DO YOU HAVE BLOOD ON YOU?

“Do you have His blood on your conscience, or has the precious blood washed your sin away forever?”

I’m not a man typically given to fear. That said, in reading the account of Christ’s trial and suffering this Good Friday morning, I once again read the passage that makes my skin crawl.

In Matthew 27, Pontius Pilate is attempting to release Jesus from custody, but the crowd wants the murderer Barabbas freed instead.

The text explains what occurs next:

“Pilate took water and washed his hands in front of the crowd. ‘I am innocent of this man’s blood. It is your responsibility, he said. All the people answered,

‘LET HIS BLOOD BE ON US AND OUR CHILDREN!’” (v. 24-25 )

Are you kidding me?!! They asked for the eternal curse of betraying and killing the Son of God to be placed upon them and their descendants. This is called a self-imprecatory oath in Scripture, and it is binding. It is a dreadful declaration.

These poor, deceived people had been stirred up and “persuaded” by the religious leaders (chief priests and elders) to demand Christ be crucified. And the crowd bowed and followed like blind sheep.

Today, we are easily influenced by society’s “leaders”, many of whom are not qualified to give counsel or direction, especially in spiritual matters that affect the eternal soul. Yet the modern-day “priests” – celebrities, politicians, athletes, talking heads on news services, social media influencers, etc – already have their own gods, and disdain God’s son as weak and inconsequential.

They play with eternal fire and don’t realize it, because power blinds.

We are their audience, and we watch them (D.A.’s.) release criminals (like Barabbas) back into society to do more harm. Our ‘voice’ is at the ballot box, and we don’t see much improvement, do we?

Well, the Scriptures make clear who is the Ruler of the Nations, and what He thinks of today’s leaders:

“The kings of the earth rise up and the rulers band together against the Lord and His anointed (Christ), saying ‘Let us break their chains and throw off their shackles’.

The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at these rulers.

He rebukes them in His anger and terrifies them in His wrath saying,

‘I have installed my king over the earth.’” Psalm 2: 2-6

He then warns that “His wrath can flare up in a moment” v.12

I don’t respect, or even like most leaders today, but I fear for their souls, and ours, if we act like that crowd at Jesus’ trial, arrogantly ignore the Creator, and betray His Son over and over with mockery, by trivializing the greatest and most terrible event in history – the death, burial and resurrection of the Savior.

Let us consider the profound words of a classic hymn, “Nothing But the Blood”.

“What can wash away my sin?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

What can make me whole again?

Nothing but the blood of Jesus”

Friends, let us with joy, and the fear of God, take heart in these words, for the bottom line is this as we will all face the Most High Judge one day:

“Do you have His blood on your conscience, or has the precious blood washed your sin away forever?”