Moment of Meditation: Crucify Him! (Matthew 27:21-23)

''The governor again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas." 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!" (Matthew 27:21-23)''

The crowd screamed for Jesus' blood. They wanted to see Him hanged from a cross as an example of what happens to peace disturbers. And Jesus '''HAD''' disturbed the peace with His radical teachings on God and grace.

But that's what Jesus came to do. He says, "You must not think that I have come to bring peace to the earth; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword" (Matthew 10:34 NEB). The night He was betrayed, He told Peter, "All who take the sword die by the sword" (Matthew 26:52 NEB). Jesus was prepared to die by God's sword.

And God's sword is His Word (Ephesians 6:17). God promises throughout the Old Testament that Jesus would die. Jesus is the sacrifice of all sacrifices. He is the Suffering Servant. He is the one who died and yet lives. Crucified to appease the riotous mob. Crucified to appease an angry God. Crucified to forgive sinners of all sin. You have been forgiven in Christ. Believe in Him and you also will live even though you may die. Amen.