By Pastor Steve Nickodemus

What Do You Think?

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” ‘What do you think?’ ‘He is worthy of death!’ they answered.”
Matthew 26:66 New International Version

The death penalty is reserved for the most grievous of crimes. Premeditated murder and repeated murders may receive this final and harsh punishment.

When the high priest asks the assembled religious leaders if Jesus has committed a terrible crime, “What do you think?” they reply unanimously, “He is worthy of death!” If you had only heard this interchange in the story you would surely think that Jesus had committed a terrible, premeditated murder or murders, like Barabbas, the notorious insurrectionist and murderer of the day.

But this is not the charge against Jesus. No murder, no violence, no conspiracy to harm anyone.  What had He done? Simply put, He had dared to say that He was the Son of God who had come to save the world from sin. He had been sent from the Father not to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.

For this “crime” He was to be put to death, the crime of wanting to save the world. To save those who had just bound and beaten Him. To save those who cried out for His death. To save those who because of their sin, were slaves to sin and condemned to die.

Ironically, this One who was judged to be “worthy of death,” had come to save the world from eternal death and punishment. In fact, He was the only One who could save you and me, the only One who could receive the punishment for our sin. “For He was wounded for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities, the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him…”(Isaiah 53:5, NIV)

Dear Lord Jesus, thank you that you took my punishment upon You, You the innocent Lamb of God. Amen.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado