We’re learning to…
“Live The Cross-Shaped Life” – Cruciformity is learning to embody the self-sacrificial love of King Jesus, which God always deserves and honors.
God doesn’t always make things easy for His people, but He always makes it worth it. The living, breathing proof of this is Jesus. From His birth to His death, Jesus was all about humble self-sacrifice, so God brought Him back to life and crowned Him King of kings. That’s cruciformity, and we’re learning His cross-shaped story as we preach through the Gospel according to Matthew.
We’re also learning cruciformity in the beatitudes, the cross-shaped attitudes of God’s kingdom people. We’ve been memorizing these beatitudes this year:
Blessed are merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God. (Matthew 5:7-8)
The Story
1) Jesus’s Transfer to Pilate (27:1-2)
In Matthew 18, Jesus predicted that He would first be taken by the Jewish leaders and then He would be handed over the Gentiles. That’s exactly what happened.
1 Early in the morning, all the chief priests and the elders of the people made their plans how to have Jesus executed. 2 So they bound him, led him away and handed him over to Pilate the governor.
The Jewish leadership–the Sanhedrin–operated under the authority of Rome and did not have the power to put someone to death. But the Jewish charge of “blasphemy” was not enough under Roman law to put Jesus to death. They were going to have to convince Pilate to execute Him. While Pilate takes custody of Jesus, Matthew cuts away to another scene…
2) Judas’ Regret (27:3-10)
3 When Judas, who had betrayed him, saw that Jesus was condemned, he was seized with remorse and returned the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders. 4 “I have sinned,” he said, “for I have betrayed innocent blood.” “What is that to us?” they replied. “That’s your responsibility.” 5 So Judas threw the money into the temple and left. Then he went away and hanged himself.
Sadly, Judas is not truly repentant, merely regretful. The Greek word (metamelomai (met-am-el’-lom-ahee)) translated “seized with remorse” is more like “change in emotion.” Repentance (Greek metanoeó (met-an-o-eh’-o)) is a “change in mind or purpose.” And we can tell from his actions that, though he’s emotionally torn up, he’s not truly repentant.
He didn’t go to Jesus to humbly beg for forgiveness. He went back to the Jewish leaders and tried to give their money back. But He found no mercy or hope from them when he needed it. They are so cruel here. In theory, they could have encouraged Judas to offer a sacrifice to atone for his great sin. Instead, they simply condemn him: “your sin is your responsibility.” They’re responsible too by the way. They plotted against Jesus and paid Judas. So the guilty religious leaders offer not hope but condemnation to Judas, all the while Jesus is offering His very self as a ransom for sinners.
Judas, in great despair, ended his own life. He would rather die than live with the extreme remorse he felt. IMPORTANT NOTE: This passage in no way teaches that suicide is not an unforgivable sin. Nor does it teach that a person who dies by suicide has no faith and hope in Christ. The mental health struggles associated with suicide are tragic and complex, but they do not automatically put someone beyond the saving power of the crucified and risen King Jesus. What this passage is teaching is that Judas was not repentant and put his hope in religious leaders who offered none.
6 The chief priests picked up the coins and said, “It is against the law to put this into the treasury, since it is blood money.” 7 So they decided to use the money to buy the potter’s field as a burial place for foreigners. 8 That is why it has been called the Field of Blood to this day. 9 Then what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet was fulfilled: “They took the thirty pieces of silver, the price set on him by the people of Israel, 10 and they used them to buy the potter’s field, as the Lord commanded me.”
The Jewish religious leaders cared so little for justice with Jesus or mercy with Judas…but they had to follow the law about the blood money! Oh the horrific irony. It was against the Jewish law to use money earned or given for sin for the Temple (Deut 23:18), so they wouldn’t accept Judas’ returned bribe for Temple operations. But they were the ones who had bribed Judas, and now they judge the action as sinful!!! Thus, THEY KNEW they were sinning in what they did to Jesus. Awful. It was not some tragic misunderstanding but conscious rebellion against God. These were the leaders Israel had been left with!
That’s why Matthew refers to the Old Testament prophets here. He has been showing throughout his Gospel that Jesus fulfilled many words from the Old Testament. In verses 9-10, Matthew quotes excerpts from Jeremiah 19 and 32 and Zechariah 11. These Scriptures describe the devaluing and rejection of God’s prophets by the leaders and people of Israel. History is repeated in the rejection of Messiah Jesus.
3) Jesus’ Trial before Pilate (27:11-21)
11 Meanwhile Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the king of the Jews?”
Previously, Jesus had been asked by Jewish leadership whether He was the Messiah, the Son of God. When Jesus affirmed this, the Jewish leaders deemed Him worthy of death for blasphemy against God, but a death sentence would be up to Rome, and Rome didn’t care about blasphemy against the God of the Jews. Only a threat to Caesar would be worthy of death. That’s why Pilate rephrases the question in terms of being the “king of the Jews” not the “Messiah.” If Jesus claimed to be the king of the Jews, then Pilate might find Jesus guilty of treason, conspiracy against the Roman Emperor, who alone was king of His empire.
“You have said so,”Jesus replied. 12 When he was accused by the chief priests and the elders, he gave no answer. 13 Then Pilate asked him, “Don’t you hear the testimony they are bringing against you?” 14 But Jesus made no reply, not even to a single charge—to the great amazement of the governor.
Again, Jesus answers mysteriously yet affirmatively, but then He says no more. Just as in the first part of His trial, Jesus stood silent before His accusers, again fulfilling Isaiah 53:7: “He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth.”
These prophecies are not simply random boxes getting checked by Jesus to prove that He is the Messiah. They reveal His nature and character and purpose. Old Testament prophecy is usually just as instructive as it is predictive. Jesus’ silence teaches us that He was so committed to be the Sacrificial Lamb for sinners that He wouldn’t even defend Himself. He could have answered. He could have argued. He could have performed signs and wonders. He could have called armies of angels to His rescue! But He stayed quiet and went to the cross, for God’s glory and our good.
15 Now it was the governor’s custom at the festival to release a prisoner chosen by the crowd. 16 At that time they had a well-known prisoner whose name was Jesus Barabbas. 17 So when the crowd had gathered, Pilate asked them, “Which one do you want me to release to you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Messiah?” 18 For he knew it was out of self-interest that they had handed Jesus over to him.
Pilate practiced a “show” of mercy by letting a prisoner go free during Passover, which was a fitting homage to the holy day considering it was a celebration of how the Lord set Israel free from Egypt.
Barabbas was probably a well-known Jewish revolutionary, which means he would have been a hero to many Jews. If he was a revolutionary, then he was the opposite of Jesus. Barabbas fought to kill his enemies; Jesus loved them. Barabbas ranted with zealous, nationalistic rage; Jesus stood silent before His accusers. Barabbas was a “savior” shaped by worldly values; Jesus is a cross-shaped Messiah.
Pilate knew that Jesus wasn’t actually guilty of anything but that the Jewish leaders were just jealous. Therefore, he included harmless Jesus in the choice, probably assuming that they’d pick Him. It’s a chance for everyone to save face politically and judicially. But that’s not what happens.
19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge’s seat, his wife sent him this message: “Don’t have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.” 20 But the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and to have Jesus executed. 21 “Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor. “Barabbas,” they answered.
Pilate’s own wife warned him that Jesus was innocent, yet he continued to offer the choice between Barabbas and Jesus. Now that a crowd has gathered, the Jewish leaders are able to get them to side with them. They want Barabbas. Jesus will pay the price.
4) Jesus Sentenced to Crucifixion (27:22-26)
22 “What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked. They all answered, “Crucify him!” 23 “Why? What crime has he committed?” asked Pilate. But they shouted all the louder, “Crucify him!”
Just a few days earlier, the crowd had loved Jesus initially. In fact, remember that the chief priests could not move against Jesus earlier because he was so popular. Why do they turn on Jesus so quickly? We don’t know for sure. I think part of the reason their turn surprises us is because we think popularity is a good thing. In the Gospels, it’s not. Jesus is only ever popular in the Gospels when He serves the interests of the crowd, which He does a lot! He wanted to serve them. But that didn’t mean they loved Him for the right reasons. Whenever He called them to hard things, the crowds would leave Him. That’s probably what’s happening here. Jesus was popular when He was freely teaching and healing, but now that He’s in custody, He cannot serve them, or so they think. Of course, He WAS serving them, but they don’t see it yet.
24 When Pilate saw that he was getting nowhere, but that instead an uproar was starting, he took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. “I am innocent of this man’s blood,” he said. “It is your responsibility!” 25 All the people answered, “His blood is on us and on our children!”26 Then he released Barabbas to them. But he had Jesus flogged, and handed him over to be crucified.
Rome saw itself as the epitome of justice…how’s this for justice? Pilate knowingly condemned an innocent man to die and yet refused to take responsibility for it. Now Pilate famously “washes his hands of Jesus’ blood” and tells the Jewish crowd: “It is your responsibility!” This is no justice. Nobody thinks a judge is just who allows an innocent man to be killed on demand.
Jesus has already been roughly arrested, spit upon, mocked, and beaten. But now the abuse escalates. Flogging was a brutal punishment. Matthew doesn’t even describe it because his original audience needed no explanation. It was well-known. It involved a whip with several straps of leather, each embedded with bits of stone, bone, metal. It would pulverize and strip your skin right off. Sometimes a flogging would be bad enough to cause someone’s death, though it’s usual purpose was to torture and weaken a criminal in preparation for crucifixion.
The Lessons
1) Every person who’s ever sinned bears responsibility for Jesus’ death.
When Judas felt regret, the Jewish leaders hypocritically threw it back in his face: “It’s your responsibility!” When Pilate gave in to pressure from the crowd, he hypocritically threw it back in their face: “It’s your responsibility.”
Matthew highlights how every figure in the story played a role in condemning Jesus to die. The Jewish leaders conspired. Judas betrayed. Pilate sentenced. Even the crowd demanded the death of the innocent, righteous King Jesus. You and I play a role too.
Like the first sinners in the garden of Eden blamed others for their sin, so at Jesus’ trial everyone wants to blame others for their sin. But there’s no excuse…even for me and you! If you’ve sinned, you’re one of the reasons Jesus had to die. What is sin exactly? Sin is any failure to live up to what our infinitely great and infinitely good God deserves. He who created us, provides for us, commands us, and even offers to forgive us deserves our whole-hearted love, gratitude, obedience, and sacrifice. Any hint of pride or selfishness immediately makes us a sinner…a reason Jesus had to die!
2) Jesus is looking for repentance not regret.
The response to our responsibility for sin should not be mere regret. Judas is a cautionary tale that emotional responses to Jesus are not enough. True repentance is required. What is true repentance? The Apostle Paul described godly sorrow as opposed to worldly sorrow in 2 Corinthians:
For you became sorrowful as God intended and so were not harmed in any way by us. Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret, but worldly sorrow brings death. See what this godly sorrow has produced in you: what earnestness, what eagerness to clear yourselves, what indignation, what alarm, what longing, what concern, what readiness to see justice done. At every point you have proved yourselves to be innocent in this matter. (2 Corinthians 7:9-11)
Emotions, whether it’s in response to a Scripture, a sermon, a Christian song, or a TV show about Jesus, are only godly when they move us to repentance, which is characterized by an urgent and passionate need to leave sin behind, do what’s right, and become holy before God.
In an essay called “Marks of a Work of the True Spirit,” 18th century pastor and theologian Jonathan Edwards gives a list of biblical evidence for when the Spirit is truly at work, moving someone to repentance. Edwards wrote this during a time of great revival in the American colonies, famously known as the First Great Awakening. So many people were becoming disciples of Jesus, but many people were going about it the wrong way. Edwards wanted people to think about following Jesus in biblical ways.
He began by saying that emotion alone is not evidence of true repentance: “A work is not to be judged of by any effects on the bodies of men; such as tears, trembling, groans, loud outcries, agonies of the body, or the failing of bodily strength…and the reason is, because the Scripture nowhere gives any such rule… We cannot conclude that persons are under the influence of the true spirit because we see such effects upon their bodies…nor on the other hand, have we any reason to conclude, from any such outward appearances, that persons are not under the influence of the Spirit of God…”
Instead, Edwards wrote that we see true repentance from the Holy Spirit when…
- Christ is glorified: “When the operation is such as to raise their esteem of that Jesus who was born of the Virgin, and was crucified without the gates of Jerusalem; and seems more to confirm and establish their minds in the truth of what the gospel declares to us of his being the Son of God, and the Savior of men…”
- Sin is undermined: “When the spirit that is at work operates against the interests of Satan’s kingdom, which lies in encouraging and establishing sin, and cherishing men’s worldly lusts…”
- Growth in biblical truth: “That spirit which operates in such a manner, as to cause in men a greater regard to the Holy Scriptures, and establishes them more in their truth and divinity…”
- Love for God and people: “If the spirit that is at work among a people operates as a spirit of love to God and man…”
Emotions are only right and good, if they lead to the exaltation of Jesus, an undermining of sin, growth in biblical truth, a love for God and truth and people. Sounds a lot like cruciformity.
Though Peter and Judas shared similar emotions, they were on wildly different paths. Peter was repentant; Judas was not. One commentator said, “In any case, neither Peter’s tears nor Judas’s remorse can remove their guilt.” (Carson) Only Jesus can do that…
3) Jesus paid it all.
Without the death and resurrection of Christ, repentance is useless because we cannot atone for our own sin. Our faith and repentance only unite us with the saving work of Christ. Over the next two weeks, we’ll follow Matthew’s account of Jesus going to Mount Calvary and giving Himself on the cross as a ransom for sinners.
Questions for Reflection and/or Discussion
- Can you think of an example of a time that you have minimized or blamed someone else for your sin? What is your response to the idea that you are directly responsible for Christ’s death, along with every other person who ever sinned?
- Contrast Judas in Matthew 27:3-10 and Peter in John 21. How can you tell the difference between mere regret over sin and the true repentance that God is looking for in His people? See also 2 Corinthians 7:9-11. What has remorse over sin looked like in your life? What will repentance look like for you going forward?
- All the repentance in the world doesn’t mean a thing if Jesus doesn’t pay our sin debt. Describe what it means for you personally to know that Jesus willingly and effectively paid for your sin on the cross if you believe?
Calvary | Muskegon 