Willow Ridge Sermons

April 6th, 2025 • "So they all said, 'Are you the Son of God, then?' And he said to them, 'You say that I am.'" – Luke 22:70

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Creators and Guests

Host

Beau Bradberry

Senior Pastor

What is Willow Ridge Sermons?

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Well, good morning. If you have your Bibles, and I hope you do, I want to invite you to join me

in Luke chapter 22. It's where we're going to be this morning. I want to echo what Pastor Dave said

and welcome our first-time guest. If you're a first-time guest, we want to thank you for being

here. Thank you for worshiping with us. At the end of the service, I'll be back here to my left,

back here at these tables, along with my wife, Erin. We would love to meet you, to shake your hand,

to thank you for worshiping with us. And if you have any questions about us at Willow Ridge Church,

we would love to be able to answer those. And maybe this isn't your first time, you've been

coming for a few weeks, but we haven't had the privilege and opportunity to meet you yet.

Please stop by. We would love, love to meet you. Also, at the very end of the service, we'll do the

message. We'll have a time of response. And then at the very end, we will partake in the Lord's

Supper together. And so the elements are back here, right at the entrance as you came in this morning.

If you did not pick up some of those, and you would like to partake in the Lord's Supper with us,

we want to invite you. Right now would be a great time. You can just go back there and you can grab

the elements so that you can be a part of that with us. We do, if you're a believer in Jesus Christ,

whether you call Willow Ridge Church your home or not, we want to invite you to join us in taking of

the Lord's Supper together. And we'll give some specific instructions about how we do that

at the end of the service. When we are beginning, we got done with Titus. It took us two years to

get through Genesis, took us six weeks to get through Titus. And so we're now starting our Easter

series. Easter feels like it sneaks up on us really quick each and every year. And it's a wonderful time.

We always know Easter season's coming, right? Because before Easter, there's the pollen.

And so we've got the pollen is here. The Easter season is here. And we're going to be working

through some different passages of scripture over the next several weeks. But in a few weeks,

we'll be Easter morning. We do a little bit different. We started a different little tradition

around here a few years ago. And we love it. It's a part of what God's called us and wired us to do

together. So I want to share with you the schedule of that so that you can choose what works best for

you and for your family. But at eight o'clock that morning, we do not call it a sunrise service. We

just call it an early service, right? We're not out there as the sun comes up. But at eight o'clock

in the morning, we'll have our outdoor worship service, our early worship service. It is for the

entire family. It'll be on the lower level of the parking lot. And so we want to invite you, if you

want to choose to worship during that time, please come and do so. And we'll worship together.

And then at 9 a.m., we'll have a church-wide breakfast. It's become just a wonderful time

for us to gather together as a church family. Grits, bacon, eggs, all the trimmings, everything

to get us loaded up and to prep us for that Easter lunch that we're going to have later. So we want to

invite you and your family to be a part of that. Some of the things that we've been able to hear the

last couple of years, and so we're adapting and changing a little bit with this. We will have a

couple of the classrooms open and available. There's no way we could do the tables and chairs for

everyone. So we're going to have some seating with tables and chairs in 102-104. And we're

going to ask that we reserve those for our senior adults and families with little ones. So we'll

have that. But then for everyone, you can stand outside, you can sit on the walls, you can gather

in the lobby, you can even come in here to eat breakfast that morning. But a wonderful time

of fellowship together. And then at 1015, we'll gather in here for service as the entire family,

again, kids all the way through to have that time of worship together. Now, the 8 o'clock

and the 1015, they are identical services, all right? So if you want to come to both,

hey, that's great. We'd love to have you. You can come get a double dose of worship that

morning. I would love to have you join us. But if you're sitting there and you're like,

I think I've heard this message before, you did at the 8 o'clock. So we'll be here and we'll

worship together. So we're looking in Luke 22. We're going to begin our study of leading us

up to Easter by this morning of looking as Jesus appears before four trials. And so we're going to

look at the weight and the impact and what God is teaching us about Christ and about who we are

and about his work through in Christ and his work through in us by looking at that. But I want us to

look at this verse as we kind of set our hearts on God's word for what he has for us. Luke 23, 24-25.

So Pilate decided that their demand should be granted.

He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder

for whom they asked.

But he delivered Jesus over to their will. Would you pray with me?

God, we thank you for this wonderful opportunity that we have to gather here together.

God, there may be many reasons, routine,

community,

loneliness,

obligation,

many reasons that may have brought us here this morning.

But the true reason

is Christ.

So God, as we focus in,

especially on these next three weeks,

on the work that's done on the cross,

the power of the resurrection,

this morning as we look at an innocent man

declared guilty,

God,

God, I pray for whatever reason that we find ourselves

here this morning,

that you will stir our hearts,

Father, for your son Jesus.

That we will grow in love

and devotion for him.

We will give you all the praise

and honor and glory.

because life is made possible

through him

and through him alone.

And it's in Jesus' name we pray.

Amen. Amen.

Well, as a pastor,

you always are looking for

the next sermon series to work through,

the next book to work through,

how you're going to flow,

how you're going to kind of look at your

outlining throughout Scripture as you go through the year.

And there's two times of year

where it's just kind of naturally there for us.

It's the Easter season

and it's the Christmas season.

We kind of got the passages

that we'll work through.

And each year,

what I try to do

is build us a historical timeline

that leads us to the events

that we're leaving out

because there's no way

that we could possibly cover

every single thing that's happened,

but everything is continuing to show

in the journey of what's there.

So this morning, like I shared,

we're going to look at the trials of Jesus,

Jesus before the Sanhedrin,

Jesus before Pilate,

Jesus before Herod,

and then Jesus before Pilate again,

before he gets condemned to death.

This will be the story that we see.

But this is not just a moment

that happened out of nowhere.

It's a journey that has been happening

and then taken place.

And so the Sunday before this happens

in this Passion Week timeline,

if we were to read through the Scripture,

we're to see that this is the day

that Jesus enters into Jerusalem

with shouts of Hosanna.

Jesus will go and he'll weep over Jerusalem.

He will enter into the temple

and he'll return to Bethany.

He enters into the shouts of praise

where we'll see this morning

the same folks who would have said

Messiah, King, now call for crucifixion.

On Monday, while he'd be with the disciples,

he curses the fig tree.

He clears the temple

and he returns to Bethany with the twelve.

On Tuesday,

as he journeys back into Jerusalem,

the disciples see the withered fig tree.

The authority to Jesus

and the resurrection

is challenged at the temple.

And very important

for what we'll see today,

Jesus teaches on paying taxes to Caesar.

He then has the Olivet Discourse

on the way to Bethany

as Jesus shares

that the temple will be destroyed,

wars and persecution

will take place

and Jerusalem will be destroyed

among others.

Wednesday,

Jesus continues

to teach

in the temple

and the Sanhedrin

begin to plot

for the execution

of Christ.

Thursday,

in the time

that we begin to see

in the upper room,

the Passover meal,

the Last Supper,

the upper room discourse,

Jesus prays

in the garden.

In these weeks,

I mean,

I'm sorry,

in these days

that are leading up

to the events

that we'll look at

this morning,

you will notice

that Jesus

is not short of words.

Teaching

after teaching

until he finds himself

in the garden

and he begins to pray.

Early Friday morning

sometime after midnight

where we find ourselves

this morning,

Jesus has been betrayed

by Judas

with a kiss.

Jesus is arrested

and the mockery

of his trials

begin.

Would you look with me

at Luke 22?

We're going to read

starting in verse 66.

When they came,

the assembly of the elders

of the people

gathered together,

both chief priests

and scribes.

They led him away

to their council

and they said,

if you are the Christ,

tell us.

But he said to them,

if I tell you,

you will not believe.

And if I ask you,

you will not answer.

But from now on,

the Son of Man

shall be seated

at the right hand

in the power of God.

So they all said,

are you the Son of God then?

And he said to them,

you say that I am.

And they said,

what further testimony

do we need?

we have heard it

ourselves

from his own lips.

Then the whole company

of them arose

and brought him

before Pilate.

So Jesus is arrested

and he's taken

before the religious

leaders of the day.

The group that we know

as the Sanhedrin.

The group that on Wednesday

have plotted this

all along.

This is not

the unfolding

of due process.

This is not

the unfolding

of legal matters

that take place.

This is a mob

who for their own

self-interest

view Jesus

as a problem

and due to their own

sin desire

to have him killed.

Now this group though

would have been given

certain rights

under Roman authority.

And so their goal

is the execution

of Jesus

but they do not

have the right

to execute

this judgment

legally.

So what the scripture

says

is once they've

heard what can

satisfy

the sinfulness

of their souls

they take him

to who can

and they bring him

before Pilate.

Let's continue

on verse 2.

And they began

to accuse him

saying

we found this man

misleading our nation

and forbidding us

to give tribute

to Caesar

and saying

that he himself

is Christ

a king.

And Pilate

asked him

are you

the king

of the Jews?

And he answered

him

you have said

so.

Then Pilate

said to the

chief priest

and the crowds

I find

no guilt

in this man.

They were

urgent

saying

he stirs up

the people

teaching throughout

all Judea

from Galilee

even to this

place.

When Pilate

heard this

he asked

whether this man

was Galilean

and we learned

that he belonged

to Herod's

jurisdiction

he sent

him over

to Herod

who was

himself

in Jerusalem

at the time.

So the Sanhedrin

brings Jesus

before Pilate

before someone

who can

implement

the penalty

that they

desire.

They bring him

before

with three

charges

that they share.

They say

that Jesus

has been

misleading

our nation.

What they're

trying to

paint a picture

is that

Jesus

is trying

to start

a riot.

Jesus

is trying

to overthrow

the government.

But here's

what we know

when we read

through the story

right?

Thursday night

in the garden

coming to get

arrested.

What does

Jesus do

as they

come to

arrest him

and as Peter

goes off

to attack?

Jesus stops

it.

He's not

trying to

create a

riot.

He actually

has prevented

one from

taking place.

Lie number

one.

Number two.

Jesus

opposes

tax payments

to Caesar.

Right?

Tax day

is coming up

for us too.

You got to

pay him.

All right,

there we go.

Again,

not true.

Not true.

Jesus just

taught Wednesday.

Just taught

Wednesday.

Give to Caesar

what's Caesar's.

Lie number

two.

Number three.

Jesus

claims to be

Messiah.

Jesus

claims to be

king.

And this

is interesting.

Pilate

doesn't

dive in

to these

others.

But he

latches

on to

this.

latches

on to

it.

Not

to the

whole

region.

He says,

you king

of the

Jews.

Now,

Jesus'

reaction

is somewhat

similar to

the last

part of

his

reaction

to the

Sanhedrin.

Jesus

has been

intentionally

teaching about

who he is,

about what

he's come

to do.

Jesus

has been

very open

and very

vocal.

And he

looks at

Pilate.

And I

can only

imagine

in this

the confidence

in his

eyes that

Pilate

would have

seen.

You know,

when you feel

like someone's

trying to lie

to you,

or someone's

speaking truth,

the difference

in what

the face

looks like.

And in

the very

face of

God,

and in

the fulfillment

of what

he's come

to do,

he says,

you say

so.

You say

so.

Jesus is

not denying.

Jesus is

not backing

down.

I am

the

Messiah.

I am

the

king.

And it's

interesting

that in

this,

that

Pilate

sworn to

Caesar

to make

sure that

everything's

calm,

everything's

peaceful,

finds that

Jesus has done

nothing

wrong.

Nothing

wrong.

But the

leaders,

these religious

leaders,

they insist

that this is

impossible,

that Jesus

is an

agitator.

He's an

agitator to

law.

He's an

agitator to

the rule.

He must be

dealt with.

And then they

mess up.

They say

that he's

from Galilee.

And Pilate's

like,

oh,

I'm out

of my

jurisdiction.

This isn't

for me.

This is

for Herod.

And so he

sends

Jesus to

Herod.

Herod,

who's in

Jerusalem.

In verse

eight.

When Herod

saw Jesus,

he was very

glad,

for he had

long desired

to see him,

because he

had heard

about him.

And he

was hoping

to see

some sign

done by

him.

So he

questioned

him at

some length,

but he

made no

answer.

The chief

priest and

scribes

stood by,

vehemently

accusing

him.

And Herod

with his

soldiers

treated him

with contempt

and mocked

him.

then arraying

him in

splendid

clothing,

he sent

him back

Pilate.

And Herod

and Pilate

became friends

with each

other that

very day,

for before

this they

had been

at enmity

with each

other.

So it's

kind of

strange

begins that

Herod's

excited,

he's glad

to see

Jesus.

You see,

the story

of Christ

was spreading.

I mean,

how could it

not?

Blind people

see,

people would

never walk,

walk,

demons cast

out,

even a dead

man brought

back to

life.

Herod's

like,

I'm

intrigued

by this

guy.

Now he

questions

Jesus,

and the

crowd

continues

to shout

allegations

and

accusations

against

Jesus.

But Jesus

does not

answer him

or the

crowd.

He said,

he's

testified.

Herod would

have heard,

Herod would

have known,

and Jesus

stands there.

And it

says

that they

mock

Jesus.

ironically,

they went

and got

the clothes

of a

king,

and they

put him

on the

king.

And then

he sends

him back

to Pilate.

Verse 13,

Pilate

then called

together the

chief priests

and rulers

and the

people

and said

to them,

you brought

me this

man as

one who

was misleading

the people.

And after

examining him

before you,

behold,

I did not

find this

man guilty

of any

of your

charges

against

him.

Innocent.

Neither

did Herod

for he sent

him back

to us

innocent.

Look,

nothing

deserving

death

has been

done by

him.

Innocent.

Verse 16,

I will

therefore

punish

him

and

release

him.

Pilate

calls

everybody

back

together.

He gets

all the

crazies

and their

cousins.

come on

around.

Nothing

this

man

has

done

points

to his

guilt.

but to

appease

the

crowd.

appease

the

masses.

I'll

punish

him.

Now,

this isn't

there's a

fine that

you'll

pay.

His plan

is to

beat him.

And the

Romans

were

excellent

at this.

Romans

understood

the

body

and

the

composition

the

body.

They

knew

what

level

degree

the

human

body

could

take

torment

and

torture.

And when

they

punished,

they would

bring you

to the

point

death

and then

stop.

And then

they'd

nurture you

back to

health

so that

they could

do it

over

again.

And this

is what

he promises.

But it's

not good

enough.

Verse 18,

But they

all cried

out

together

away with

this man

and released

to us

Barabbas.

A man

who has

been thrown

into prison

for an

insurrection

started in

the city

and for

murder.

Pilate

addressed

him once

more desiring

to release

Jesus.

A pagan,

an idol

worshiper

is standing

before

the people

who claim

to be

the people

of God.

And he

desires

to release

the Messiah

that they've

longed for.

But they

kept shouting,

crucify,

crucify him.

A third

time,

he said

to them,

why?

What evil

has he

done?

I found

in him

no guilt

deserving

death.

I will

therefore

punish

and release

him.

But they

were urgent,

demanding

with loud

cries that

he should

be crucified

and their

voices

prevailed.

So Pilate

decided that

on their

demand

should be

granted.

He released

the man

who had

been thrown

into prison

for insurrection

and murder

for whom

they asked,

but he

delivered

Jesus

over

to their

will.

The most

horrific

moment

of the

night.

The crowd

says,

kill Jesus,

give us

Barabbas.

Now we don't

know much

about Barabbas,

but here's what

we do know

from Scripture,

just from what

we just read.

They accused

Jesus of starting

insurrections.

Barabbas

started insurrections.

But in this,

Barabbas had

murdered

individuals.

We would

think of him,

we would

think of him

in today's

setting,

Barabbas,

as a terrorist.

It was his

responsibility

of what he

had taken

on himself

to undermine,

to work

through fear,

through chaos,

through panic,

through taking

of life.

And this is

what this man

does.

these four

trials.

We see

injustice

in our

world today.

Injustice

has been

a theme

of humanity

since the

fall in the

garden.

There's

never been

a greater

injustice

than on

this night.

Jesus

before the

Sanhedrin,

Jesus

before Pilate,

Jesus

before

Herod,

Jesus

back

before

Pilate.

Hollywood

could not

create a

greater story

of injustice

than the

one we

just

witnessed.

What is

Jesus

guilty

of?

Nothing.

You see,

it's not just

that Jesus

isn't guilty

of the

charges.

Jesus

isn't guilty

of anything.

There's

no one

point in

time

in the

men in

the Sanhedrin

who want

to uphold

the law

of God

that Jesus

has violated

it.

Completely

and perfectly

innocent.

traded

for a

man

declared

guilty

by the

courts.

How could

this happen?

Why could

this happen?

What's God

teaching us

in this

story?

I want to

ask you

four questions

this morning

to think

about as

we go

in,

not just

to the

Easter

season,

but as

we look

at these

trials of

Jesus.

Four

questions

for you

and I

to examine

in the

harsh

reality

of the

truth

that is

here.

Question

number

one.

Does

your

practice

religion

inhibit

your

following

Jesus?

Now,

the trial

that we

begin,

remember

the charges

of what's

there are

before

Jewish

authorities.

They're

religious

trials,

is what we

see at

the very

beginning.

And they

show to

the degree

what these

religious

leaders

hated him

because they

carelessly

disregarded

their own

laws.

These men

are so proud

of knowing

the law,

of fulfilling

the law,

that they're

willing to

abandon

what they

believe that

God's

word has

called

them to.

You see,

several

illegal

activities

that

happened

in the

course

this.

Number

one,

no trial

was to

be held

during the

time of

the feast.

It's

Passover

season,

law number

one broken.

Number

two,

each member

of the

court

was to

vote

individually

to convict

acquit,

but Jesus

was

convicted

by the

mob.

Number

three,

if the

death

penalty

was

given,

and this

is what

they're

fighting

for,

if the

death

penalty

was

given,

a night

must

pass

before

the sentence

was

carried

out.

However,

only a

few

hours

would

pass

between

the

time

that

Jesus

was

convicted

and

placed

the

cross.

Number

four,

they had

authority

execute

anyone,

but it's

what they're

fighting

for.

trial,

number

five,

no trial

was to

be held

at night,

but this

trial was

held before

dawn.

Number

six,

the accused

was to

be given

counsel,

and Jesus

was given

none.

Number

seven,

the accused

was not

to be

asked

self-incriminating

questions,

but Jesus

was asked

these questions

over and

over again.

Why?

Because

these men

were so

in love

with their

self-righteous

image of

themselves

that it

bypassed

the truth

of God's

word and

their desperate

need for the

Messiah that

they longed

to be

crucified.

When our

hearts

pursue

self-righteous

religion

of our

goodness

and our

glory,

we become

our own

standard of

holiness.

For the

Sanhedrin,

they had

become

their own

God

standing

on their

perversion

of truth

without the

markings

of humility

and love

shown and

displayed to

them in this

moment by

Jesus.

my caution

for us,

my caution

for you

is that

in your

pursuit

of religion

to make

yourself

right,

to do

good,

to make

sure that

you find

yourself

appealing

and

pleasing

to God

that

you

don't

miss

the

Savior

who's

standing

before you.

There are

men

and women

who fill

churches

all over

this world

where Christ

is proclaimed

but who

find

their

confidence

in the

religion

of man

instead of

the Savior

of the

world.

Number two,

number two,

do you

believe Jesus?

Do you

believe Jesus?

Now there's

a more

common

question

that we

ask.

That question

is do you

believe in

Jesus?

But I'm

asking a

different

question

this

morning.

Do you

believe

Jesus?

Do you

believe

Jesus?

You see

the trials

of what

they're

having

is not

do you

believe

in this

guy?

The

question

is not

do you

believe

Jesus?

The

question

that's

on trial

is do

you

believe

Jesus?

you

believe

what

said?

you

believe

what

he's

taught?

you

believe

what

he's

testified?

What

trial

not

Jesus

existence

what's

trial

what

did

Jesus

say?

And

you

believe

him?

find

that

many

times

within

here

within

people

who

profess

Christ

their

Lord

and

Savior

they

believe

Jesus

but

you

believe

Jesus?

you

believe

the

commands

that

he's

called

the

life

that

he's

called

the

submission

that

he calls

they

ask

him

did

you

say

you're

the

Christ

did

you

say

you're

the

king

did

you

say

you're

the

son

God

the

question

that

they're

asking

you

believe

Jesus

and

what

does

respond

with

you

say

that

implying

that

have

that

did

the

question

for

this

morning

think

complicated

for

many

than

you

believe

Jesus

the

demons

believe

Jesus

Satan

believes

Jesus

you

believe

Jesus

great

there's

historical

evidence

Jesus

than

George

Washington

I'm

glad

that

believe

Jesus

but

you

believe

Jesus

you

believe

his

very

words

you

believe

what

he's

taught

you

believe

what

he's

called

you

believe

what

he's

commanded

because

Jesus

says

some

crazy

things

Jesus

says

that

he's

been

authorized

forgive

sin

but

that

him

and

him

alone

but

that

can

forgive

your

sin

and

can

forgive

sin

and

that's

really

important

because

the

forgiveness

sin

what

makes

relationship

with

God

possible

you

believe

him

because

you

believe

him

and

what

said

and

his

ability

forgive

sin

you'll

also

know

that

Jesus

then

calls

those

who

have

been

forgiven

our

sin

forgive

others

who

have

sinned

against

the

way

that

has

forgiven

you

believe

him

you

believe

that

has

power

over

Satan

Jesus

tells

has

power

over

Satan

that

this

means

that

the

craziness

this

world

that

this

world

his

hand

that

the

victor

and

that

we're

called

live

victory

that

not

live

defeated

people

that

not

live

defeated

because

our

circumstances

because

this

world

and

those

around

that

Jesus

has

executed

will

continue

execute

power

over

Satan

and

that

this

world

our

hands

that

means

this

world

begin

feel

spinning

out

chaos

and

out

control

that

it's

not

that

it's

the

hand

God

because

it's

the

hand

Christ

you

believe

Jesus

because

Jesus

says

that

he's

the

only

way

God

Jesus

God

himself

says

that

there's

only

one

way

God

and

that

through

him

he's

the

only

way

means

anything

else

that

you

try

add

that

you

try

help

that

you

try

justify

impede

you

from

God

isn't

believe

God

and

I'm

good

person

just

doesn't

work

that

way

it's

I've

submitted

put my

faith

and hope

Jesus

Christ

as my

Lord

and

Savior

and

that

Jesus

demands

our

do you

believe

Jesus

not

just

what

you're

ready

for

and

what

I'm

ready

for

willing

for

but

that

all

areas

life

demands

our

obedience

and

that's

why

order

his

disciple

says

that

must

take

our

cross

and

him

says

that

you

must

die

yourself

daily

says

that

just

don't

give

God

some

what

have

but

that

all

that

have

his

and

give

all

him

when

asks

says

that

other

relationship

important

even

compares

the

scale

with

our

relationship

with

him

says

that

his

grace

displayed

that

continuing

work

through

the

power

the

Holy

Spirit

draw

obedience

and

that

his

grace

displayed

and

this

progressive

and

happens

over

time

grow

and

walk

relationship

with

him

you

believe

Jesus

can't

just

believe

Jesus

and

hope

gets

there

believe

the

very

word

God

what

comes

out

his

mouth

with

who

says

and

what

calls

the

third

question

who

you

choose

who

chose

Barabbas

who

you

choose

one

the

interesting

ways

that

was

taught

how

read

Bible

was

when

I'm

reading

for

devotion

time

for

quiet

time

and

I'm

reading

through

the

different

stories

the

different

letters

what's

over

there

it's

kind

define

the

person

the

situation

the

instance

the

story

that

can

identify

with

this

part

that

speaks

can

see

myself

this

it's

been

interesting

way

read

through

God's

word

and

when

read

this

think

the

question

that

for

who

you

identify

with

and

surface

level

with

the

crowd

and

sitting

here

today

that's

pretty

easy

answer

right

Barabbas

Jesus

which

one

you

want

well

I'm

the

crowd

want

Jesus

but

don't

think

we're

supposed

see

ourself

the

crowd

think

when

begin

understand

what

happening

after

this

mockery

of a

trial

over

that

the

choice

isn't

that

see

ourself

the

crowd

think

what

see

ourself

Barabbas

you

see

Barabbas

you

Barabbas

but

before

the

standard

God

guilty

Jesus

innocent

Barabbas

had a

penalty

that

was

just

for

the

wages

sin

death

guilty

but

Jesus

had an

unjust

penalty

Barabbas

went

free

Jesus

went

the

cross

Barabbas

literally

did

nothing

did

nothing

deserve

this

outcome

life

but

Jesus

paid

the

price

2nd

Corinthians

Paul

says

this

for

our

sake

for

our

sake

made

him

sin

who

knew

sin

that

him

might

become

the

righteousness

God

made

him

take

the

penalty

Barabbas

and

that

him

might

become

the

righteousness

God

want

you

imagine

for

moment

that

you

are

Barabbas

and

you're

sitting

that

cell

your

trial

has

happened

whether

you

think

you

should

killed

not

you

know

that

everything

that

they

said

about

you

true

and

what

you're

awaiting

your

execution

and

then

you

hear

from

outside

crucify

him

crucify

him

crucify

him

and

then

you

hear

the

door

open

and

you

begin

think

it's

time

begin

put

yourself

gotta

walk

gotta

move

you

understand

what's

about

happen

you

understand

what's

about

take

place

and

Roman

soldier

comes

and

grabs

you

and

you

walk

out

you

set

free

and

you

look

over

and

they're

leading

a man

your

prison

cell

that's

what

Jesus

did

for

you

that's

what

Jesus

did

for

one

last

question

why

didn't

Jesus

stop

this

why

did

this

great

injustice

take

place

could

have

performed

miracle

could

have

called

angels

could

have

taught

scripture

could

have

proved

himself

but

just

stood

there

just

stood

there

why

because

this

because

God's

wrath

has to

satisfied

and for

your sin

and my

sin

a penalty

must

paid

and

Jesus

says

I'll

take

I'll

take

his

body

will be

tortured

his

body

will be

nailed

to a

cross

and hung

there to

die

he'll be

shoved

with a

crown of

thorns

on his

head

he'll be

beaten to

the point

of death

he will

be stripped

of his

clothing

he'll be

mocked

and he'll

belittled

to pay

the penalty

and the

price that

you and

I deserve

the bread

and the

body of

Christ

his blood

will be

spilled

but what's

dirty

and morbid

about that

event that

will take

place on

the cross

but that

through the

very blood

of Christ

a new

covenant

will be

made

that this

blood

actually makes

us clean

that it

washes away

our sin

and just

as Paul

taught

in 2nd

Corinthians

that a

great

exchange

takes

place

that

Christ

takes

our

sin

and he

gives us

his

righteousness

so that

when God

looks at

and what

God

looks at

you

Jesus

it's

a story

you've

heard

before

it's

a story

that you've

heard

time and

time again

but as

Jesus

stood there

silently

may we

never

forget

that there

was a

bunch of

Barabbases

and

because

was led

to his

crucifixion

for all

who put

their faith

their hope

and their

trust in

him

we've

been

set

free

in just a

moment

we'll go

into a

time of

response

our

prayer

encourages

to be

on either

side of

our

auditorium

I pray

that you

during this

time

begin to

examine

your

heart

are you

the

Sanhedrin

standing

before your

religious works

and your

religious acts

are you

the crowd

choosing

anything

and

everything

over

Jesus

are you

Barabbas

someone who

needs to put

their faith

their hope

and their

trust in

him

or are you

the new

the righteousness

of God

who has

whatever

decision that

you have

today

I pray

for you

today

that you

would find

your

savior

in Jesus

that you

would see

the beauty

of what

he's done

in the

horrific events

that will

take place

so that you

and I

may find

life

and life

everlasting

would you

use this

time of

reflection

to examine

your heart

and your

preparedness

to take

the Lord's

supper

if you

need

begin

relationship

with

Christ

may

you

profess

him

Lord

and

Savior

admitting

that

you're

sinner

believing

not just

Jesus

but

believing

Jesus

of what

he did

of what

he said

and what

he promises

to do

confessing

him

as Lord

and Savior

of your

life

would you

pray with

God I

thank you

that this

injustice

took place

because what

would it

have looked

if Jesus

walked

away

but instead

he walked

to the

cross

to take

on the

penalty

that I

that we

deserve

God may

we use

this time

of worship

and reflection

of you

thanking you

that you

move us

through the

work of

Christ

from

enemies

from

objects

wrath

into

sons and

daughters

of the

living

God

that you

take

what was

dirty

what was

dead

what was

repulsive

what was

sinful

and you

make it

good

and clean

and new

and alive

again

God may

the story

that unfolds

before us

not be

another story

that we've

heard time

and time

again

but may

it be

the life

changing

story

of freedom

that comes

in Christ

and Christ

alone

where he

did

not just

what we

weren't

willing to

but what

we were

incapable

of doing

as he

died on

the cross

for the

forgiveness

of sins

for all

who put

their faith

and hope

in him

and God

we thank you

for the end

of the story

we thank you

for that first

Easter morning

that today

just as it

was then

that the tomb

is empty

that life

is possible

that joy

is real

and that we

have a hope

for a future

and for our

eternity

with you

made possible

through Christ

and Christ

alone

what if there's

anyone here

who does not

know Jesus

Christ as

their Lord

and Savior

my prayer

is that

today

they will

put their

faith

their hope

and their

trust

in him

and God

for those

of us

who have

may we

worship you

as forgiven

redeemed

liberated

alive sons

and daughters

of God

and it's in

Jesus name

we pray

amen

that's it

for this

week's

message

be sure

to check

back next

week for a

new episode

and in the

meantime

you can

visit us

online at

willowridgechurch.org

or by searching

for Willow Ridge

Church on

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and YouTube

thanks again

for listening

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