Luke 23:13-25

Luke 23:13-25

1. We should observe what striking testimony was borne to our Lord Jesus Christ's perfect innocence by His judges.
2. Let us learn how thoroughly the Jews took on themselves the whole responsibility of our Lord Jesus Christ's death.
3. We should observe the remarkable circumstances connected with the release of Barabbas.

"Jesus is the righteousness of all sinners who believe in Him. In Him, all believers are counted perfect fulfillers of the law. The eyes of a holy God behold them in Christ, clothed with Christ's perfect righteousness. For Christ's sake, God can now say of the believer, "I find no fault at all in him.""

"Marvelous indeed is the thought that there is mercy in store for Israel, notwithstanding all its sins and unbelief!"

"If we are true Christians, let us daily lean our souls on the wondrous thought that Christ has really been our Substitute and has been punished in our stead."

Questions:

1. Ryle starts by pointing out that even those who were Christ's judges, could find no fault in Him. While this might not seem significant, for the true believer it highlights the truth of Scripture, that Jesus was the spotless Lamb who can take away the sins of the world, and that He is the perfect righteousness we need to be right with God. Beloved brother or sister, we have a perfect righteousness in Jesus Christ! Doesn't this make your heart want to sing?
2. We are given here a little insight of how those before the modern-day nation of Israel viewed the Jewish people. Ryle mentions that God has dealt with the Jews according to their words, and how He has scattered them all over the earth...without a land, without a government, and without a home. We must not think the events of 1946 undo this perse, but we must remember that God is merciful even to the nation that rejected their Savior! May we as Gentiles fear lest we too be broken off the olive tree!
3. Ryle points out that the exchange of Barabbas for Jesus is a lively emblem of our salvation. We are Barabbas, deserving death, and Jesus takes our place so that we may be set free! O beloved brother or sister, do we cling to this truth?