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Baptist Church a welcome back for everyone who's regularly here and a warm welcome to any visitors who are with us this morning just three announcements before we begin worship the first is that this today is the last day if you'd like to mark on your checks specific designation for Cuba we announced last Sunday the the fact that Don Lindblad will be taking any donations to help with some of the the rebuilding work down there in Cuba he'll be taking that down with him or at least collecting it and getting it to the proper people on the ground there in Cuba so if you would like to to designate a check if you could clearly mark that on your check that this is for Cuba that would be excellent and after this Lord's Day morning service they'll be gathering together all of those funds in order to send them off right away down to to Don Lindblad so if you have any questions you can ask the Deacons secondly if you are a fan of barbeque sauce mustard or relish there are some leftover condiments in the fridge upstairs so if you would like to dazzle your burgers and your hotdogs in the remaining summer weeks then you can grab those things from the fridge they are free of charge lastly Brodie and Becky are engaged so we rejoice in that news and you can congratulate them as you find time to do so well let's turn in our Bibles then to begin our worship this morning our call to worship will be a reading of Isaiah 50 verse 4 to verse 10 Isaiah 50 beginning in verse 4 as you're turning there these are the words of the Lord Jesus Christ the words in Isaiah 50 of the servant the son of God who would come in the fullness of the times to give himself i ransom for guilty sinners Isaiah 50 beginning in verse 4 the Lord God has given me the tongue of the learner that I should know how to speak a word in season to him who is weary he awakens me morning by morning he awakens my ear to hear as the learner the Lord God has opened my ear and I was not rebellious nor did I turn away I gave my back to those who struck me in my cheeks to those who plucked out the beard I did not hide my face from shame and spitting for the Lord God will help me therefore I will not be disgraced therefore I have set my face like a flint and I know that I will not be ashamed he is near who justifies me who will contend with me let us stand together who is my adversary let him come near me surely the Lord God will help me who is he who will condemn me indeed they will all grow old like a garment the moth will eat them up who among you fears the Lord who obeys the voice of his servant who walks in darkness and has no light let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely upon his God amen well let's stand and sing together if you'll stand with me and turn in your larger hymn books to 135 will stand as a church and sing together saw excuse me hymn 135 let's stand and sing [Music] please be seated let us pray Heavenly Father we come to you now in prayer rejoicing in Father Son and Holy Spirit rejoicing in the gospel of Jesus Christ and we would pray once again as a gathered assembly that you would help us by your spirit to hallow your name in this place that you would receive all honor and praise we thank you Lord God Almighty that you've caused us to arise on another day you've caused us to arise on a new day that is your Lord's Day Sabbath and that we can draw a breath that we can enjoy a multitude of blessings that you in condescension pour out upon your people we do pray that we would not count these as small things but that we would return to you the praises and the Thanksgivings that are due your name we rejoice above all in the fact that you did send the Lord Jesus Christ in the fullness of the times you sent your son in the fullness of the times born of a woman and born under the law that he might redeem those who were under the law and we rejoice again with the Apostle Paul in that faithful saying that is worthy of all acceptance that Christ Jesus came into this world sinners to say and we pray Lord God that you would cause us to rejoice in this truth this morning that we would sing the praises of amazing and victorious grace and that we would reflect with great joy upon the the perfect saving work of our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ knowing that we have not been saved by deeds of righteousness which we have done but rather according to your mercy you saved us through the washing of regeneration and the renewal of the Holy Spirit we thank you that in your appointed an accepted time you brought us forth by grace we were dead in our trespasses and in our sins but you according to your praise according to your glory according to your eternal loving-kindness you brought us forth to life in Jesus Christ our Lord and we thank you so much that this is by virtue of the perfection of his obedience that he obeyed your law perfectly in the stead of all who believe that he died upon Calvary's cross as a substitutionary sacrifice taking upon him the penalty do unto all those who had transgressed his law those who have booked those who will believe in his name and those who do believe in his name we thank you that he rose again the third day in power and victory that he has ascended to your right hand where he ever lives to intercede for his people where he does rule and reign over his enemies and where he does subdue the hearts of his elect we do pray that we would rejoice and sing the praises of so great a gospel and that we would sing the praises a father son and spirit we do pray that you be with those Lord God who are struggling physically as we prayed this morning for many we pray in summary again that you'd watch over all who are afflicted with illness disease all those who are afflicted with physical issues we pray that you'd strengthen them in the physical man that you knit together those wounds in the body he caused them to - in the midst of their afflictions in the midst of their pains to not be resigned to anxiety and woe but rather that they would rejoice in their God that in the midst of affliction they would sing the praises a father son and spirit knowing that the judge of all the earth does right for his own glory and for his saints we do pray those struggling spiritually that you would lift them up that you would cause them to be restored back to those places where they have the joy of their salvation and they walk according to those things that you've revealed for them in your word and for your glory and for their good we do pray God that you'd watch over those who are with child we rejoice and the fact that over the years we've had so many children brought into this world among the many members and attendees of this church we just rejoice and those good gifts you give to your people we pray for those who are pregnant that you'd watch over mothers that you'd watch over babies in the wombs you would protect them that you would guard them and that in due time these would be brought forth with great joy with great welcoming and Lord God that in due time they would be brought forth unto salvation in Jesus Christ the Lord we do pray for that in this congregation that whether young or old Lord God that you would exercise that Amazing Grace and bring forth dead sinners to through the preaching of the gospel and the power of the Holy Spirit we do pray Lord that you'd be with those who are persecuted throughout the earth as we prayed again this morning there are many nations where there is such anger and opposition to the things of Jesus Christ and the gospel many brothers and sisters put in put in prison and many who are beaten and many even who are murdered Lord we do just pray that you be with our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world strengthen them as they endure the the persecutions of of your enemies Lord we do pray that you'd cause them to be prayerful that you would cause them to be diligent that they would with great courage and with great faith lay hold of the hope of their calling without wavering that they would be resting in you the faithful God of heaven and earth and we do pray Lord God that you would bring judgment upon those who would oppose your people who would oppose your truth in your gospel and do so unto the persecution even unto the murder of your people we do pray that you would judge and we do pray that throughout the earth your name would be vindicated and you would cause rulers throughout the earth to not rule in wickedness and to be sanctioning those things that are on our are an abomination in your sight but rather Lord that those who rule in the ranks of the government throughout the nations would do so in a proper justice equity and in truth we do pray that you would cause your Saints to cry out for these things that your gospel would go forth and that many would come to a knowledge of our Blessed Christ we do pray then now that you'd be with us in worship we pray that as we continue to read your scriptures to pray as we continue to sing as we engage in that act of worship the preaching of the word of God we do pray that you would be with us we pray that you would strengthen pastor Butler as he preaches your word but once again as he comes into this pulpit give him what he needs to proclaim rightly and with great confidence the things of the living and true God we do pray Lord that you would help us in the pews strength and Saints edify those who are yours that they might go into this upcoming week rejoicing in Christ and seeking to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ and we do pray once again that Lord God those who entered in these two doors outside of Jesus Christ in believe that by your grace and for your Glory's sake they would leave singing the praises of so great a savior and we pray in his name the name of our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ amen well let's stand again as a church and sing this time if you're able to stand we'll stand and sing or sit and sing hymn number 230 that's two three zero [Music] you turn your Bibles to mark 14 for our New Testament scripting mark 14 we read last week from verse 1 to verse 31 so we'll pick up at verse 32 of mark 14 mark 14 32 once again the Word of God then they came to a place which was named Gethsemane and he said to his disciples sit here while I pray and he took Peter James and John with him and he began to be troubled and deeply distressed then he said to them my soul is exceedingly sorrowful even to death stay here and watch he went a little farther and fell on the ground and prayed that if it were possible the hour might pass from him and he said Abba Father all things are possible for you take this cup away from me nevertheless not what I will but what you will then he came and found them sleeping and said to Peter Simon are you sleeping couldn't pray lest you enter into temptation the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak again he went away and prayed and spoke the same words and when he returned he found them asleep again for their eyes were heavy and they did not know what to answer him then he came the third time and said to them are you still sleeping and resting it is enough the hour has come behold the son of man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners rise let us be going see my betrayer is at hand and immediately while he was still speaking Judas one of the twelve with the great multitude with swords and clubs came from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders now his betrayer had given them a signal saying whomever I kiss he is the one seized him and lead him away safely as soon as he had come immediately he went up to him and said to him rabbi rabbi and kissed him then they said then they their hands on him and took him and one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear then jesus answered and said to them have you come out as against a robber with swords and clubs to take me I was daily with you in the temple teaching and you did not seize me but the Scriptures must be fulfilled then they all forsook him and fled now a certain young man followed him having linen cloth thrown around his naked body and the young man laid hold of him and he left the linen cloth and fled from them naked amen as we've noted a number of times as we've worked through this gospel and as Pastor Butler has noted as he's preached through the Gospel of Matthew we're constantly we're constantly or the Scriptures constantly set forth to us the resolute determination of Jesus Christ son of God and Son of Man in his march to the cross we see in at least five times in the passage that we read Christ's determination to do that which the father sent him to do to live a life of obedience unto the cross death unto that point where he would be delivered up according to the determined purpose and foreknowledge of God and also by the wicked hands of men to be crucified and to rise again the third day we see before that resolute determination though that that determination comes upon the heels of Saul travail the notice in verse 34 my soul is exceedingly sorrowful even to death stay here and watch we see that the Lord Jesus Christ according to his humanity is having sorrow of soul he's faced with this task to to go under - to come under the the wrath and the Justice of God not for his own sins but for those of his people he's about to be delivered up to be crucified and so rightly according to his humanity he is sorrowful even to death but we see that the Lord Jesus Christ praise and we see the first instance of his determination in verse 36 he said Abba Father all things are possible for you take this cup away from me nevertheless not what I will but you will you see he's sorrowful even unto death but he is resolved unto the will of his father and he commits himself unto God the father that his will might be done that is the father's and so he commits himself there we see an instance immediately again of his determination in verse 38 watch and pray lest you enter into temptation the spirit indeed is willing but the flesh is weak this is instruction to his disciples but the right the Lord Jesus Christ in bides that ethic to pray to his father he prays to his father again nevertheless not what I will but you will and the instruction to his disciples reflects that determination and then in verse 41 are you still sleeping and resting it is enough the hour has come behold the betrayer is at hand or behold the Son of man is being betrayed into the hands of sinners he's resolved to the fact that the hour has come the hour predetermined by the father that our determined where Christ would give himself for his people upon Calvary's cross the hour has come and then another instance the fourth instance here in divorce verse 42 of Christ's determination rise let us be going see my betrayer is at hand if you ever read that rise let us be going it's not Christ trying to flee from the father's purpose for him it's not Christ trying to escape the the arrest of these that are coming in the betrayer but rather let us go so that the scripture may be fulfilled and that's what we see in this fifth and final instance of the determination verse 49 I was daily with you in the temple teaching and you did not seize me but the Scriptures must be fulfilled you see our salvation depends upon the resolute determination of the Son of God who marched with that determination unto Golgotha Schroth in order to give himself for guilty sinners so if you're here this morning and you're safely in Christ rejoice in the Christ of resolute determination and if you're outside of Christ close with this Savior believe on him because only in him is there hope only in him is there salvation let us pray Heavenly Father we thank you for the truth of your scriptures we rejoice in your word we thank you for this account of our Savior the Lord Jesus Christ who did not shrink back from that purpose that was set before him to deliver his people from their sins and we pray that he cause us to rejoice in this that your Saints would sing the praises of so great a truth and Lord God that you would call sinners by your grace and for your glory to rest in this Christ to find in him their all in all we do pray Lord that you'd be with those in Cuba we pray that you'd watch over those affected by the Hurricanes not only there but everywhere that the impact was felt we pray that you would buy this cause those who are outside of Christ in unbelief to be brought to the fact that there is a God in high heaven who causes the stormy winds which lifts up the waves of the sea who calms the storm so that their waves are still and we do pray that they would come in contact with the gospel of saving bright grace and that they would close with the one who is infinite eternal and unchangeable in all his glorious perfections that they would rest upon the Lord Jesus Christ and the perfection of his salvation we do pray Lord God that you'd be with us now and worship continue with us we pray that you would help us to honor you to praise you and that everything that is done this morning and this evening would be done on to your praise and unto the glory of Father Son and Holy Spirit we pray in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord amen well let's stand again and sing the hymn that we're going to sing now prior to the preaching is two one seven that's two seventeen let's stand as a church and sing [Music] well please turn with me in your Bibles to Matthew chapter 27 Matthew chapter 27 our focus this morning is on verses 11 to 14 Jesus is now before Pontius Pilate the Roman trial taking place but I do want to read beginning in verse 1 of chapter 27 here now the word of the Living God 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 then Judas his betrayer seeing that he had been condemned was remorseful and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders saying I have sinned by betraying innocent blood and they said what is that to us you see to it then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed and went and hanged himself but the chief priests took the silver pieces and said it is not lawful to put them into the Treasury because they are the price of blood and they consulted together and bought with them the potter's field to bury strangers in therefore that field has been called the field of blood to this day then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the Prophet saying and they took the thirty pieces of silver the value of him who is priced whom they have the children of Israel priced and gave them for the potter's field as the Lord directed me now Jesus stood before the governor and the governor asked him saying are you the King of the Jews jesus said to him it is as you say and while he was being accused by the chief priests and elders he answered nothing and Pilate said to him do you not hear how many things they testify against you but he answered him not one word so that the governor marvelled greatly now at the feast the governor was accustomed to releasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished and at that time they had a notorious prisoner called Barabbas therefore when they had gathered together Pilate said to them whom do you want me to release to you Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ for he knew that they had handed him over because of envy 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 but the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus the governor answered and said to them which of the two do you want me to release to you they said Barabbas Pilate said to them what then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ they all said to him let him be crucified then the governor said why what evil has he done but they cried out all the more saying let him be crucified 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 then he released Barabbas to them and when he had scourged Jesus he delivered him to be crucified amen let us pray father in heaven we thank you for the written word of God and as we were reminded in the few minutes before how we see the determination of the Lord Jesus Christ certainly standing silent before his accusers is an evidence and a proof of this I pray that as Pilate marvelled greatly we would worship greatly we would adore we would love we would honor and praise the Lord Jesus Christ who went to these lengths to save us from our sin we know he's not in this position because of his own sin his own rebellion his own transgression that he is the great Shepherd the one who has come to save his people from their sins we asked he would guide us now as we study the Holy Scriptures to that end we pray for the ministry of the holy spirit we pray that he would help us to see the glory of Christ as it is revealed in this this section of Scripture do forgive us now for our sins and our transgressions God when we look at your holiness and your righteousness when we look at your law that transcription that revelation that declaration of who you are we see our own waywardness and we see our own rebellion we see our transgression and iniquity and we confess those sins now pleading the merit and the mercy and the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ thanking you for the several promises in Scripture to that end God you have said that if we confess our sins you are faithful and just to forgive us and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness do this for your glory do this for our well-being and for any and all who have come here this morning that are not believers in Jesus Christ we pray that today would be the day of salvation caused them to reflect upon the Lord Jesus Christ what he went through for sinners caused them to see the glory of Christ and may they by your grace believe on him and repent from their sins and know the joy of being found in Christ Jesus bless our time together now we pray and we ask through Jesus Christ our Lord amen well in verses 11 to 26 as I've already said we see the trial before Pontius Pilate and it breaks down into two large sections and this morning we'll take up verses 11 to 14 the interrogation of Jesus by Pilate the Lord willing next time we'll notice in verses 15 to 26 the condemnation of Jesus by Pilate and these two trials before the Roman governor and what Jesus has already went through with reference to the Sanhedrin and in the exact same way Jesus is found guilty Jesus is sentenced to death and one commentator points out the correlations between the two trials convey futility the new trial corrects nothing of the first Roman justice does no better than the Sanhedrin so they are unified in their opposition to the Lord Jesus Christ now certainly Pilate is a whole lot more with reference to or during this death sentence upon Jesus you see it here you see it in John's Gospel there is a hesitancy and a reluctance E on the part of Pilate to deliver up Jesus for crucifixion but nevertheless he does so nevertheless he is culpable nevertheless he is responsible with reference to the death of our Lord so as we survey verses 11 to 14 this morning under the title the interrogation of Jesus by Pilate will notice first the governor's first question and Jesus responds in verse 11 secondly the accusation by the religious leaders in verse 12 and then the governor's second question and Jesus responds in verses 13 to 14 now this again is a legal process I will be referring to a definitive study on this subject a man by the name of a and Sherwin white wrote a book and it's entitled Roman society and Roman law in the New Testament and I think it's helpful for us to appeal to that book to sort of fill in the blanks and see how this is indeed going according to Roman jurisprudence but ultimately under the sovereignty of God for his glory and the good of our Salvatore the the salvation of his people but note first with reference to this first question in response verse 11 now Jesus stood before the governor and the governor asked him saying are you the King of the Jews so previously Christ has gone before the Sanhedrin in chapter 26 they pronounced this condemnation that he is deserving of death for the crime of blasphemy they have to shape that charge because it's not gonna win the day with Pontius Pilate he's not gonna execute somebody for violating a Jewish law concerning blasphemy of Yahweh of Israel so they have to articulate and shape the charges so that Jesus is perceived to be a threat and that is precisely what we find happening in this particular passage note the reference that Jesus stood before the governor it's quite the contrast from what Jesus declares in Matthew 25 when Christ comes to judge the living and the dead it is he that will be seated upon his throne of Laurie and now Christ stands before Pontius Pilate fact what we find there is that he is doing this on our behalf I think John Calvin was absolutely right when he says so then the Son of God stood as a criminal before a mortal man and therefore permitted himself to be accused and condemned that we may stand boldly before God it's because Christ stood before Pontius Pilate that you and I will ever stand before God clothed in the righteousness of Christ washed in that precious blood given that imputed righteousness given that acceptance by God through the the merit of our Lord Jesus Christ if you are not a believer here this morning you need to contemplate on why that is you need to consider your life before God right now you've probably presumably heard the gospel at one time or another you've heard the facts that Christ lived Christ died Christ was raised the third day why haven't you believe that why haven't you come to him why have you bowed the knee and kissed the son lest he be angry and you perish in his way when his wrath is kindled but a little I don't care if you're a hundred I don't care if you're one listen to the Blessed truth of the gospel and if for a moment you've you've operated under this delusion well I know that God is holy and I know that he's provided a way of salvation but I was taught in a previous church I was taught in a previous book or I was taught in a previous light that a life that I I can't come to the Savior I can't believe on the Savior I can't look and live with reference to the Savior because he didn't come for the lights of me notice that the Savior is standing before a pagan governor to accomplish salvation for a great multitude that no man can number look to this Christ and see his willingness he doesn't do this simply as a display or as a show he doesn't go through this whole process simply to demonstrate something other than he came into the world sinners to save all you need to know is that you're a sinner and Christ is a Savior look to him and live again I know the kinds of theology that is out there there's the easy believe ISM you know I just raised my hand with it when every eye is closed and every head is bowed and I I say Jesus I let him into my life and then I go out and live like the devil that's false that's wrong but we don't replace the reality of belief in the Lord Jesus Christ there are churches in this community that teach you can't look and live you can't believe the gospel is not really the case that God has commanded all men everywhere to repent he's only commanded Psalm and that isn't up to you and me no he's commanded all men everywhere to repent I'm not gonna lie to you you'll only repent you'll only believe by the grace of God him enabling you him empowering you you need to worry about that you don't need to think about all that you need to look and live see the judge standing before a pagan man and he remains silent and this silence ought not to be interpreted as anything other than what Pastor Porter mentioned previously it is his resolute determination to fulfill the will of the Father to save a great multitude that no man can be that no man can number don't perish in your sins many of you come every week and I praise God for that you don't make a public profession we haven't baptized anyone for a while if you are confessing faith in Christ you ought to be baptized but if you haven't confessed faith in Christ you ought to do you think the people that are in this church are somehow better somehow wiser somehow smarter somehow more develop intellectually no God in His grace showed us the glory of Jesus and said believe and God and His grace enabled that do not leave here without looking at this one who stood before the governor notice the governor is Pontius Pilate who was the prefect of Judea in AD 26 280 36 I'll never forget when the Hamiltons got over are not the Hamiltons rather the santiago's when they got over to China I think it was at Christmastime and mrs. Santiago was giving a bit of a talk to some ladies and they were just perplexed an atheistic communist akina to hear what you're saying is true and mrs. Santiago goes to the map and says yes there's Bethlehem yes there's Jerusalem yes there's the particular cities that are mentioned in the birth narrative of our Lord Jesus they were just blown away by that you mean you mean it's on the map I think sometimes people think that the Bible isn't historically true Pontius Pilate was the Roman prefect in 80 26 to 80 36 you cannot like that you might try to argue against that but that's simply the reality and this courtroom brethren is conspicuously his notice several times he is referred to as governor several times he's referred to by name as Pilate he asks six questions and makes one declaration he is the main man with reference to this courtroom except for however one thing God is in absolute and sovereign control of the whole thing as I've said Pilate mentioned many times governor mentioned many times he asks several questions he makes the declaration yet it is under the sovereign control of God Most High for in the parallel in John 1911 a Jesus says you could have no power over at all against me unless it had been given you from above so it may be conspicuously his courtroom but he is conspicuously God's servant carrying out the plan of the Father such that the Lord Jesus determines to fulfill now notice the question that he asks he says are you the King of the Jews now this question presupposes previous discussion by the Sanhedrin and Pilate Matthew doesn't give us that but Luke does and so does John in Luke they come they say we have found this fellow perverting the nation telling people not to pay taxes you want to get a pagan magistrate on your side tell him that somebody is teaching not to pay his taxes in fact if you want to get the Canadian government against you rise up and say don't pay your taxes I've seen this happen in the United States it's not a pretty thing you don't fight City Hall brethren there is reality to that but in Luke 23 that's specifically what they do they formalized the charge that way he is a certain kingship and he has and he is forbid others from from paying taxes and in John's Gospel we see that discussion before Jesus is questioned so the question here are you the King of the Jews presupposes this destroy this discussion that's already taken place between the Sanhedrin and between Pilate the question indicates that they had successfully shaped the charges to ensure Pilots verdict notice that Pilate does not say are you a blasphemer no or are you the King of the Jews the charge of blasphemy wouldn't have carried the day with Pilate it wouldn't have impressed him one bit but the charge that he is a king a rival to Caesar is something that Pilate has to take seriously he can't just shrug this off now notice the question reflects the formal charge of chapter 27 verse 37 notice and they put up over his head the accusation written against him this is Jesus the King of the Jews now Davies and Alison make this observation the title always spoken by Gentiles King of the Jews it's always spoken by Gentiles they didn't use Christ and Israel though Pilate does acknowledge that you call him the Christ or that he calls himself the Christ but for the most part the title is always spoken by Gentiles it reappears again in verses 29 and 30 7 and so marks a theme of the chapter Jesus dies with the King of the Jews over his head here are the words convey that Jesus claimed to be the Christ involved kingship and so means political sedition there can be no king but Caesar see this is very key and very important yes the Sanhedrin finds him guilty of blasphemy he has asserted that he the Christ but here they're capitalizing on the Royal aspect of his appeal to being the Christ and that's what they bring to Pilate in order to secure this death penalty France agrees King of the Jews is thus an appropriate translation of Jesus messianic claim into a language a Roman governor could understand and must take seriously so it's a big deal political sedition rebellion revolution asserting that one is a king over the standing order now notice Jesus responds in verse 11 Jesus said to him it is as you say now this is the same way he answers the Sanhedrin in 2664 it's the same way he answers Judas in 2625 it's an affirmative response but it's got a qualified meaning it's an affirmative response but it's got a qualified meaning in fact go back to 26 to the Sanhedrin verse 64 Caiaphas puts him under oath according to verse 20 of 63 I put you under oath by the Living God tell us if you are the Christ the Son of the Living God same convention though here it's a present versed what 64 it is as you said it's an affirmative answer but it's not a yes it's an affirmative answer but it bares explanation and in this particular context what Jesus does is he explains to Caiaphas the significance it is as you said 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 so going back to 27 as Jesus stands before Caesar he I'm sorry before Pilate he affirms it is as you say but turn to John 18 to see where he does explain where he does qualify and again he's doing that here in Matthew Matthew just doesn't report it the gospel narratives the gospel writer writers give us various facets of the life of Jesus Christ there's no inconsistency there's no contradiction what one author doesn't report another does and such as the case here in John 18 notice verse 36 or 33 then Pilate entered the praetorium again called Jesus and said Dan are you the King of the Jews now John records for us the dialogue jesus answered him are you speaking for yourself about this or did others tell you this concerning me Pilate answered am I a Jew your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you to me what have you done now Jesus gives the qualification he gives the explanation and essentially you know what he says negatively in the first place my kingdom is not from this world it certainly includes the world but is not of this world think in essence what Jesus is doing in verse 36 is saying I'm not voted in I'm not placed upon a throne I'm not the kind of King that makes war against a pilot or against a Caesar or against the Roman prefect he is qualifying it is as you say but your understanding of kingship means sedition revolution rebellion and rivalry that's not my purpose that's not what I'm doing it is as you say but he flushes it out in terms of explanation my kingdom is not of this world if my kingdom were of this world My servants would fight you see what he's saying Pilate if I wanted to subdue you if I wanted to take over this piece of property if I wanted to exercise royal prerogative here it's not the nature of my kingship at this point it's not the nature of my rule at this point it's not the the nature of the the first coming he says so that I should not My servants would fight so that I should not be delivered to the Jews but now my kingdom is not from here Pilate therefore said to him are you a king then jesus answered you say that I am a king again he's affirming it for this cause I was born and for this cause I have come into the world that I should witness to the truth everyone who is of the truth hears my voice price does not come in the first coming to exercise this political rule over geopolitical Israel he's not come to subdue the Roman government he has come to bear witness to the truth he is come to live he has come to die he's come to me raised the third day he has come to be a man of God Most High who will rule and reign over the kingdom that God has given to him so you see Pilate doesn't mean to be afraid of Jesus power in this regard so go back to John Matthew chapter 27 that's the first question and Jesus responds notice secondly the accusation by the religious leaders in verse 12 while he was being accused by the chief priests and elders he answered nothing now the word translated accused here typically means in a court a lot to bring legal charges this is a real-life court scene it's been amazing or last 10 15 20 years how enamored people are with watching courtroom drama you know I say this a lot on Wednesday night people don't like reading the Bible because they think it's boring on Wednesday night we were in second Kings 6 it's anything but boring I can't think of any more there's not any more exciting body of literature in the world oh oh it's boring I'd rather watch judge Wapner and People's Court this is courtroom drama all according to John Roman jurisprudence all under the sovereign and a sovereign hand of God but this whole accusation process is part of the courtroom trial the defendant is asked by the judge are you guilty the defendant in this instance says yes but not as you understand it and then the accusers present their case sure when White says accusations are duly made by de Latour that's Latin for accuser the chief priests and the elders of the people acting as such the account of this is generalized practice there must have been not more than two or three spokesman it wasn't the case that everybody everywhere got to say something two or three of them the charges clearly indicated not as a charge against a particular roman law but as a charge of particular undesirable actions on which Pilate is asked to adjudicate not sure if there's a law written in the law books that says you can't claim to be the Prime Minister of Canada but certainly if you claim to be the Prime Minister of Canada you could potentially be a threat so I I don't know and I think Truman White is saying this there there sherwin-williams no Sherwin white this isn't the painter this is the historian here but what happens is you note that there was a law that shalt not claim to be the Roman King but if you claim to be the Roman King that was an undesirable claim to make so he says mark and Matthew merely hint at the nature of the charge by giving Pilate the question argue a king and the Jews that this means a leader of the resistance is shown by a parallel from Josephus it gives that parallel if you're interested that you can follow it out later but a leader of the resistance you see what's at stake here we don't know what the accusations are that they are speaking for us but we suppose or suppose that they would indeed legitimate the legitimize rather the claims that they are making that he is claimed to be the King of the Jews now note Christ's response here it's similar as to when Jesus was before the Sanhedrin in chapter 26 verses 62 and 63 Caiaphas is just amazed and incredulous at the thought that Jesus won't respond as we learn later so is Pilate but it's an application of isaiah 53:7 isaiah 53:7 says 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 it's Shearer's is silent so he opened not his mouth I'm gonna argue this morning that this is a fulfillment of isaiah 53:7 and it's not this kind of a fulfillment where jesus was reading his bible which he did Jesus according to his humanity would have read scripture would have meditated upon scripture would have and of his own messianic task as he read the scripture but I doubt he came to 53:7 and then made a mental note on that day and his devotions and said okay when I stand before the Sanhedrin and when I stand before Pontius Pilate I need to remember to be quiet so that it fulfills isaiah 53:7 know isaiah 53:7 describes before the fact the very conduct of the Savior highlighting again that resolute determination that silence causes Pilate to marvel greatly that silence ought to cause us to worship greatly because what isaiah 53:7 says is true of our beloved jesus at this point he is oppressed he is afflicted yet he opened not his mouth he was led as a lamb to the slaughter and as a sheep before it's Shearer's is silent so he opened not his mouth now could Jesus have answered these charges could Jesus have shut the mouths of these of his accusers could Jesus have frustrated the plans and the purposes of the Sanhedrin along with Pilate and won the day with his great intellect and his ability absolutely why is he silent because he's gonna die for you and me why is he silent because the Father sent him on this task why is he why is he silent because we're blasphemous why is he silent because we sin with our tongues more than then we drink water why is he silent because we revile we slander we gossip we transgress we we lack conformity unto God's law his silence in this instance is absolutely crucial for persons who do nothing but sin with their tongues his silence is a determine there is a result a resolute determination of our Savior to fulfill God's purpose John Gill says the chief reason of all concerning his silence was he had the sins of his people to answer for and the time of his dying for them was now come and for which he was ready and therefore would say nothing to remove these false charges and his death see some might read this ago wow that's just pathetic he's standing there he's not saying a word that's not pathetic that's beautiful that's why we should worship because of that silence sinners like us have everlasting life now note thirdly the governor's second question and response notice in verse 13 then Pilate said to him do you not hear how many things they testify against you think we're supposed to understand that just like it's read don't you know what's happening don't you know what's being done here don't you hear how many charges they have brought before you have you not entered into the - the gravity of this situation it's kind of like a parent with their child and the child is in a bad Strait and they don't understand it and the parent want to kind what kind of wants to grab them and say don't you realize what you've done don't you realize where this is heading don't you realize what is the inevitable consequence if you don't repent if you don't forsake if you don't stop that's the kind of incredulity I think that Pilate possesses at this particular time do you not hear how many things they testify against you the gravity of the situation is implied by the question how many things you're charged with sedition charge with rebellion charged with revolution the incredulity behind the question is this a bangle makes this observation no one has want to be silent when his life is at stake if you notice that there is this intrinsic desirability on the part of human beings to live now I realize there are suicides I realized the narrative previous to this recorded the suicide of Judas but for the most part generally speaking we all have this innate drive to preserve life don't we you look puzzled I think it's in all of us and when a man is standing on trial and he doesn't open his mouth to answer his accusers you can understand the incredulity a pilot could understand he's never seen something like this he's never witnessed anything like this now brethren I will argue that pilot is a conflicted man I certainly don't think he was a Christian man I think he's a saint in the Coptic Church I would never grant that because he is guilty and he is culpable and he is responsible and I will end this morning by hoping to prove that but nevertheless he is conflicted why is he trying to grant amnesty to Jesus he has a wife that says you need to distance yourself from this just man cuz I had a wretched dream about him Pilate engages in this hand washing ceremony it doesn't avail with God I doubt it avails with the mob but at least in his own conscience he thinks that this is something he ought to do to absolve himself of this in John 19 12 it says he continued to look for a way to release Jesus in our passage he says he no it says that they that he knew they delivered him up because of envy another way we could translate that is rivalry he was a threat not to Caesar he was a threat to those wretched Jewish leaders as who he was a threat to he was a threat to the Pharisees he was a threat to the Sadducees they didn't care one whit about Caesar all of their their language to the contrary we have no king but Caesar is what these wretched men actually said this is a travesty in terms of justice but again under the blessing of God it is the means of our salvation for us men and for our salvation he went through these things on our behalf no one is want to be silent when his life is at stake but then as well we need to appreciate the legal procedure behind the question Sherwin white again says Roman judges disliked sentencing an undefended man as much as an inadequately accused man we just read that again Roman judges now again I think we can have this you know view of Pilate on the one hand that he's a saint somehow a Christian he somehow a believer I don't believe that but he wasn't a pike or either he managed to function as a prefect for 10 years in a in a difficult situation I'm not here to defend him or champion his cause but he was a Roman judge he had seen a lot of things in his life he had to deal with a lot of things in his life and as Sherwin white points out one of the things the Roman judges disliked sentencing an undefended man as much as an inadequately accused man he wants Jesus to talk he wants Jesus to speak up he wants Jesus to give a defense he wants Jesus to say something because as a Roman judge he doesn't want to turn over a man who hasn't had adequate representation you see the same thing in Festus Azur the second in acts 25 verse 16 was referenced to the Apostle Paul Festus says to them I answered it is not the custom of the Romans to deliver any man to destruction before the accused meets the accuser face to face and has opportunity to answer for himself concerning the charge against him so on the one hand we don't want to exalt Pilate or fastest and say these were godly men but on the other hand we don't want to diminish it to the point where they were just pikers and inadequate they had no clue whatsoever what they were doing no Roman jurisprudence for as bad as it was applied here was nevertheless a decent thing hearing or meeting your accusers having legitimate defense those are bedrock of our legal jurisprudence system it's good stuff so Pilate here is is asking him Pilate here's a warning and most likely to give a testimony now notice the response the Lord Christ doesn't answer Pilate verse 14 a he answered him not one word he doesn't answer Pilate he doesn't answer his accusers he willingly submits to the trial knowing that his time had come for him to die in the play of sinners now that brings us to that issue I was it necessary that Jesus die why does he go through Matthew 27 11 to 14 why in the world didn't he testify why in the world didn't he bring these you know legions of angels to destroy his enemies why didn't Jesus vindicate himself of these malicious and false charges the very purpose for which the Son of God came was to die that's everything in our religion isn't it it's been interpreted as something that's that's foolish to Greeks and it's it's a scandal to Jews but to those who are being saved Christ the power and wisdom of God right it is for this reason that he came because the Bible teaches us that God is a holy God he is pure he is righteous he is most high the prophets said his eye is too pure to approve any evil now when you consider that in relation to our situation that's terrifying isn't it if God's eye is too pure to approve of any evil and then we search the Scriptures to say what is it that describes us all we like sheep have gone astray there is none righteous no not one to commit sin is like drinking for a fool the hardest deceitful above all things and desperately wicked who can understand within the covenant community the prophet Isaiah says all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags it's offensive isn't it the literal rendition is very offensive like a menstrual rag I've been thinking about this recently when I take my dog out for a walk my wife Rebecca got me those little bags that you take I'm sure that when you walk your dog you do this so you're a good neighbor you love your neighbor as yourself' --all these bags are scented I think it's the canine equivalent to scented toilet paper why isn't that us we're like that bag that sent it on the outside but what are the contents like on the inside I think that's the point in Isaiah's prophecy all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags in your sight that's the Covenant community that's Israel that's not the pagans we're not to surmise that the pagans are any better off why did Jesus go through this because that holy God must punish sinful men that's just the basic you know justice in God's universe you feel it in your own heart when you hear of a man that gets convicted of a crime or a pedophile or is a rapist and he goes on trial you want the judge to throw the book at him well that's what God must do with reference to the cosmic trees and we have all perpetuated from the womb the only way that that rod of God's justice doesn't find its place in our hearts and lives is if there's a substitute if there is a curse bearer if there is one who takes the punishment that is do for us that's why he stands silent that's why he opened not his mouth that's why he didn't say well on that day I was here I can be alibi'd no he doesn't say a word to Pilate he doesn't say a word to his accusers because he's going to take the wrath and fury of God for us this is the point this is why he came Spurgeon made this observation jesus answered him nothing for he was there as his people's representative and though he had not seen they were guilty of all that was falsely laid to his charge he might have cleared himself of every accusation that was brought against him but that would have left the load of guilt upon those whose place he came to take so he answered never a word such silent Spurgeon says was sublime praise God for that silence notice pilots response so that the governor was a marvelled greatly there might be an illusion here to Isaiah 52 15 and I think that you know in light of the fact that Jesus is the suffering servant 53 7 is certainly in the backdrop Isaiah 52 15 says so he shall sprinkle or batter startled in the margin many nations Kings shall shut their mouths at him for what had not been told them they shall see and what they had not heard they shall consider the nation's the the kings they're startled they're amazed they they marvelled greatly at the reality of Israel's came notice the amazement was most likely due to the fact they'd never witness such a thing before I mean what about you you get called into the courtroom and it's your time to defend yourself do you just sit there quietly oh yeah brother I'm just like Jesus no probably I didn't do it I wasn't there asked my wife we don't ever just sit silent at all let alone when the judge has us up on a capital charge he had never seen such thing now again as a Roman prefect with ten years of experience or you know at least by this time seven or eight years or six years of experience he would have asked questions he would have wanted to know the sort of character that he was dealing with in terms of his courtroom what would he have heard he would have heard them say well he he's quite the skilled speaker he's able to put together some sentences in fact after the Sermon on the Mount everybody was just marveling because he spoke not like the scribes spoke but as one having authority perhaps Pilate was a bit surprised that this man who's known as a great orator he's in saying a word never seen anything like this and it causes him to greatly marvel but it doesn't keep him from condemning the Lord Jesus Christ and in light of the fact that Jesus remains silent he won't say anything else in this gospel record up until his death until the cross when he says my god God why have you forsaken me but this is part of the process he answered him not one word so that the governor marvelled greatly but that amazement did not restrain him from his decision to condemn Christ back to Sherwin white the accusers allege facts and the judge decides what to make of them since there was no defense Pilate had no option but to convict that was the essence of the system you see it's a purposeful silence yes to fulfill Scripture but as well as Gill said so that he doesn't his death the hour had come we've just been reminded see my betrayer is at hand as cam pointed out this arise and let us go was not him running and hiding but going to the betrayer and to the armed men the hour is upon the Lord Christ he will not shrink back from his duty he will not shrink back from the obligations placed upon him in the Covenant of redemption he will not shrink back from his meat which is to do the will of him who sent him that's how the silence ought to be interpreted Pilate understands that now Pilate goes into sort of let's try to preserve him mode but we see the Jews and they're hesitant or rather their resistance so I just want to end with a couple of thoughts we'll pick up the rest of the trial God willing next time but the complicity of Pilate some suggest that Matthew specifically does not show pilots complicity that Matthew's purpose I think I mentioned to you this to you this in a previous sermon that Matthew had an anti-semitic sort of flavor tone as does John I mean they were anti-semitic and they're their construction of the narrative and they wanted to make the Jews look as bad as they could possibly do again I don't think that's the case but that's one of the compete or one of the theories out there but in that or in light of that we need to appreciate his complicity in the tax before us in John 1911 Jesus says the greater sin involved in this whole affair is that the Jews delivered them up or delivered him up to Pilate what does that imply the pilots and you can't get away from that and his sin was in some sense more noxious I mean it's bad enough when one brazenly sins and does wicked things it's terrible when persons see what's happening and say nothing you see this in the account and first kings when when Ahab once nay boss vineyard when good men don't stand up to a tyrant and allow him to get away with mayhem it's pathetic and wicked but when it says in the latter portion of that section that Jezebel incited a hab to this conduct does that exonerate Ahab no I think it doubly condemns him not only does he go through this wicked act but he submits to his own wife in this wicked act it's terrible isn't it so Pilate here arguably I mean again I'm not justifying the Jews by any stretch but he did in fact sin now in Luke and John we have three admissions on pilots part that Jesus was without guilt think about that the judge in the hearing of the entire courtroom says I find no fault in him I find no fault in him I find no fault in him and yet the crowd screams away with him away with him crucify him it is a travesty and a tragedy so in Luke 23 for 14 and 22 and then in John 18 38 19 four and six Pilate threefold confesses that Jesus is innocent but that testimony of Christ citizens is not absent from our passage notice he attempts to grant amnesty to Jesus that's the purpose of this Barabbas incident or narrative probably pilots thinking of course they're gonna choose to to see Jesus freed over Barabbas perhaps is a ranch be like said do you want you know Adolf Hitler or Joe Blow from down the street give us Joe Blow what how did that happen you wouldn't expect it Barabbas was notorious he didn't just thief at Walmart he was an insurrectionist he was a revolutionary he was probably a terrorist of sorts so he tries to grant amnesty to Jesus and he uses Barabbas as the means by which to do it which any thinking same body of people to say well give us Jesus as well he knew the Jews handed Jesus over due to rivalry notice in verse 18 for he knew that they had handed him over because of envy or rivalry or jealousy then he liked him he heard his wife's testimony concerning Jesus innocence that's an intriguing passage verse 19 that's a very intriguing passage we don't know all the dimensions we don't know all the ins and outs it's just briefly reported to us that it happened a brethren if your wife said that to you wouldn't that have some sort of ringing effect upon your heart oh no he's a pagan he doesn't care about his wife the guy loved his wife probably she says have nothing to do with that just man I have been perplexed in a dream about him they heard that he knew that as well he seeks to absolve himself of responsibility for Jesus death according to verse 24 and then if you're in the King James tradition he refers to Jesus as a just person I am innocent of the blood of this just man you see to it now based on the variance and based on the manuscripts based on Luke and John and what we find concerning pilots you know true feelings concerning Jesus I I don't think just is to be regarded as absent I think it's another admission on the part of Pilate that he is in fact a just man the governor governor nevertheless gives the order that Jesus be crucified now there are those who have taken passages especially verse 25 and charged into anti-semitism and that's wrong we're not to be anti-semites we're not to look at every Jew today and say oh you're the Christ killing Jews no don't do that that is anti-semitic and it's wrong everybody to some degree was responsible for the death of Jesus within the narrative itself the betrayer was a disciple now he wasn't the real deal but he was in the disciple community and he betrays the Lord Jesus this Roman governor knows he's dealing with an innocent man and yet he gives the death sentence and of course the Jews they're guilty come on we don't want to be anti-semitic but on the other hand we don't want to minimize the reality of what Scripture records for us Jesus says in John 19 it is greater guilt for you of having having handed me over to you a brother and if we understand the Olivet discourse and we understand the emphasis in verse 25 certainly we ought not to perpetuate anti-semitism and blame every generation of Jews for the death of Jesus Christ I think verse 25 was carried out very literally in AD 70 these would be what we see in Matthew chapter 24 you don't hold post 80 70 generations of Jews as the Christ killers that's wrong it's anti-semitic and it's wrong and we're not supposed to do it but to charge Matthew Mark Luke or John as being anti-semitic for reporting facts is wrong too you see we go the other way well anything we ever possibly say can be seen as anti-semitic so we can't advance the truth of the gospel that's wrong too it is never wrong to tell the truth concerning what happened and if Matthew emphasizes Jewish guilt Matthew had a reason to do so not to the minimization of pilot because pilot comes off very poorly in this passage as well listen to Davies in Alliston Ellison instead of conducting an objective inquiry and justly acting upon the outcome he rather gives cowardly cowardly heed to the hostile Jewish leaders and the crowd they have agitated the governor allows injustice to prevail and his underlings torture Jesus I never forget what happens after this right verses 27 to 31 what do they do they torture Jesus how anybody in their right mind can claim that Pilate was somehow a saved man Pilate should be considered the patron saint of what Roman jurisprudence I don't know what is beyond me his underlings torture Jesus after the death sentence is given and it's intriguing brethren as will move through the narrative there were two scourgings remember Pilate had him scourge dwunt to try and appease the Jews you remember that right but they wanted to press on where there was always a scourging accompanying crucifixion and it was particularly nasty it was particularly nasty if you were sentenced to death by crucifixion that meant scourging beforehand Christ was beaten twice Christ went to the cross again in this silence to save us from our sins it's just absolutely mind-blowing notice secondly the wickedness of the religious leaders the Jewish leaders here they conspire to commit murder in 26 3 to 5 they bargain with the betrayer and 26 14 to 16 they condemn the Lord in the trial before the Sanhedrin they reject the claim that Christ is innocent remember in 27 for Pilate says he's innocent so what see to it yourself we don't care we don't want to let pesky fact get in the way of a good crucifixion they reject they deliver Jesus to the Roman governors so he will carry out capital punishment that's the purpose here that's why they've delivered him they don't have authorization they don't have jurisdiction with reference to capital sentencing they need pilot to give them what they want and at this point they want the blood of Jesus and I think pilots absolutely right because of envy because of jealousy because of rivalry they don't care that he's a competitor with Caesar they care that he's a competitor with the Sanhedrin that's what's underscoring these men and their rage against our Lord Jesus Christ they persistently urge the multitudes to side with their decision notice in verse 20 verse 20 we'll see this more next week the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitudes that they should ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus so in the courtroom they're accusing Jesus with many charges outside of the courtroom what are they doing they're appealing to the multitudes ask for Barabbas ask for Barabbas again any sane thinking human being what is it why would we want Barabbas Barabbas is a threat Barabbas is a mean man Barabbas is a bad dude why would we ask for Barabbas because we want to destroy Jesus oh yeah and then they manipulate Pilate in order to carry out their design john 19:12 says from then on Pilate sought to release him but the Jews cried out saying if you let this man go you are not Caesars friend whoever makes himself a king speaks against Caesar I think their wickedness is even compounded and highlighted based on pilots rationale lords if you bring this man to be delivered into the hands of Pilate and you want to see him destroyed and Pilate is just you know sign step in every step of the way he's hesitant he is resistant he wants to grant amnesty to Jesus compare the immigration people going nuts there it is there's our biblical rationale for amnesty he wants to do this he wants to get Jesus out of his court not necessarily to the cross and yet these men grow more vehement in their opposition it's like no rationality no sanity no facts can penetrate these wicked hardened hearts they do come off poorly in the narrative brethren I'm not gonna lie to you or suggest otherwise their wickedness is compounded by the various voices testifying to Jesus in a sense listen to France even Judas the traitor the Gentile woman of verse a verse 19 that's his pilot's wife so even Judas the traitor the Gentile woman and the hard-bitten Roman governor can see what the leaders in crowd refused to acknowledge there's witnesses coming out of the woodwork saying no he hasn't done anything he's innocent I lit three times I find no guilt in him and these men are hardened in their hearts these matters are resolved as well Christ has a resolute determination certainly these religious leaders have a resolute determination and that resolution is to get him out of the way we will not have this man to rule over us you see Psalm 2 in the narrative you see it as well and in in the Luke passage Luke records for us when Pilate sends Jesus to Herod you know what it says at the end now Pilate and Herod became friendly toward one another prior to that they had been at odds Pilate thinks for a moment hey I could send him over to Herod cuz he's got he's got a jurisdiction over the Galileans he see Pilate is not itchy to get Jesus on that cross Pilate is doing everything he can to not send Jesus to the cross insofar as he tries to pass the buck over to Herod but they had not been previously friendly toward one another but in this unison against Jesus that had brought them together it's the song to rage of the nation's leaders counselors are real leaders and and rulers taking counsel together against Yahweh and against his Christ that's in view in this passion narrative well we end on the glory of Christ we see first his royalty it is as you say he affirms that he is indeed God he is indeed King he affirms that this is accurate when we couple this statement with what he says before the Sanhedrin in chapter 26 and verse 64 he is the Daniele ik son of man who comes on the clouds of heaven he is the Psalm 110 enthroned King priest he is the the Messiah that was promised by God to Israel he is the king according to second Samuel Chapter seven he was uniquely the Davidic son and the the son of God most high he is royal he is kingly this charge is accurate this is Jesus the King of the Jews again written by Gentiles written by pagans but we know the comprehensiveness of it when he's on the cross even the religious leaders refer to him as the king of Israel again that distinction Gentiles when we see him as the King of the Jews at least in this context but the true people of God know him as the king over a Hall and notice as well his resolve it's very intriguing that kamerad mark 14 and emphasized those particular points concerning Christ's resolve I really don't need to continue because he already did it but I'll summarize by saying this his silence showed the fulfillment of Isaiah's prophecy and that's very important brethren because Isaiah puts forth Jesus as the suffering servant Isaiah puts forth Jesus as the the Davidic Messiah Isaiah puts forth Jesus in all these particular weights and we seen the passion narrative that he is in fact that Isaiah or that Isaiah mnek prophetic figure as well his silence showed his resolve to accomplish the mission given to him by his father you remember how many times we've seen it we've covered it we've been in Matthew's Gospel for a while when Jesus begins to go to Jerusalem and Matthew 16 he says I must go he repeats himself in Matthew 17 I'm Moscow he repeats himself in Matthew 20 I must go what's he showing his resolute determination to do what the father had given him in order to save his people from their sins the fact that he is silent here indicates that self same thing this is resolute determination to fulfill the plan and purpose of the Father it is to be understood in light of Matthew 20:28 for the Son of man did not come to be served but to serve and to give his life a ransom for many that silence ought to be viewed in light of Matthew 26:28 this is my blood of the new covenant which is shed for many for the remission of sins brethren Pilate marvelled greatly at that silence I suggested all of us marvelled greatly at that silence as well and let it draw out our hearts and worship you're not a Christian let you hear that silence and let that be the means by which you look to the Lord Jesus Christ you say if that's his resolve determination if that's what he undergoes if he sits there and listens or rather stands there and listens to the accusations of godless men and says nothing to resist them nothing to reject them nothing to rebuff them that does demonstrate how much he loves his father and that and how much he loves sinners I ought to believe in him I ought to look at him I ought to live in him this is the point of the narrative his silence showed his feet his resolve to save his people from their sins so I think it's one of the difficulties and when you when you preach expository you kind of forget stuff that happened in the past I guess a good preacher wouldn't let you forget stuff that happened in the past so I'm confessing that now and reminding you of something that happened in the past how does a book start I know there's a genealogy if you have the old King James you get put off by the wee Ghats but there's an important reason for that he's showing us connection between Jesus and Abraham and Jesus and David that's crucial to covenantal figures of Old Testament history we need to know that Jesus is connected he's connected to Abraham he's connected to David but then Jesus is born Jesus's name what's the significance of the naming you should call his name Jesus why because it's one of the more popular ones in this day and age some of your Bible versions might have Jesus Barabbas some suggest that it was dropped deliberately because you didn't want to call anybody else Jesus France says it was one of the most popular names in that timeframe in that sense you know in that first century setting shakaal his name Jesus for he will save his people from their sins that's how the believer hears the silence that's how unbelievers this morning should hear the silence it's the means by which he saves his people from their sins John Calvin said Christ therefore was at that time silent that he may now be our advocate and by his intercession may deliver us from condemnation he was silent that we may boast that by His grace we are righteous JC Ryle says to those silent sufferings believers oh all their peace and hope through them they will have boldness in the day of judgment who in themselves would have nothing to say I think the bishop is absolutely right what do we see with the guilty on the day of judgment according to Roman's 3 and all the world may be silent before God you talk a lot now but if your unbeliever on that day of judgment you'll have nothing to say can't blame someone else can't say well it was my brother it was my sister was there you're gonna be silent before God the only boldness that is afforded to anyone at that time is what we have in Christ and even then I don't think we're gonna be you know making a whole bunch of noise we're gonna be very happy we're clothed in the righteousness of Christ and hearing what the judge of all the universe has to say so look to Christ the silent one who showed his resolve his determination his compliance with the Covenant with his father for the salvation of his people well let us pray our Father we thank you for your word we thank you for the silence of our Lord Jesus Christ how we praise you that he went through what he went through on behalf of sinners how we praise you that he lived in obedience to the law he died as a sacrifice and substitute at the cross and he was raised the third day and God is dark and as dismal as this passage or this section in Matthew 27 is let us never forget Matthew 28 he is risen he is enthroned at the right hand of the Majesty on high he is coming again in glory to judge the living in the dead on that day he will not stand before a pagan governor but he will sit upon a throne of glory may we all be prepared to meet him on that day may we all be prepared now because of your grace may we look to Jesus Christ in faith and may we be forgiven and clothed with the righteousness of Christ Jesus our Lord go with us now we pray and we ask in Jesus name Amen we'll close with a brief time of meditation and then be dismissed you