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Posted At: 3:41am by Brent Kuhlman
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Wednesday of Lent IV Trinity Lutheran Church
29 March 2006 Murdock, NE
+ Jesu Juva +
The Passion of Our Lord Drawn From the Four Gospels: The Praetorium (Lenten theme: “I believe in Jesus Christ my Lord.”)
The Lord Jesus now stands before the Roman governor. Accusations and charges have been brought against Him.
Is Jesus guilty? Of course not. He’s innocent. He’s done nothing wrong. Innocent He is. Should be released. And He certainly should not be put to death.
The Roman governor agrees. He’s heard the charges. He’s examined the Lord Jesus. “I find no fault in this man.” “I find no case against this man.” “I have found not guilt worthy of death in him.” “I find him not guilty.” “I do not find him guilty.” Pilate would throw Jesus’ case out of his court. His wife even warns him: “I’ve had a bad dream about Jesus. It’s brought me much sorrow. Get Him out of your court!”
But the crowds will have none of that. They want Jesus death penaltied. They want His blood shed at all costs. Even if that means letting loose a dangerous criminal like Barabbas. They’ll take their chances with a Barabbas. They will not believe in Jesus. Instead, they scream: “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” “We have a law, and by that law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.” “’Shall I crucify your king?’ We have no king but Caesar.” “His blood be on us and on our children.” “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!” And if the governor won’t give them what they want, they’ll riot. Have a real donnybrook!
Pilate gives in. His approval ratings are the lowest ever. He gives the crowds what they want. He can wash his hands all he wants. He, along with the Jewish crowds, is guilty of handing innocent Jesus over to death on the Cross. We too are guilty of putting innocent Jesus to death. We would have joined the crowds with their shouts.
And yet Jesus comes to give us mercy. But the crowds, Pilate and us don’t want it. We’d rather ignore our sins. And then ignore the Savior Jesus. Live as if we’re God and as if Jesus is a nothing.
But Jesus is not a nothing. He’s everything. The Savior of all sinners. You, me the world.
He does a sweet swap. He does a blessed exchange. What’s the swap? What’s the exchange?
On the cross, Jesus, the innocent, sinless One takes our place and gives us His.
Like a sponge the Lord Jesus takes our sin. All our guilt. He absorbs it all in His Body. And He dies with it. Jesus becomes the guilty. Jesus becomes the sinner. For you and me.
So do your sins belong to you anymore? Do they? They don’t. To whom do they belong? They belong to Jesus. He took them. He answered for them. That’s why God doesn’t count your sins against you. Blessed are you. You’re forgiven. Because Jesus sponged up your sin. All of it.
So your sin is His. You’re forgiven. That’s the first part of the swap or switch. The second part is that Jesus gives you what truly belongs to Him and Him alone. He lets you borrow from Him. And what’s that? His holiness. His perfection. His purity. His innocence. Jesus says: “Here, this is my gift for you. What’s that? What’s the catch? Nothing. No catch. No conditions. Just pure, free gift. You’re innocent. Because I’ve given you mine.”
Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, thank you for taking my sin and answering for it. Thank you for giving me your innocence and giving me a place in your kingdom. Amen.
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