The Reason For His Coming

Matt 27:27-44 THE REASON FOR HIS COMING

We’ve just read a very painful text in the Bible, of an innocent man being mocked and crucified.

• It was not supposed to be because Jesus did nothing wrong. He was sinless and righteous but He has chosen not to defend Himself.

• We have the sinless being judged by the sinful.

Jesus was sentenced to death not because they had a just cause but because He had chosen this path AND FOR A REASON.

• Jesus suffered and died for a PURPOSE and many of us here know WHY. It is the PLAN of God.

• We are going to celebrate Christmas. It’s a celebration not just because a child has been born, which is why we celebrate birthdays…

• But more so for this day because THIS CHILD WAS BORN FOR US. Prophet Isaiah puts it directly, “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given…” (Isaiah 9:6)

• Matt 1:21 Matthew wrote, “You shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.”

That’s the reason Jesus has to suffer and die. He came to be punished on our behalf, to pay the penalty for our sins.

• He came with the cross in mind and hence the painful ordeal we read this morning.

• Jesus suffered NOT for His crime but ours, not for His sin but ours. Not just our immorality but our rejection of God.

• He paid that price so that we can be forgiven and be reconciled with God.

Let us appreciate what Jesus did for us. Matthew wants us to see…

JESUS CHOSE NOT TO DEFEND HIMSELF.

If we combine all four Gospels, we would see that Jesus was rushed from trial to trial right after His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane:

1. Before Annas (former high priest, FIL of Caiaphas) - John 18.

2. Before Caiaphas (high priest) and the Sanhedrin (Jewish Council) – Matt 26b

3. Before Pontius Pilate (Roman governor of Judea) early morning 6 am – Matt 27

4. Before Herod Antipas (Ruler of Galilee, visiting Jerusalem) – Luke 23:6-12.

5. Returned to Pilate again (not willing to condemn Jesus; gave choice to release notorious criminal Barabbas) – Matt 27b

Surprised that they chose to free Barabbas – they chose the sinner over the righteous.

• Forced by the circumstances, Pilate finally sentenced Jesus to be crucified.

The remarkable thing in these trials was that Jesus chose to be silent.

• When charges were read, we kept reading: “He gave no answer, not a word.”

• There was no pushback. Jesus did not defend Himself. He could have, being the righteous and innocent one.

• He did not because He has a higher purpose – because of our salvation!

Only TWO TIMES Jesus spoke and that was to AFFIRM HIS IDENTITY:

BEFORE THE SANHEDRIN

• Matt 26:63-64 63But Jesus remained silent. And the high priest said to him, “I adjure you by the living God, tell us if you are the Christ, the Son of God.”

• 64Jesus said to him, “You have said so. But I tell you, from now on you will see the Son of Man seated at the right hand of Power and coming on the clouds of heaven.”

Jesus knows His future. They were judging Him now but one day, He will return to judge them.

BEFORE PILATE

• Matt 27:11-14 11Now Jesus stood before the governor, and the governor asked him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” Jesus said, “You have said so.”

• 12But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he gave no answer.

• 13Then Pilate said to him, “Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?” 14But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge, so that the governor was greatly amazed.

His silence was the fulfilment of Isaiah’s prophesy:

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

Jesus spoke to AFFIRM His identity. It is important we know WHO He is.

He is no ordinary man. He is the Son of God who has come to save us from sin.

• He is God… Phil 2:6-8 “…6who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”

Jesus was not concerned about the charges raised. He did no wrong and the allegations were false. Jesus knew they were out to frame Him from day one.