Jesus Delivered Over to Pilate

This week we continue in our study through the gospel according to Matthew as we consider Matthew 27:1-31. In the text we see Jesus, the innocent suffering servant who does not defend Himself before the governor. Pilate is greatly amazed by Jesus and recognizes it is out of envy that the Jewish religious leaders want Jesus to die. He washes his hands before the crowd while the people say, His blood be on us. We see the people choose the wrong leader, a criminal who is released and walks free, and Jesus who is mocked and led away to be crucified.

Our text shows us Jesus is the innocent substitute, the righteous Redeemer who suffers for our pardon, so that we, though guilty, would be released. Jesus is our Redeemer. He is the only righteous one and gives up his life as our ransom. Jesus willingly stood where we should have stood. Jesus received what we should have received. Jesus was stripped naked that we would be clothed in righteousness. Jesus was wounded, beaten, and mocked that we would be mended. May God give us grace to recognize, confess, and rejoice in Jesus as our substitutionary sacrifice and follow in his footsteps through suffering.