Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. Matthew 27:15-16

The time has come for someone to be released, will it be the sinless Lamb of God or will it be a convicted murdered and thief named Barabbas? Why would the people choose Barabbas over Christ? What did Barabbas do to earn mercy and forgiveness? How did Barabbas get pardoned for his sins?

At first glance we despise Barabbas, how could they let this horrible man go free while Jesus takes his place! However then we realize we are Barabbas! We are the sinners that don’t deserve mercy or forgiveness, however Christ died for us anyway!

Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. Matthew 27:17-18

The people had a choice, either release the sinless Lamb of God or release a convicted murderer. The choice seems simple and logical, however their hearts were hardened and their eyes were blind. Just the same we were when we hated God. Our sins put Jesus on the cross! We are also guilty!

When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. Matthew 27:19-20

Pilates wife begged him to let Jesus go, because even though she wasn’t a Christian, she knew he was innocent. However Pilate gave into the evil influence of the world, the religious leaders wanted him dead! They wanted Jesus eliminated so they hoped his truth and teachings would be eliminated from the world, sound familiar today?

The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. Matthew 27:21-23

When Pilate asked the crowd who did they want to release? The crowd shouted Barabbas! When Pilate asked what they wanted to do with Jesus, they said Crucify Him! The same people who were shouting Hosanna a week ago are now shouting Crucify Him!

You might have been in the crowd at one point in your life, but guess what? Jesus died for you anyway, he died for even the ones who hated him, what a loving God! When you realize that you were Barabbas, that you didn’t deserve or earn any mercy or forgiveness, but he gave it anyway.

Then you understand what a loving God we serve and he loved us even when we didn’t deserve it Amen!

Now Peter sat without in the palace: and a damsel came unto him, saying, Thou also wast with Jesus of Galilee. But he denied before them all, saying, I know not what thou sayest. Matthew 26:69-70

When we think about the Apostle Peter, we think about how Jesus changed his name to Cephas which means Rock. The Catholic Church even considers Peter their first “Pope”. However just like everyone, Peter was not a perfect man, in fact his relationship with Christ was a little bumpy to say the least

Jesus prophesied to Peter that he would deny him, and Peter replied “I will never deny you Lord, I will even die for you” (Matthew 26: 35) So what happened to Peter? Well he’s a mortal human just like us all, when Peter saw what was happening to Jesus during his trial and imprisonment, he got scared and took the easy way out

I’m sure all of us, if were being honest, can relate to Peter. I’m sure there was a time when God wanted you to step out and be bold, but you coward pretending Jesus is not your Master. At one point Jesus even called Peter “Satan” (Matthew 16:23), how is that for a compliment from The Lord?

And when he was gone out into the porch, another maid saw him, and said unto them that were there, This fellow was also with Jesus of Nazareth. And again he denied with an oath, I do not know the man. Matthew 26:71-72

So as Peter kept trying to get closer to Jesus to see what was happening to him, more people kept recognizing Peter. “Hey your that guy who keeps preaching about Jesus” Notice Peter response “I don’t know the man”! Ouch , really? The same man you left everything behind to follow and now your denying you even know him? The same man you spent over 3 years with day and night, witnessing his miracles, and listening to his teachings

Yeah our human nature is extremely flawed. I’m not making excuses for Peter or anyone, but reality is in these sinful bodies we are very spiritually weak. Which is another reason to rejoice for the resurrection, as we will get a perfected body with no sin! (1 Corinthians 15, Revelation 21)

And after a while came unto him they that stood by, and said to Peter, Surely thou also art one of them; for thy speech bewrayeth thee. Then began he to curse and to swear, saying, I know not the man. And immediately the cock crew. Matthew 26:73-74

Again more people began recognizing Peter, and he got so frustrated he started cursing and swearing! Yes even an Apostle falls short sometimes! And then it happened , just as Jesus predicted the Rooster crowed , that was the sign and Peter recognized it immediately

And Peter remembered the word of Jesus, which said unto him, Before the cock crow, thou shalt deny me thrice. And he went out, and wept bitterly. Matthew 26:75

Then Peter remembered everything Jesus had taught him and everything he witnessed, and he broke down in tears bitterly. What was happening? This is true repentance! If you don’t weep and cry for the sins you have committed then you haven’t truly repented

Peter was ashamed and disgusted with himself, in fact after this Peter went into hiding and figured Jesus probably disowned him. However as we read in the gospels after the resurrection Jesus came looking for Peter and even called him to build his Church! (Matthew 16:18) What a loving friend we have in Jesus!

Now when Jesus was in Bethany, in the house of Simon the leper, There came unto him a woman having an alabaster box of very precious ointment, and poured it on his head, as he sat at meat. Matthew 26:6-7

First lets notice where this event took place, at Simon The Leper house. People who had leprosy were considered unclean. Why would the Messiah be communing with this man? We see that Jesus is not only calling the righteous but the sinners!

Here we see a woman who pours a very expensive bottle of perfume on Jesus, what everyone didn’t realize is a revelation of the sacrifice Jesus was about to make for the world!

But when his disciples saw it, they had indignation, saying, To what purpose is this waste? For this ointment might have been sold for much, and given to the poor. Matthew 26:8-9

Notice the disciples reaction, they accused the woman of wasting the perfume! They said this is a waste of money! Really? These are the disciples of Christ and they believe the anointing of Jesus is a waste of money? Obviously they just were not getting it or understanding at the moment

How about in todays Church? Don’t we see the same thing with Christians, “why waste that money on the poor”, “why give any money at all” Whatever we believe is valuable today is just filthy rags compared to the glory of what we receive from our Lord Jesus Christ!

When Jesus understood it, he said unto them, Why trouble ye the woman? for she hath wrought a good work upon me. For ye have the poor always with you; but me ye have not always. Matthew 26:10-11

Now notice Jesus reaction, he rebukes the disciples! Obviously the disciples didn’t understand what Jesus was about to do for the world. As Jesus tells them “You will not have me always” Hint Hint…

For in that she hath poured this ointment on my body, she did it for my burial. Matthew 26:12

Jesus makes a direct revelation here, she anointed his body for burial! This statement obviously went right over the heads of the disciples, as they didn’t understand Jesus is and would be our Lamb of God, who took away the sins of the world! Amen!

Then one of them, which was a lawyer, asked him a question, tempting him, and saying, Master, which is the great commandment in the law? Matthew 22:35-36

The religious leaders decided they wanted to challenge Jesus on The Law. Now the first question is what do they mean by The Law? To answer this question we must first understand the Old Testament, God gave Moses the Ten Commandments on Mt Sinai

Now if we study The Law in more depth, we will realize there are over 600 Laws in the Old Covenant. But the 10 Commandments are the foundation of Gods essence. These are not just rules to live by, this is a reflection of Gods nature and a mirror for our sinful nature

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets. Matthew 22:37-40

Jesus made this for simple for us, he broke down the 10 commandments into 2. Love God and Love Your Neighbor! If you cant remember the 10 commandments remember these two principles, because everything is summed up in these commandments

If we look at the first four commandments:

1. Don’t worship other gods
2. Don’t make graven images or idols
3. Don’t take Gods name in vein
4. Keep the Sabbath

These 4 commandments are all about loving God, so if you truly Love God, you keep these commandments without issue

5. Honor your father and mother
6. Don’t Kill
7. Don’t commit Adultery
8. Don’t steal
9. Don’t lie or gossip about your neighbor
10. Don’t want or envy what your neighbor has

These 5 commandments obviously reflect Loving your Neighbor, so if you Love and Love your Neighbor , you are fulfilling The Law, as Jesus said the entire Law and Prophets hang on Love God and Love your Neighbor

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:17

Now I know what your thinking, I fail at the Law. Yes we have all fallen short and are sinners, this is why we need Jesus! The Law was handed down to Moses but Grace came through Christ! Jesus also gave us further revelation and explanation of The Law, just study The Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5)

And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves. Matthew 21:12-13

One of the great foreshadowing events of Christ was the cleansing of The Temple. Now you might say what is prophetic about this moment? Many things, first we must understand The Temple and its function. At this point the only place God resided on Earth was in the Temple. To make atonement for your sin, you must go to the Temple

However the Temple became corrupted by man. Instead of a gateway to God it became as Jesus said a “Den of Thieves” , they made God a business, does this sound familiar today? But Jesus cleared them out, he cleansed The Temple!

And the blind and the lame came to him in the temple; and he healed them. And when the chief priests and scribes saw the wonderful things that he did, and the children crying in the temple, and saying, Hosanna to the Son of David; they were sore displeased, Matthew 21:14-15

Now while Jesus may have offended many with his actions, the blind and lame came to him for healing! While there are those who are offended by Jesus, those who answer his call shall be healed! And the people continued to praise him “Hosanna to the Son of David”!

This offended and upset the religious leaders, they wanted to be praised but the people praised the Son of God!

And said unto him, Hearest thou what these say? And Jesus saith unto them, Yea; have ye never read, Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings thou hast perfected praise? Matthew 21:16

These people didn’t have degrees in theology or years of training with the religious leaders. They had faith in Christ that he is the Messiah, the Son of God! As the famous expression comes from the scripture “From the mouth of babes”

Jesus answered and said unto them, Destroy this temple, and in three days I will raise it up. John 2:19

So where are the foreshadows you might ask?

1. Jesus foretold of the destruction of the Temple
2. Jesus foretold of his resurrection as his body is the new temple
3. This is foreshadow of our bodies being the Temple of God (1 Corinthians) and we must cleanse it from sin

And as they departed from Jericho, a great multitude followed him. And, behold, two blind men sitting by the way side, when they heard that Jesus passed by, cried out, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. Matthew 20:29-30

Picture this, a great crowd is now following Jesus, imagine being at a large parade and they are all their to see Jesus. There is two blind beggars sitting on the side of the street, screaming at the top of their lungs, Have Mercy On Us, Lord Son of David!

Do you think Jesus would even be able to hear these men, or see them? Do these men think they wont even be noticed in a large multitude? They didn’t care, they cried out to Jesus in faith and desperation

And the multitude rebuked them, because they should hold their peace: but they cried the more, saying, Have mercy on us, O Lord, thou Son of David. Matthew 20:31

The crowd was telling them to shut up already, but the blind men instead of keeping quiet they started shouting even louder! Notice the title they are giving Jesus, Son of David, what does that mean? That means these mean knew Jesus is the Messiah!

And Jesus stood still, and called them, and said, What will ye that I shall do unto you? They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. Matthew 20:32-33

Notice even though the large crowd, Jesus heard them and acknowledged them! Also notice Jesus asked them specifically what they wanted and they told him! When were talking with God, remember to be specific and bring your requests and praises to him!

They say unto him, Lord, that our eyes may be opened. Matthew 20:34

I like the translation of the KJV the best, because their awakening is not just a physical one but a spiritual also! When your Born Again, Jesus will open your eyes!

So Jesus had compassion on them, and touched their eyes: and immediately their eyes received sight, and they followed him. Matthew 20:35

Jesus had compassion on them! Jesus didn’t tell them to leave him alone or get lost, we showed his mercy on them. And immediately they received sight! Didn’t happen over years of theological training, it happened immediately! When you become saved, you start to look at the entire world differently

Lastly it says, they followed Jesus. When Jesus calls you and opens your eyes, there is no turning back! Amen!