Just put him to death. Trust us. It's not like Jesus meant anything to pilots he was just another Jew and Thousands of Jews would be crucified so in essence.

They're saying why not just crucify another one. He's just a Jew just kill him. But that didn't work and Then if you recall they tried turning him into some kind of rabble rouser some sort of revolutionary some sort of threat to his rule.

That didn't work. Pilot found him innocent of that so now they're going to accuse him of Blasphemy they say we have a law. What is that law? It's Leviticus 26 16 Says this whoever blasphemes The name of the Lord shall surely be put to death now sometimes we hear You know don't blaspheme the name of the Lord and we or don't take the name of the Lord in vain.

And that's when people use it as a cuss word. We think well think about that if we put somebody to death every time The name of the Lord was taken then there would be a lot of death going around. Whoever blasphemes the name of the Lord shall surely be put to death listen all the congregation shall stone him now.

That's what they did to David. They do it to others. That's what the Jews would do, but I'm sorry not David Stephen. That's what they would do with someone. They were they decided was blasphemous, right?

But that was mob action. This isn't a mob action. This is a judicial action. So they come before pilot and they say listen. Literally they say son of God he himself has made in other words. They put son of God first.

They emphasize that that charge Has substantial evidence for it. I'm just going to go through a series of scriptures now, and we can just sort of evaluate this evidence for ourselves straight from Jesus in the beginning at least listen John 3 16 we sometimes we hear that scripture a lot we forget.

It's Jesus who's speaking Listen for God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. After Jesus healed the invalid Man who had been an invalid for 38 years on the Sabbath we read this in John 5 18.

This was why the Jews were seeking all the more to kill him talking about Jesus because not only was he breaking the Sabbath. But listen, but he was even calling God his own father Making himself equal with God John 8 53 and 54.

Are you greater than our father Abraham who died and the prophets died? Who do you make yourself out to be? Jesus answered if I glorify myself My glory is nothing. It is my father who glorifies me of whom you say he is our God John 10 30.

I. And the father are one famous, right? What happens right away the Jews picked up stones again to stone him. Jesus answered them. I've shown you many good works from the father for which of them are you going to stone me?

Why are you gonna put me to death? The Jews answered him it is not for a good work that we are going to stone you but for Blasphemy because you being a man make yourself God. The original audience understood very well What he was saying even during the hearing before Caiaphas if you recall Matthew 26 63 to 65 just listen as I read this.

But Jesus remained silence and the high priest said to him I adjure I command you By the Living God tell us if you are the Christ the Son of God. Jesus said to him you have said so but I tell you from now on you will see the Son the Son of Man seated at the right hand of power and Coming on the clouds of heaven.

In other words. Yes, I am. And I'll be seated at his right hand at the father's right hand as I rightly belong Verse 65 then the high priest tore his robes and said he has uttered Blasphemy. What further witnesses do we need.

You have now heard his blasphemy. Now in a real trial. You know what you really want. Ultimately is you want if you're innocent the best defense is what? The truth right you didn't do it and you just present the truth and you walk.

However, the Sanhedrin aren't really interested in the truth, right? I mean, what if he is God? They don't care about that. Now this charge of blasphemy that he's making himself out to be the Son of God it seems like if you recall, I mean since Pilot really isn't interested in settling some sort of religious disputes.

Why do they even bring this up? Because they know this that as kind of sub rulers under Roman authority the Romans allowed them to First of all have their own religion as long as it didn't conflict with paying their taxes and that kind of thing.

But they also allowed them a great deal of autonomy. Right, they would respect local law as long as it wasn't keeping with The overall Roman picture and as long as it wasn't Going to inflict the death penalty because that they reserved as I said last week for themselves.

But if we think about it from Rome or from pilots perspective, he his response should be you say he's the Son of God. I don't care right you want to persecute him for blasphemy. I don't care not my problem.

I'm not a Jew like he said last week, but that's not how he responds. So the first one is this new charge the first phase this new charge second the response of pilot look at verse 8 when pilot heard this statement he was even more afraid.

Now it's fair to say that pilot wasn't a religious person. In fact, I would say this that like many unbelievers you'll come across He could be described as spiritual. Hmm he believed in something greater than himself, but Certainly not in the God of the Bible.

Maybe he was just superstitious right his wife sends him this messenger and The messenger tells him about the wife's dream. What does he do? He wants to release Jesus. Why because she said have nothing to do with that righteous man.

Don't put Jesus on the cross. I had a dream about him. I was troubled by that dream you ought not to put that righteous man on the cross. Now here are some of the Jews saying that he's. He's claimed to be the Son of God.

If his wife had given him pause and made him not want to put Jesus on the cross. This idea of Jesus being the Son of God Creates fear in him. He was a little worried before now. He's definitely worried.

He's afraid. Why? Because the Romans if you know Roman mythology their gods are nothing like the God of the Bible. Their gods did all kinds of things just like people do sometimes they even mixed with people and there were all kinds of half gods and demigods and gods disguised as human beings and so the Not religious but superstitious Pilot is sitting there and he's going what if This Jesus Whom I flogged whom I've allowed to be mocked who's now wearing this crown of thorns who's beaten beyond measure.

What if he's some sort of God in disguise? What if he's some sort of half God and I've treated him like this. I'm in a lot of trouble. What am I gonna do when he reveals himself to be who he is. What if he really is some sort of son of God?

He was pilot about to get the shock of his life, you know the big reveal so verse 9 He entered his headquarters again and said to Jesus Where are you from? But Jesus gave no answer. He'd been outside addressing the Jews.

He goes back inside where Jesus is he wants to find out what sort of What son of God was all about and it's interesting what he says. Where are you from? Not? Who are you? What manner of man are you but where are you from?

I mean, it'd be Greek, right? See Mount Olympus, but I the Romans have some equivalent of that which escapes me at the moment. I didn't study mythology this week. Where are you from but Jesus doesn't answer?

Well, why not when part maybe because he already has right in 1837 he said I have come into this world into the world to bear witness to the truth. We talked about this last week who could say that I have come into the world.

Nobody says that. You come into the world. You've come from someplace else. Well, he came from the father's right hand side from the father's side. But he was not from some place that pilot could comprehend.

He doesn't answer verse 10. So pilot said to him you will not speak to me. Do you not know that I have authority to release you and authority to crucify you? This really is a kind of Do you know who I am moment, right?

Jesus, do you know who I am? I Authority over life and death. I'm far more important than you. In fact, I Think it would be fair to say that Even if we think about Psalm 82 that in essence having the power of life and death not only is the power of God But it makes a man feel like a god, right?

So there's pilot saying do you know who I am? I am the one with authority over you. How dare you sit there and not answer me. Well, the text tells us that pilot was more afraid. And so what does he do?

He responds to that fear. He lashes out. He's he wants to compel Jesus to give him an answer. But Jesus isn't afraid. Verse 11 he says this. Jesus answered him you would have no authority over me at all unless it had been given you from above.

Pilot thinks he's in charge. Jesus is a pathetic shell of a man physically. He's been beaten. Pummeled with fists. Had his beard plucked out. He's wearing a crown of gigantic thorns pressed into his head.

He's been spat upon. Mocked endlessly. He's been flogged which as I said last week would kill a lot of people. But this is a teachable moment and Jesus teaches Pilots authority over life and death is a weighty responsibility to be sure but it is a delegated Responsibility it is granted from on high to him.

Every authority that exists in this world whether it's parents whether it's government and even pilots is established by God right. Paul writes about that and Jesus Says the same thing. Again in verse 11 continuing therefore he who delivered me over to you has the greater sin.

Who's he describing who's he referring to when he says he who delivered me over to you. Some analysts say Judas. Some say it's Caiaphas. Some say it doesn't matter. I think it is Caiaphas. Both knew that Jesus had done nothing wrong and it was for wicked purposes that both Betrayed him.

I'm Judas betrayed him and Caiaphas wanted him put to death. But I think Caiaphas is the one referred to here. Caiaphas was no well-meaning keeper of the religious flame. He wasn't just some placeholder Protecting Judaism from this interloper.

He was out to eliminate a threat to his wealth and power. There was nothing either ignorant innocent or noble about Caiaphas. Now Jesus isn't saying that Pilate is innocent. But he is saying that Caiaphas knowing better knowing the law and Knowing about the Messiah should have known better and yet didn't.

So he has the greater sin. What's most striking about this passage though is it clearly teaches that God is sovereign and man is responsible. God gave these men their authority. In other words pilot had his authority from God.

Caiaphas had his authority from God. They chose to use it as they did and As they did so they were accomplishing God's purpose. In fact in 40 plus days at the day of Pentecost Peter's gonna preach this in Acts chapter 2 verse 23 this Jesus Delivered up according to the definite plan and foreknowledge of God you talking to this crowd of Jewish people Crucified and killed by the hands of lawless men.

God sovereignly ordained these things. He brought them to pass and these men are responsible for what they do. Both are true now this is Pilate's response to What Jesus says verse 12? From then on Pilate sought to release him.

Again, Pilate wants to release him. He listens to what Jesus says and in his mind He's still innocent. He's still no threats. His desire is to let Jesus go. Now John doesn't tell us exactly what Pilate's doing right now.

He's already tried the Barabbas thing. He's tried different ways to let him go. He's declared him innocent multiple times. He doesn't specify How he tries to let him go, but he does give us The response of the Jews and we're going to see that first.

The Threat of Caesar and the Crowd’s Pressure

Okay phase one the new charge Blasphemy he's claiming to be the Son of God. Secondly the response of Pilate's which was to investigate it try to sort out what that meant. Now we see the threat of the Jews.

Phase three. Again in verse 12 the second part of it. He's trying to release him, but the Jews cried out if you release this man, you are not Caesar's friend. When the ESV says that the Jews cried out.

That's a it's a good translation in terms of our English. But the verb the Greek verb means to utter a loud sound. It means that it has a harsh texture. Kind of gives us the idea that it's an animal like noise.

And I think it would almost be right to say this. I think it would be right to say it was a shrieking or a howling. Something almost ununderstandable. So I read it again, and I said they were shrieking that would be right they were howling that would be right and Whatever gut check pilot has just passed whatever made him think you know what.

I'm gonna release him anyway. I'm gonna try to release him. I'm gonna do that whatever momentary courage he had. Dissipates it's gone it evaporates. He's intimidated by the crowd. Now verse 12 again. Everyone who makes himself a king opposes Caesar.

Here's the message from the Jews to Pilate. This man made himself. Jesus made himself out to be a king. You've rejected that. We have to kind of wonder Who you loyal to. This is a political threat. The Jews had previously made a report to the Caesar and they could do it again.

Tiberius it was about a year or two later killed one of the mentors of Pilate. Who was a ruler above Pilate in the chain of command? Tiberius was ruthless and anyone who didn't toe the line was dealt with severely so when they say listen if You're not going to deal with this Jesus, we're gonna let Caesar know we're gonna have to report your treachery.

Sorry about that mate. Bad day bad luck for you. Now the irony here is rich. These Jews hated Rome. They hated Caesar they wanted to be free from pagan rule, but The You know friend of my friend, you know kind of the enemy of my enemy.

They were willing to go to Caesar to get at pilots. And in this moment their hatred for Jesus was such that they would appeal to anything. His reluctance to dismiss the charges his unwillingness to Release Jesus.

He could have he should have he declared him innocent. Now they're going to say that he's disloyal if he doesn't put him on the cross and really what ultimately has happened is his kind of Delaying a decision has painted him into a corner and pilot knows it.

He doesn't. The one thing he doesn't want besides a riot is he doesn't want to get basically ratted out to the Caesar so we've seen the new charge the response of pilots the threat of the Jews and now the verdict as Pilot prepares for judgment.

We read verse 13. So when pilot heard these words, he responds to these words from the Jews. He brought Jesus out. So he's been outside he goes back in gets Jesus comes out and sat down on the judgment seat at a place Called the stone pavement and an Aramaic Gabbatha this moment for ordained before the foundation of the world.

Weighed heavily on pilots. He didn't want to do this but he felt compelled to do it and without his Decision Jesus won't go to the cross. What pilot doesn't want to do what the Sanhedrin desperately wants him to do.

Because they didn't have the power to do Is exactly what Satan wants them to do. This is kind of if we think about go all the way back to the fall. Go all the way back to Genesis 3 15 and the curse that God puts on Adam and Eve and Satan and what does he say?

He says my paraphrase that through this woman through Eve Would come one who would do what? Crush the serpents head defeat Satan. This is Satan's moment. He's going to stop Genesis 3 15 from coming true.

This is going to be victory over Eve's offspring victory over Jesus victory over the one born of a virgin. Pilot sits down on the Bema seat. That's the word there. This is the place of authority to pass judgments.

Pilot the weak pilot the sinful pilot the ineffectual Is going to pass judgment on the one who one day will judge him he's going to Convict essentially the sinless one. But first there's more mocking look at verse 14 now.

It was the day of preparation of the Passover. It was about the sixth hour. He said to the Jews Behold your King Friday morning. Again, Jesus beaten up and if we just think about it this way, how does he mocking?

He's mocking Jesus obviously and calling him a king, but he's mocking them the Jews. He's saying this man reflects you. You're beaten we beat you. You're helpless. We own you. You can't rebel against us.

There's nothing you can do and this man perfectly reflects your weakness. I Verse 15 they cried out away with him away with him crucify him again shrieking. That's what that verb means. They shriek at pilots.

They want Jesus put to bed or put to death so bad That they ignore his jab at them. They ignore his insult. They don't care about what pilot says. They want what they want. They want Jesus on that cross and Then the last bit of mocking from pilot.

Pilot said to them shall I crucify your king? In the Greek your king comes first he's emphasizing the fact that this is the king of the Jews and Even though he is absolutely ignorant of the truth of it.

His words are true. Jesus is the king of Israel. He is the long-awaited Messiah. But look at how the Jews respond with their sort of empty Pledge of Allegiance. I mean I can just imagine the Sanhedrin sitting there now knowing that they hate everything about Rome.

The Caesar and everything here. They are basically hand over heart solemnly. The chief priests answered we have no king but Caesar. We love Caesar. May he rule forever over us their king. Their rightful king the Messiah was placed before them and what do they do?

They rejected him. It's just as John said in John chapter 1 he came to his own and his own people. Did not receive him they rejected him instead. They professed their loyalty to Tiberius a tyrant an ungodly tyrant.

If pilot was putting the sarcasm on thick if he was just laying it on heavy just trying to just Push it in their face like oh, yeah, you want to crucify Jesus? I'm going to mock you mock you mock you and they're like, you know, what we'll mock you right back.

We love Caesar. We're loyal to Caesar. Again, we're on Friday morning Passover day before Passover morning before Passover. Here's one of the Passover prayers that they would pray in just a few hours now just listen to this and think about it.

They would pray this. Talking to God Yahweh reign over us you alone in this moment all of that goes out the window all their professed and Acted out religion gets thrown out and all they want is Jesus dead.

Jesus thrice declared innocent and yet sentenced to death. Verse 16. So he pilot deliver delivered him over to them to be crucified. So who does he give? Jesus to well not the Jews. They still don't have the power to crucify him.

What he did as we'll see here in a moment is he gave them what they wanted. And by doing that he turned them over. He turned Jesus over to I Don't know what I want to call them. You know, basically the crucifixion squad the the people who were gonna be crucifying people later.

He's gonna be between these two thieves. Well, they're already waiting their crucifixion to just kind of Fill this out. Looking at two other Gospels. What else takes place first. Barabbas that horrible human being the terrorist is set free.

Luke 23 24 and 25 tell us this so pilot decided that their demand should be granted. He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder for whom they asked. Listen, but he delivered Jesus over to their will.

Matthew 27. Verses 24 and 25 so when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing with the crowd. But rather that a riot was beginning everything that he feared was about to happen. He took water and washed his hands before the crowd saying I am innocent of this man's blood which was false.

See to it yourselves and Listen to the haunting verse. Here in verse 25, this is the crowd these religious leaders these followers verse 25 and all the people answered. His blood be on us and on our children.

They take an oath. Yes, we gladly do this. We want Jesus dead so bad that whatever the guilt is We want it. Jesus the Son of God three times declared innocent is convicted and sentenced to death. I Say, you know, what was he convicted of?

Without any witnesses without a jury without anything. Well, he's convicted of being the Son of God. Which the Jews claim to be blasphemy because they believe that Jesus was not telling the truth and that's the issue for everyone.

If Jesus isn't God veiled in human flesh if he's not the second person of the Trinity born of a virgin. Who came into this world to save sinners from the righteous wrath of a holy God if he if that's not who he is.

Then his death is of no consequence. He's just another one of the thousands of Jews who was put to death. But listen to what he said in Luke 9 22 the Son of Man talking about himself his favorite title for himself must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and be killed and on the third day be raised the Son of Man the only begotten of the Father the Son of God had to die for us as Henry Law said.

If the height of heaven were the pulpit if The peeling thunder were the voice if the universe were the audience. No more worthy utterance could sound than that the blood of Jesus Blots out sin because the blood of Jesus is the blood of God.

Jesus had to die for us there had to be that Sacrifice for sin that we might become the righteousness of God. Let's pray our Father in heaven. As we just consider this sham of a trial. We think about the endurance the patience the sinlessness the spotlessness of Jesus Christ the Passover lamb.

The one who came that we might be delivered from the penalty of sin. Father we thank you for his life for his suffering and even his death on the cross. Father we thank you that you accepted that death as payment in full for our sin.

And you displayed that by raising him from the dead on the third day. Lord we would pray that you would renew these truths to those of us who have been Just kind of going through the motions. That you would fix these truths on our mind not just on Sunday morning, but every day of the week.

We will pray for those who don't know you who are listening today and just thinking what's the big deal about Jesus? They would listen and know that he is the Son of God and redemption is available only through him.

Father we thank you for Jesus and we pray in Jesus precious name. Amen.