“For He [God] made Him [Jesus] who knew no sin to be sin for us [on the cross], that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.” 2 Corinthians 5:21.

Here is a question for the Christian. When Jesus died for your sins, how many of them were in the future?

Your answer would have to be all of them. The blood of Jesus Christ is payment for the sin of all mankind, from Adam to the end of time. There is power in the blood of Jesus which dwarfs all other powers, and it was shed for you and me.

“Inasmuch then as the children have partaken of flesh and blood, He Himself likewise shared in the same, that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil, and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage. For indeed He does not give aid to angels, but He does give aid to the seed of Abraham [all who believe are the seed of Abraham]. Therefore, in all things He had to be made like His brethren, that He might be a merciful and faithful High Priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that He Himself has suffered, being tempted, He is able to aid those who are tempted.” Hebrews 2:14-18.

“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence, having made known to us the mystery of His will, according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Himself, that in the dispensation of the fullness of the times He might gather together in one all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and which are on earth – in Him.” Ephesians 1:7-10.

There is incredible power in the blood of Christ, but at what cost?

“Therefore My Father loves Me, because I lay down My life that I may take it again. No one takes it from Me, but I lay it down of Myself. I have power to lay it down, and I have power to take it again. This command I have received from My Father.” John 10:17-18.

Jesus’ life was freely given.

Let us look back on a few things we may have forgotten, or perhaps did not know.

However, try this; put yourself in Jesus’ place as you read these accounts of His trial and death.

“And while He was still speaking [to the disciples], behold, a multitude; and he who was called Judas, one of the twelve, went before them and drew near to Jesus to kiss Him. But Jesus said to him, ‘Judas, are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?’” Luke 22:47-48.

After having been betrayed by Judas Iscariot, Jesus was arrested and bound.

“And they led Him away to Annas first, for he was the father-in-law of Caiaphas who was high priest that year.” John 18:13.

After an examination by the high priest Jesus was struck by an officer who disliked one of His answers.

“And when He had said these things, one of the officers who stood by struck Jesus with the palm of his hand, saying, ‘Do You answer the high priest like that [Annas was the former high priest]?’” John 18:22.

“Then Annas sent Him bound to Caiaphas the high priest.” John 18:24.

“And those who had laid hold of Jesus led Him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were assembled.” Matthew 26:57.

The chief priests were experts in the moral law, the elders in the civil law and the scribes in the ceremonial law. These folks represent both the civil and the religious authorities.

Together they represented all of Israel and as such just these few men with the aid of the ignorant masses brought judgment upon all of Israel.

Christian, this is why we must vote intelligently in every election, even if our man has lost the election before the polls close in California or Hawaii, it is possible to keep other criminal politicians from getting started.

There were supposed to be 71 members of the Sanhedrin present for this trial but obviously all of them were not. Jesus’ trial was not legal on many points, not just this one.

“Now the chief priests, the elders, and all the council sought false testimony against Jesus to put Him to death…” Matthew 26:59.

Think of that for a moment, these men who were entrusted to seek justice, the truth, sought false testimony! And false testimony they found; many false witnesses came forward.

Finally, two came forward and claimed that Jesus had said, “I am able to destroy the temple of God and to build it in three days.” See below for the correct quote, and its explanation.

“So the Jews answered and said to Him, ‘What sign do You show to us, since You do these things [He had thrown out the money changers]?’ Jesus answered and said to them, ‘Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up.’ Then the Jews said, ‘It has taken forty-six years to build this temple, and will You raise it up in three days?’ But He was speaking of the temple of His body. Therefore, when He had risen from the dead, His disciples remembered that He had said this to them; and they believed the Scripture and the word which Jesus had said.” John 2:18-22.

It is written that even then their testimonies were not the same. This is another point; witnesses were rejected if their stories were not the same.

This gave the high priest the opportunity to go into his histrionics.

“And the high priest arose and said to Him, ‘Do You answer nothing? What is it these men testify against You?’ But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest answered and said to Him, ‘I put You under oath by the living God [Jesus must now answer]: Tell us if You are the Christ, the Son of God!’ Jesus said to him, ‘It is as you said [yes, I am Christ]. Nevertheless, I say to you, hereafter you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Power, and coming on the clouds of heaven.’ Then the high priest tore his clothes, saying, ‘He has spoken blasphemy! What further need do we have of witnesses? Look, now you have heard His blasphemy! What do you think?’ They answered and said, ‘He is deserving of death.’ Then they spat in His face and beat Him; and others struck Him with the palms of their hands, saying, ‘Prophesy to us, Christ! Who is the one who struck You?’” Matthew 26:62-68.

Notice here that Jesus swore under an oath which brings a curse from God that He, Jesus is the Messiah who’s coming was prophesied of old by the prophets. How can anyone say that He never claimed to be Christ, the Messiah.

“I gave My back to those who struck Me, and My cheeks to those who plucked out the beard; I did not hide My face from shame and spitting.” Isaiah 50:6.

“He was oppressed and He was afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so He opened not His mouth.” Isaiah 53:7.

“When morning came, all the chief priests and elders of the people plotted against Jesus to put Him to death. And when they had bound Him, they led Him away and delivered Him to Pontius Pilate the governor.” Matthew 27:1-2.

As Jesus stood before the governor, the chief priests and the elders accused Him of many things, but the Lord remained silent, which amazed the governor greatly.

“So Pilate said to the chief priests and the crowd, ‘I find no fault in this Man.’ But they were the more fierce, saying, ‘He stirs up the people, teaching throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee to this place.’ When Pilate heard of Galilee, he asked if the Man were a Galilean. And as soon as he knew that He belonged to Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent Him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem at that time.” Luke 23:4-7.

Jesus stood before Herod, but to Herod He was little more than a magic act. Having heard many things about Jesus Herod was hoping to see a miracle performed by Him.

Again, the elders and the chief priests accused Him vehemently while Jesus answered them nothing. With Herod being an ungodly man, there is little surprise that he would side with the elders and high priests and do nothing to rescue an innocent Man.

“Then Herod, with his men of war, treated Him with contempt and mocked Him, arrayed Him in a gorgeous robe, and sent Him back to Pilate.” Luke 23:11.

“He is despised and rejected by men, a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief. And we hid, as it were, our faces from Him; He was despised, and we did not esteem Him.” Isaiah 53:3.

Now Pilate waffled this way and that way to get out of having to crucify a Man whom he knew to be innocent.

But God will have none of that; men are either for Christ or against Him there is no middle ground as many believe.

God will give all the evidence, as He did before Pilate more than once. But the answer is always yes, or no, are you in, or are you out?

At the feast Pilate was in the habit of releasing a prisoner for the people, so he tried to release Jesus.

But the chief priests and the elders made sure that was not going to happen by stirring up the people to ask for a vile person named Barabbas.

“While He was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, ‘Have nothing to do with that just Man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of Him.’” Matthew 27:19.

When he found that the mob could not be persuaded but continued to call out that Christ be crucified Pilate gave in.

“When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, ‘I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it.’ And all the people answered and said, ‘His blood be on us and on our children.’” Matthew 27:24-25. `

Again, Pilate vindicates Jesus by calling Him just. However, he makes the mistake of thinking that by declaring himself innocent of Christ’s blood, when he could save Him, that he is cleared of guilt.

“Deliver those who are drawn toward death, and hold back those stumbling to the slaughter [if you can give evidence of their innocence]. If you say, ‘Surely we did not know this,’ does not He who weighs the hearts consider it? He who keeps your soul, does He not know it? And will He not render to each man according to his deeds?” Proverbs 24:11-12.

“Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.” James 4:17.

Freely Given, Part 1, Messiah Rejected taken from godisrevealed.com posted on 1-5-16 updated on 1-19-24 ck.

Scripture taken from the New King James Version, Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission, all rights reserved.