Lord Jesus, the more I follow You, the more I want to know You. The more I want to know You, the more I want to read Your words. The more I read Your words, I am amazed at what appears new and fresh as if I’ve never read it before.
Like fresh manna each new morning. As a fresh cup of living water in my coffee cup each new day. Your Word is alive and active. Your Word teaches me and corrects me. Your Word reveals life and promise. Your Word fortifies my inward being to live in hope today.
Lord today, I read these words…
“So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.”
And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.”
Matthew 27:24-26 ESV
I see in these words yet another proof of God’s all encompassing eternal plan for our redemption. Jesus, the Lamb of God, was always His plan A. This was His one and only grand plan of redemption.
And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
The gentile man, unconvinced of any guilt, and unconcerned for the charges, tried to set Jesus free. He declared Him innocent and not worthy of judgment. Pilate washed his hands of the blood of Christ. In a way, without comprehending the magnitude of the moment, rejecting the atonement of the Lamb of God.
And in the next moment, God’s own covenant people declared openly and bitterly that Christ’s blood be on them, and His blood be upon their children. Without even understanding the prophetic nature of their angry shouts, they insisted that Christ be taken and Barabbas be set free. From the cross, Jesus prayed, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.”
His blood saves us.
What Satan attempted to thwart through Judas became our victory. What mere men attempted to extinguish out of their religious zeal for God and His law became our salvation.
“This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith. He did this to demonstrate his righteousness, because in his forbearance he had left the sins committed beforehand unpunished— he did it to demonstrate his righteousness at the present time, so as to be just and the one who justifies those who have faith in Jesus.”
Romans 3:22-26 NIV
God’s plan for a perfect sacrifice, the blood of the unblemished Lamb of God was revealed in the Old Testament and foretold through the Prophets. Therefore, in the fullness of time, God sent Him, the Spotless One, to shed His blood and cover us.
John, the Baptizer, recognized Him, and prepared the way for His ministry to begin. He called out to anyone who would listen, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world.”
The twelve followed Him, participated with Him, and saw Jesus Christ fulfill His true identity as the Living Son of God in His resurrection and ascension.
Saul, one of the religious elite, was converted in a moment by His encounter with the risen Christ. Later, Paul would travel, preach and write about the saving blood of Christ. The Christ, who he was convinced was the perfect atonement who had shed His blood for all mankind – even him, the former persecutor of the brethren.
My faith today, in 2025, is bolstered by this passage of scripture that just came alive to me. His blood has not faded. The message endures. God’s intent is powerfully clear. Because God’s plan A was for the blood of His perfect Lamb to be on us who believe.
And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
“Therefore, brothers and sisters, since we have confidence to enter the Most Holy Place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way opened for us through the curtain, that is, his body, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near to God with a sincere heart and with the full assurance that faith brings, having our hearts sprinkled to cleanse us from a guilty conscience and having our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for he who promised is faithful.”
Hebrews 10:19-23 NIV
Eyes on Jesus and Shine,
~Lisa
Something to ponder with Jesus
I’m curious. What do you think?
“So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.”
And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”
How do you respond to this scripture?
Does this scripture passage help you see that God always had a plan to send His Son who would shed His blood to cover our sin?
In the example of Judas, pawn of Satan, does it help you to know that even what the traitor meant for evil, God would use for good?
In the example of Saul, does it help you to know that God is always teaching us, changing us, and shaping us to be His followers and ambassadors?
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