Our Savior Is Handed Over
Open Your Bible
John 18:28-38, Luke 23:5-16, Matthew 27:15-23, John 19:1-16, Isaiah 50:6-7
BY Erin Davis
I know the events of Holy Week unfolded more than two thousand years ago. I wasn’t there, and yet, as I prepare my heart for Easter morning, I keep bumping into reflections of myself in the text.
Here I am in John 18:
I am the Jews who escorted Jesus to Pilate. They thought they were righteous because they stayed in the front yard, yet convinced themselves their hands weren’t dirty as they handed over an innocent man for the slaughter. How often do I rely on all manner of rules to make me “clean” while willfully rebelling against a holy God? How often is my heart soiled by sin that I ignore because I’ve stuck to some arbitrary list of dos and don’ts?
I am Pilate. I want to wash my hands of the matter of sin and suffering. Don’t you? Don’t we all? How often do I utter, “What is truth?” when the truth is inconvenient to me? The answer, I’m afraid, is all too often.
Look, there I am in Luke 23:
I am the crowds, offended by the ways Jesus interrupts the status quo and upends my paradigms. As He strips me of my comfort and convicts me of my obsession with self, my heart becomes indignant. I want to yell, scream, and stomp my feet.
I am Herod. I am willing to use Jesus to suit my purposes, to elevate my own power.
I see myself most clearly in Matthew 27:
I am Barabbas. There’s no use in trying to deny it. I am a sinner, guilty of violating the holy law of God. Barabbas was a “notorious prisoner” of the Roman government. Without Christ, I am a prisoner to my sin. I deserve whatever punishment God could hurl at me, but He takes my place instead. Because of Him, I walk in undeserved freedom.
Friend, I know you are these things too. We all are.
We are prone to value rules over righteousness. We are capable of distancing ourselves from inconvenient truth. We are irritated by the ways that following Christ can stir up trouble for us in this world, yet more than okay with using Him to elevate ourselves in the eyes of other believers. We are guilty of sin—undeniably so—and are so often imprisoned because of it. And we are as responsible for sending Jesus to the cross as the crowds who yelled, “Crucify him!”
But there is none like Him. Amen? His grace and mercy transcend time and geography. His actions on Holy Week have the power to save us just as much as they have the power to save the ones who lined the streets to see Him punished. Go on, see yourself in the story. Feel the sting of your sin. But let your eyes move quickly to Jesus, who willingly took our place so that we might be a people who walk in undeserved freedom.
41 thoughts on "Our Savior Is Handed Over"
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Thank you Jesus that because of your blood we have righteousness over rules. ❤️
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Oh Father, I am all of these people. I have betrayed you, mocked you, ignored your truth, used you for my gain, sinned against you, denied you. And yet, You came. You lived. You fulfilled the law and prophecy. You died. You rose again. You ascended into heaven. You call me. You forgive me. You redeem me. You restore me. You love me. You fill me. You free me. Oh Father, I am overwhelmed by my sin and by your forgiveness. By my need and your grace. By my weakness and your strength. By my failures and your victory. By my infidelity and your faithful love. Oh Father, forgive me for thinking lightly of my sin. That which cost me nothing cost you everything.
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I’m sitting here sobbing as I fully realize what my sin has done to my Savior! Reading through the Scriptures given, I pictured a perfect, humble man, who endured all the ridicule and pain just so that I could be with Him in eternity!! What an amazing love!! Forgive me Father God for my selfish, sinful ways that led you to the cross! May my life honor and glorify your Almighty Name each day!
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“I am Barabbas.” As many times as I’ve heard this story, this was a new perspective that really got me thinking. Thank you, Lord for taking my place! <3
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Yes! Also struck that Herod and Pilate SAW Jesus- the Christ, a righteous man, one who did nothing with and a King. And the Jews were blind. At the end, there was no further debate about what pilate proclaimed. Only- crucify him! As much as I would like to think otherwise, I see me in all those you describe. Thanks be to God for grace and mercy, compassion and love.
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I take Holy Week dearly too hard. It was so much a part of my life growing up. I am a “people” who walk in undeserved freedom. Thank you Erin for a well written devotion. Something I will ponder throughout the day today.
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TYPO: “to heart”
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Thank you Erin. I have always thought of myself as one in the crowd, and thankful for the forgiveness. But, Barrabas, wow right in front of me and never realized the man set free undeserved freedom, because Jesus was crucified. Praise God for the love that was poured out on the cross, the blood that washes me, a sinner, white as snow. Thank you Jesus for taking our place, for the grace that is beyond understanding. Help me to speak and show your love, mercy and grace to others.
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Thank You, Jesus!
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