Monday, July 20, 2009

His blood be upon us

In The Gospel of Matthew we get an account of the Passion of Christ which includes the releasing of Barrabas and the crowds bargaining with Pilate over the fate of Christ. Consider this section of the 27th chapter:

15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. 16 And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. 17 So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you: Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?” 18 For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up. 19 Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.” 20 Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. 21 The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?” And they said, “Barabbas.” 22 Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?” They all said, “Let him be crucified!” 23 And he said, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!” 24 So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves.” 25 And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!26 Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified. (emphasis mine)
The response by the crowd, "His blood be upon us and our children", jumped out at me. Originally, the crowd cried this so that Pilate would free them to crucify Christ. And I realize that I was in that crowd seeking to crucify the Son of God.

But , by the grace of God, I still cry that His blood be upon me and my children. Now, however, I do not seek His blood in order to crucify Him, but rather to receive the forgiveness from sins. His blood was once a sign of my guilt; his blood was on me indicating my responsibility in His death. Now His blood covers me freeing me from the power of sin and its consequences.

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