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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Wow. Speechless. This was absolutely beautiful, Erin. This has changed my entire outlook this Holy Week and beyond.
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This meditation blew me away. I am all of these, most clearly Barabbas. Thank you!
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It always shocks me when I hear the Holy Week story. How could they deny Him and hurt Him like that?! But this made me realize that I do that in my own life when I choose something more easy or more convenient over following my Savior’s path. Thank you for this
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This one really struck me and brought tears to my eyes. Thinking of Barabbas- infamously and unquestionably guilty- being exempt and freed from the torment of the cross all because of Jesus- completely innocent, wholly loving and merciful- taking Barabbas’s rightful and deserving punishment, and enduring an inconceivably painful and slow death.
As I pictured myself standing in Barabbas’s place, standing next to Jesus, hearing the crowds shout “Crucify him!”, knowing full well that I am beyond guilty. Hearing Pilate question on what grounds Jesus should be convicted of a crime, let alone sentenced to death. Then watching as He is handed over and taken away; brutally beaten and knowing I should be in His place, but that I can walk away a free man. Just walk away as if I never did anything wrong…
Picturing myself in this scene left me breathless. This truly is what Jesus Christ, our Savior and Redeemer, did for each and every one of us that day. We are all Barabbas. We all deserve to be punished for our sins, but He took our place purely out of love.
Thank you Jesus! Thank you for Your overflowing love and mercy. May we all remember and be left breathless by the overwhelming power and significance of the gospel. May we fall to our knees and praise You! Not only during the Holy Week, but each and every day until we undeservingly enter into Your kingdom and fall to our knees in Your glorious presence. Praise you, Jesus!!
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“Feel the sting of your sin. But let your eyes move quickly to Jesus…” ❤️
Turn to Him when we fail and are ashamed of our sin. This is the reason He suffered, so that we can live. His perfect love would be for nothing if we remainied imprisoned by our sin. Embrace Him and don’t let go! Thank you God that you see me as pure and that I do not have to live in shame because of Your perfect love.
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This was so convicting to read, but so very worth it. Thank you Lord for your undeniable grace and mercy.
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I am the one who crucified Him, and I am the one He came to save. Lord thank you for your love, your grace and your mercy.
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Wow
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