Innocent or Guilty

March 24, 2024

Scripture referenced 21 passages

The passage this message was preached from, in full, with every other passage it reached for.

Matthew 26:57-68 Jesus led to Caiaphas, false testimony sought, high priest questions him about being the Christ

57 Those who had taken Jesus led him away to Caiaphas the high priest, where the scribes and the elders were gathered together.
58 But Peter followed him from a distance, to the court of the high priest, and entered in and sat with the officers, to see the end.
59 Now the chief priests, the elders, and the whole council sought false testimony against Jesus, that they might put him to death;
60 and they found none. Even though many false witnesses came forward, they found none. But at last two false witnesses came forward,
61 and said, “This man said, ‘I am able to destroy the temple of God, and to build it in three days.’”
62 The high priest stood up, and said to him, “Have you no answer? What is this that these testify against you?”
63 But Jesus held his peace. The high priest answered him, “I adjure you by the living God, that you tell us whether you are the Christ, the Son of God.”
64 Jesus said to him, “You have said it. Nevertheless, I tell you, after this you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of Power, and coming on the clouds of the sky.”
65 Then the high priest tore his clothing, saying, “He has spoken blasphemy! Why do we need any more witnesses? Behold, now you have heard his blasphemy.
66 What do you think?” They answered, “He is worthy of death!”
67 Then they spat in his face and beat him with their fists, and some slapped him,
68 saying, “Prophesy to us, you Christ! Who hit you?”

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Matthew 26:69-75

Peter's three denials in the courtyard, rooster crows

69 Now Peter was sitting outside in the court, and a maid came to him, saying, “You were also with Jesus, the Galilean!”

70 But he denied it before them all, saying, “I don’t know what you are talking about.”

71 When he had gone out onto the porch, someone else saw him, and said to those who were there, “This man also was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

72 Again he denied it with an oath, “I don’t know the man.”

73 After a little while those who stood by came and said to Peter, “Surely you are also one of them, for your speech makes you known.”

74 Then he began to curse and to swear, “I don’t know the man!” Immediately the rooster crowed.

75 Peter remembered the word which Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times.” He went out and wept bitterly.

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Matthew 27:1-2

chief priests and elders confer to put Jesus to death and hand him to Pilate

1 Now when morning had come, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death:

2 and they bound him, and led him away, and delivered him up to Pontius Pilate, the governor.

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Matthew 27:3-4

Judas returns the thirty pieces of silver declaring he betrayed innocent blood

3 Then Judas, who betrayed him, when he saw that Jesus was condemned, felt remorse, and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and elders,

4 saying, “I have sinned in that I betrayed innocent blood.” But they said, “What is that to us? You see to it.”

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Matthew 27:15-19

Pilate offers to release Barabbas or Jesus at Passover feast, his wife warns him about the righteous man

15 Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release to the multitude one prisoner, whom they desired.

16 They had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas.

17 When therefore they were gathered together, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus, who is called Christ?”

18 For he knew that because of envy they had delivered him up.

19 While he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent to him, saying, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered many things today in a dream because of him.”

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John 18:28-38

Jesus brought to Praetorium, Pilate questions him about his kingdom and truth, declares no grounds for charges

28 They led Jesus therefore from Caiaphas into the Praetorium. It was early, and they themselves didn’t enter into the Praetorium, that they might not be defiled, but might eat the Passover.

29 Pilate therefore went out to them, and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?”

30 They answered him, “If this man weren’t an evildoer, we wouldn’t have delivered him up to you.”

31 Pilate therefore said to them, “Take him yourselves, and judge him according to your law.” Therefore the Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death,”

32 that the word of Jesus might be fulfilled, which he spoke, signifying by what kind of death he should die.

33 Pilate therefore entered again into the Praetorium, called Jesus, and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?”

34 Jesus answered him, “Do you say this by yourself, or did others tell you about me?”

35 Pilate answered, “I’m not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priests delivered you to me. What have you done?”

36 Jesus answered, “My Kingdom is not of this world. If my Kingdom were of this world, then my servants would fight, that I wouldn’t be delivered to the Jews. But now my Kingdom is not from here.”

37 Pilate therefore said to him, “Are you a king then?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this reason I have been born, and for this reason I have come into the world, that I should testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.”

38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” When he had said this, he went out again to the Jews, and said to them, “I find no basis for a charge against him.

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Luke 23:6-12

Pilate sends Jesus to Herod Antipas, who mocks him and sends him back without judgment

6 But when Pilate heard Galilee mentioned, he asked if the man was a Galilean.

7 When he found out that he was in Herod’s jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod, who was also in Jerusalem during those days.

8 Now when Herod saw Jesus, he was exceedingly glad, for he had wanted to see him for a long time, because he had heard many things about him. He hoped to see some miracle done by him.

9 He questioned him with many words, but he gave no answers.

10 The chief priests and the scribes stood, vehemently accusing him.

11 Herod with his soldiers humiliated him and mocked him. Dressing him in luxurious clothing, they sent him back to Pilate.

12 Herod and Pilate became friends with each other that very day, for before that they were enemies with each other.

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Luke 23:13-25

Pilate declares no basis for charges a third time, crowd demands Barabbas, Pilate hands Jesus over

13 Pilate called together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people,

14 and said to them, “You brought this man to me as one that perverts the people, and behold, having examined him before you, I found no basis for a charge against this man concerning those things of which you accuse him.

15 Neither has Herod, for I sent you to him, and see, nothing worthy of death has been done by him.

16 I will therefore chastise him and release him.”

17 Now he had to release one prisoner to them at the feast.

18 But they all cried out together, saying, “Away with this man! Release to us Barabbas!”—

19 one who was thrown into prison for a certain revolt in the city, and for murder.

20 Then Pilate spoke to them again, wanting to release Jesus,

21 but they shouted, saying, “Crucify! Crucify him!”

22 He said to them the third time, “Why? What evil has this man done? I have found no capital crime in him. I will therefore chastise him and release him.”

23 But they were urgent with loud voices, asking that he might be crucified. Their voices and the voices of the chief priests prevailed.

24 Pilate decreed that what they asked for should be done.

25 He released him who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked, but he delivered Jesus up to their will.

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John 19:1-12

flogging, crown of thorns, Pilate again finds no grounds, Jews threaten him with Caesar

1 So Pilate then took Jesus, and flogged him.

2 The soldiers twisted thorns into a crown, and put it on his head, and dressed him in a purple garment.

3 They kept saying, “Hail, King of the Jews!” and they kept slapping him.

4 Then Pilate went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I bring him out to you, that you may know that I find no basis for a charge against him.”

5 Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the man!”

6 When therefore the chief priests and the officers saw him, they shouted, saying, “Crucify! Crucify!” Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves, and crucify him, for I find no basis for a charge against him.”

7 The Jews answered him, “We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God.”

8 When therefore Pilate heard this saying, he was more afraid.

9 He entered into the Praetorium again, and said to Jesus, “Where are you from?” But Jesus gave him no answer.

10 Pilate therefore said to him, “Aren’t you speaking to me? Don’t you know that I have power to release you, and have power to crucify you?”

11 Jesus answered, “You would have no power at all against me, unless it were given to you from above. Therefore he who delivered me to you has greater sin.”

12 At this, Pilate was seeking to release him, but the Jews cried out, saying, “If you release this man, you aren’t Caesar’s friend! Everyone who makes himself a king speaks against Caesar!”

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John 19:4-6

Pilate brings Jesus out wearing crown of thorns, says behold the man, declares no grounds for charges

4 Then Pilate went out again, and said to them, “Behold, I bring him out to you, that you may know that I find no basis for a charge against him.”

5 Jesus therefore came out, wearing the crown of thorns and the purple garment. Pilate said to them, “Behold, the man!”

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Luke 23:32-43

two criminals led out with Jesus, penitent thief declares Jesus has done nothing wrong and asks to be remembered

32 There were also others, two criminals, led with him to be put to death.

33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified him there with the criminals, one on the right and the other on the left.

34 Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” Dividing his garments among them, they cast lots.

35 The people stood watching. The rulers with them also scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others. Let him save himself, if this is the Christ of God, his chosen one!”

36 The soldiers also mocked him, coming to him and offering him vinegar,

37 and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!”

38 An inscription was also written over him in letters of Greek, Latin, and Hebrew: “THIS IS THE KING OF THE JEWS.”

39 One of the criminals who was hanged insulted him, saying, “If you are the Christ, save yourself and us!”

40 But the other answered, and rebuking him said, “Don’t you even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation?

41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong.”

42 He said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when you come into your Kingdom.”

43 Jesus said to him, “Assuredly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.”

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Luke 23:44-49

darkness, veil torn, Jesus entrusts his spirit to the Father, centurion declares the man was innocent

44 It was now about the sixth hour, and darkness came over the whole land until the ninth hour.

45 The sun was darkened, and the veil of the temple was torn in two.

46 Jesus, crying with a loud voice, said, “Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!” Having said this, he breathed his last.

47 When the centurion saw what was done, he glorified God, saying, “Certainly this was a righteous man.”

48 All the multitudes that came together to see this, when they saw the things that were done, returned home beating their breasts.

49 All his acquaintances, and the women who followed with him from Galilee, stood at a distance, watching these things.

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Mark 15:39

centurion calls Jesus the Son of God

39 When the centurion, who stood by opposite him, saw that he cried out like this and breathed his last, he said, “Truly this man was the Son of God!”

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Psalm 14

quoted via Romans 3 that there is no righteous person, not even one

1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt. They have done abominable deeds. There is no one who does good.

2 Yahweh looked down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there were any who understood, who sought after God.

3 They have all gone aside. They have together become corrupt. There is no one who does good, no, not one.

4 Have all the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and don’t call on Yahweh?

5 There they were in great fear, for God is in the generation of the righteous.

6 You frustrate the plan of the poor, because Yahweh is his refuge.

7 Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When Yahweh restores the fortunes of his people, then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

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Psalm 53

noted as identical to Psalm 14, quoted via Romans 3

1 The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, and have done abominable iniquity. There is no one who does good.

2 God looks down from heaven on the children of men, to see if there are any who understood, who seek after God.

3 Every one of them has gone back. They have become filthy together. There is no one who does good, no, not one.

4 Have the workers of iniquity no knowledge, who eat up my people as they eat bread, and don’t call on God?

5 There they were in great fear, where no fear was, for God has scattered the bones of him who encamps against you. You have put them to shame, because God has rejected them.

6 Oh that the salvation of Israel would come out of Zion! When God brings back his people from captivity, then Jacob shall rejoice, and Israel shall be glad.

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Psalm 5

venom of asps under their lips, quoted via Romans 3

1 Give ear to my words, Yahweh. Consider my meditation.

2 Listen to the voice of my cry, my King and my God; for to you do I pray.

3 Yahweh, in the morning you shall hear my voice. In the morning I will lay my requests before you, and will watch expectantly.

4 For you are not a God who has pleasure in wickedness. Evil can’t live with you.

5 The arrogant shall not stand in your sight. You hate all workers of iniquity.

6 You will destroy those who speak lies. Yahweh abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.

7 But as for me, in the abundance of your loving kindness I will come into your house. I will bow toward your holy temple in reverence of you.

8 Lead me, Yahweh, in your righteousness because of my enemies. Make your way straight before my face.

9 For there is no faithfulness in their mouth. Their heart is destruction. Their throat is an open tomb. They flatter with their tongue.

10 Hold them guilty, God. Let them fall by their own counsels; Thrust them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against you.

11 But let all those who take refuge in you rejoice, Let them always shout for joy, because you defend them. Let them also who love your name be joyful in you.

12 For you will bless the righteous. Yahweh, you will surround him with favor as with a shield.

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Psalm 59

feet swift to shed blood, destruction and misery in their path, quoted via Romans 3

1 Deliver me from my enemies, my God. Set me on high from those who rise up against me.

2 Deliver me from the workers of iniquity. Save me from the bloodthirsty men.

3 For, behold, they lie in wait for my soul. The mighty gather themselves together against me, not for my disobedience, nor for my sin, Yahweh.

4 I have done no wrong, yet they are ready to attack me. Rise up, behold, and help me!

5 You, Yahweh God of Armies, the God of Israel, rouse yourself to punish the nations. Show no mercy to the wicked traitors. Selah.

6 They return at evening, howling like dogs, and prowl around the city.

7 Behold, they spew with their mouth. Swords are in their lips, “For”, they say, “who hears us?”

8 But you, Yahweh, laugh at them. You scoff at all the nations.

9 Oh, my Strength, I watch for you, for God is my high tower.

10 My God will go before me with his loving kindness. God will let me look at my enemies in triumph.

11 Don’t kill them, or my people may forget. Scatter them by your power, and bring them down, Lord our shield.

12 For the sin of their mouth, and the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride, for the curses and lies which they utter.

13 Consume them in wrath. Consume them, and they will be no more. Let them know that God rules in Jacob, to the ends of the earth. Selah.

14 At evening let them return. Let them howl like a dog, and go around the city.

15 They shall wander up and down for food, and wait all night if they aren’t satisfied.

16 But I will sing of your strength. Yes, I will sing aloud of your loving kindness in the morning. For you have been my high tower, a refuge in the day of my distress.

17 To you, my strength, I will sing praises. For God is my high tower, the God of my mercy.

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Romans 3:10-18

extended quotation that no one is righteous and all are accountable to God

10 As it is written, “There is no one righteous; no, not one.

11 There is no one who understands. There is no one who seeks after God.

12 They have all turned away. They have together become unprofitable. There is no one who does good, no, not so much as one.”

13 “Their throat is an open tomb. With their tongues they have used deceit.” “The poison of vipers is under their lips”;

14 “whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.”

15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood.

16 Destruction and misery are in their ways.

17 The way of peace, they haven’t known.”

18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.”

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Romans 3:21-26

righteousness of God revealed through faith in Christ, propitiation in his blood, God the justifier of those who believe

21 But now apart from the law, a righteousness of God has been revealed, being testified by the law and the prophets;

22 even the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ to all and on all those who believe. For there is no distinction,

23 for all have sinned, and fall short of the glory of God;

24 being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus;

25 whom God sent to be an atoning sacrifice, through faith in his blood, for a demonstration of his righteousness through the passing over of prior sins, in God’s forbearance;

26 to demonstrate his righteousness at this present time; that he might himself be just, and the justifier of him who has faith in Jesus.

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1 John 1:8-10

if we say we have no sin we deceive ourselves; if we confess sins he is faithful to forgive and cleanse

8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.

9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and righteous to forgive us the sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.

10 If we say that we haven’t sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us.

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John 3:16

whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life

16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish, but have eternal life.

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Recap

The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.

On Palm Sunday, Pastor Nathan walked through the trials and crucifixion of Jesus by tracking a single thread: declaration after declaration that Jesus was innocent. He asked the congregation to sit with that fact before turning it around and asking the harder question, which is whether we ourselves can say the same.

What was said

The sermon opened with a question that had struck Pastor Nathan while reviewing the harmony of the gospels: how many times does someone have to be declared innocent before you let him go? The answer he found was eight times, and they still crucified him. That number, and the refusal to honor it, became the backbone of the whole message.

Moving through the passion narrative gospel by gospel, he traced each declaration of innocence in order. Judas, the man who arranged the arrest, returned the thirty pieces of silver and said he had betrayed innocent blood. That made the betrayer himself the first witness for the defense.

Pilate said it repeatedly. He said it before sending Jesus to Herod, he said it after Herod sent Jesus back, and he said it again from the judgment seat after the flogging. His wife sent word that she had suffered in a dream over "that righteous man" and that Pilate should have nothing to do with him. Even so, Pilate handed Jesus over to avoid a riot and protect his standing with Rome.

The final declaration came from the cross itself. One of the two criminals crucified alongside Jesus rebuked the other and said plainly that they were receiving what their crimes deserved, but that this man had done nothing wrong. He asked Jesus to remember him, and Jesus answered that they would be together in paradise that very day. Pastor Nathan pointed out that what moved Jesus to that answer was the man's honest reckoning with his own guilt and his recognition of Jesus as king.

After the death, the Roman centurion who had overseen the execution began praising God and called Jesus innocent. Mark adds that he named him the son of God. Pastor Nathan noted that centurions consistently appear in the New Testament as people who see clearly, and this one was no different.

With innocence established, the sermon turned. Pastor Nathan moved into Romans 3, Psalms 14 and 53, and First John to make the case that the innocence Jesus held is not something any of us can claim for ourselves. The law closes every mouth. All have sinned and fall short. If we say we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves.

The closing point was that the gap between Jesus' innocence and our guilt is exactly where the gospel lives. He was justified by no one because he needed no justification. We are justified as a gift, through the redemption in Christ Jesus, because he took a punishment he did not deserve. The penitent criminal on the cross is the picture of it: recognizing his own guilt, recognizing Jesus' innocence, and receiving the promise of paradise.

Doing a Bible study?

Here is a guide we have prepared for you: the passages in order, questions for the group, and room to write.

The pastor walked through eight declarations of Jesus' innocence, from Judas all the way to the Roman centurion. Which one of those struck you most, and why do you think that particular voice carries weight?
Pilate said 'I find no grounds at all for charges in his case' and then had Jesus flogged anyway. What does that tell us about what fear and political pressure can do to a person's conscience?

and 3 more questions in the guide

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Speaker 1Good morning. Here we go. Let's try that again. Can you hear me now? Yeah.

Alright. Good morning. Would you stand with me? I know this sound this is a little odd for the nine for me to be here by myself. But Carl has already started spring break and it looks like a lot of other folks have started spring break.

We're going to sing loud, fill the room with music. If you don't know, this is this will look more like the second service normally looks right here. So glory to his name. Happy Palm Sunday.

Speaker 2From sin I cried. There to my heart was the blood applied. Glory to his name. Glory to Glory to his his name. Name.

There to my heart was the blood of life. Glory to his name. I am so wondrously saved from sin. Jesus so sweetly abides within. There at the cross where he took me in.

Glory to his name.

Speaker 1Amen. It sounds like y'all might know that one. Yeah. Amazing Grace. You probably know this one.

If you don't know, there's a there's a hymnal up here. You can no, I'm just kidding. Amazing grace.

Speaker 2Amazing grace. How sweet the sound

Speaker 1Amen. Amen. Y'all can have a seat. I have a few announcements this morning. A super exciting happy happy budget shop.

Budget workshop. Super super exciting. Happy happy good times budgeting work shop. I'm gonna get that one day. It's free.

It's here at the church, April sixteenth, twenty third, and thirtieth. Nick Stern, Jeremy Leiper, and Richard Yule are going to be helping out with this. If you wanna come in and bring receipts and bills and laptop and everything that you have to to get your budget together, you're welcome to come on in. It'll help getting out of debt. It'll help saving for retirement and just keeping it chill.

So that's happening. Yeah. Nick. Childcare. And childcare is going to be provided.

That's good. We have a nursery worker. I just saw two more people that needed to work on their budget. That's good. Easter egg decorating is happening March 26, Tuesday, March 26 at 10:30 in the morning.

That's at Shepherd of the Mountains Lutheran Church. So that is happening. Tuesday, March 26, 10:30. Awana is not happening. I wanna see you at Awana, but it's not happening during spring break.

So it's not tomorrow night nor the next Monday, but it will happen when school starts back. We are still in need of volunteers, but the sign up sheets are on the wall down in the fellowship hall. If you want any more information, you can contact Addy Hair and that's her number. There is a I don't know if we're suspending that. Can I see anybody?

Can I get a second on this one? There's a men's study on Thursdays at 11:55 and you get here, you're by yourself. You can study by yourself. How about that? It's kind of come and go as you need to anyway, but that has been a really good study.

I think that it suspended for spring break, I'm not positive about that. Men's alliance will happen on April 10, April 10, Wednesday, April 10. That's not the first Wednesday, but because the first Wednesday falls within spring break, it's gonna be April 10. And then Joel Landis is here somewhere. Do I see Joel?

He is here somewhere. Maybe still downstairs with the missions committee. Hopefully, Joel Landis will be here at some point. He's a missionary. What he's asking for without you seeing him?

There he is. Here we go. Sorry, Joel. I can yell. You can yell, but it's not gonna go to anybody.

Alright. There we go. Thank you, man. Sorry.

Speaker 3I was talking to Grant, so it was his fault. So my name is Joel Landis. My dad is cousins with Steve Landis. So that's the connection there. So second cousins with Kristen and Grant.

So what God is doing around the world is pretty exciting. And so I get to be sent to South Asia in October. And my job description is a missionary explorer. And so I'll be going with the international mission board. And what I'll be doing is hiking into real remote regions of South Asia to engage people who not only have have no gospel witness within their people group, but no one's even trying to reach them.

So of the 12,000 people groups that are on the planet today, 3,000 of them are unreached and unengaged, meaning nobody's even trying to reach them. So what the IMB is wanting to do is send 300 people out to go research 10 of them. So, I'll be going living out of a backpack for a couple years into the mountains of South Asia and trying to reach these people that that that you've never heard of because we just don't know much about them. So I'll be tracking down information about their linguistics. Are they literate?

Can they read and write? What's their cultural customs? Is there a gospel witness there that we didn't know about and now we do? Are they in one geographic location, or are they nomadic? This is the kind of information that's helpful to then bring back to the organization so that the western missionaries and the local partners can sit down and go, okay, here's the information.

Here's the four one one on these people groups. Here's how we can then more effectively engage them and send missionaries long term in. So, I'm not the long term guy. I'm more like, let's let's get in for a couple years. We'll research as much as we can.

We'll bring that information back so that we can engage people with the gospel. So, if you have any more questions or information, Steve Landis is the contact person. Thank you so much for praying for me, and I will be praying for you. Yes. Praise the Lord.

So the INB is very generous to their missionaries. So please pray. Let's storm the gates of hell together. Yeah.

Speaker 1Thank you. Appreciate it. Yes. Thank you. God, I thank you for Joel and for his exploration of this area.

I pray that it would be a fruitful time and I pray lord that you would help him through all of the ups and downs of initial ministry in a in an unknown place with an unknown people. Lord, I pray that you would that you would go before him and that he would have all kinds of bridges, hermeneutical bridges to cross with these people. I pray that you would make the way straight before him in Jesus name. Amen. Amen.

Thank you. Thank you. Absolutely. If you didn't hear from the back, he's with the INB. That's the International Mission Board.

Fully supported. He's asking for us to pray. So that's what we're gonna do. Also, how many of you all heard this next song? Clap your hands all you people that you know.

Okay. There are three people from the South. Alright. I'm about to teach y'all a song. Okay?

So it starts. It's clap your hands all you people. So there are two slides that'll come up.

Speaker 2Preston, can go. Clap your hands all you people. Shout unto God with the voice of triumph. Clap your hands all you people. Shout unto God with a voice of praise.

Hosanna. Hosanna. Shout unto God with a voice of triumph. Praise him. Praise him.

Shout unto God with a voice of praise. Clap your hands. All ye people shout unto God with a voice of triumph. Clap your hands. All ye people shouting to God with a voice of praise.

Hosanna. Hosanna. Shouting to God with a voice of triumph. Praise him. Praise him.

Shouting to God with a voice of praise. Clap your hands. All ye people shout him to God with a voice of triumph. Clap your hand. All ye people shout him to God with a voice of praise.

Hosanna. Hosanna. Shout him to God with a voice of triumph. Praise him. Praise him.

Shout him to God with a voice of praise. Shout him to God with a voice of praise. That's good. Pretty good. Thank you for that.

Speaker 1I appreciate y'all kiddos. This is very, very good. Catching up with the party here. Would you stand with me now? We will go into singing.

Y'all can stand and wave your palms if you'd like to, but you can also head back to see mom and daddy if you want to. Okay? Okay, you've had your pictures now. Hey. I see I see him heading back that way.

Alright. We're gonna sing worthy is the lamb. Worthy is the lamb that was slain. Now, I think we're gonna go to were you there actually? Preston, if you go to that.

Were you there? We're gonna leave off the last verse. This is Palm Sunday. Alright? We're gonna leave off the last verse of this.

Don't let it surprise you. There is more to the story than we're gonna tell today. Okay. It's not there. I I switched it with that.

Okay. How about we sing it anyway? Y'all know this song, Where Are There? Alright.

Speaker 2Sometimes it causes me to tremble. Tremble. Tremble. Were you there

Speaker 1Amen. Y'all can have a seat. I'm gonna invite the ushers to come forward. And would you pray with me? God, as we contemplate every aspect of your plan, that like Josh Gibson said last week, we do not fully understand.

We don't fully understand the love that you have for us, that you would send your son, that he would go through such agony and such pain on our behalf. Lord God Almighty, I pray that as we consider every aspect of it, we would find a new and profound rest in your love, and that we would, Lord, out of that place of peace and rest, we'd be able to spread that and share that with other people, that you would give us the ability to live it out the loving example of Christ with our lives and that you'd give us the ability to articulate it with our words. In Jesus name, we ask that you'd bless all of these offerings, Lord, that it would go forward, the gospel would go forward because of what your obedient and humble servants are giving. Lord, time, resources, conversations, prayers, everything. Lord, we ask that you bless all those and multiply them to do your kingdom's work.

Your will done, lord, in your way. Amen. Thank you, Judy. Alright. It's time for children's church downstairs.

There they go. Clap your hands for all you people. That's the first slide you have? Yeah. Okay.

Alright. Here we go. Okay. That's where we'll go. My question for this week was as I was considering the sermon.

So I've I've preached Easter here for eleven years, and I my dad loves westerns. Do all like westerns? My dad likes westerns. If you watch a western and there's going to be a shootout in the street, a duel in the street, they have showed that every possible way that they can show that, hadn't they? They've showed it from the above view, the bottom view, the side view.

I feel like I've done that with the story of Easter. There are plenty of aspects to consider. This week, I what hit me this week was innocence or guilty. As I was going over the harmony of the gospel study with the synoptic gospels especially, I was reading over it and I was thinking, he was declared innocent over and over and over and over again. And I thought, how many times does somebody have to be declared innocent before you let the guy go?

And it was eight times and they didn't let him go. And it just struck me, is Jesus innocent or is Jesus guilty? How many slides do you have in there? Because this might be a short sermon. Okay.

Good. Yeah. We're just missing the first couple. Alright. Perfect.

Yeah. So we're gonna go my scheme this week is to go in the gospels from the declarations of innocence. Okay? That's what we're going through. And so I'm gonna go in Matthew down to a declaration of innocent.

Then the second declaration will be somewhere else. So was Jesus innocent or guilty? Okay. We're waiting on the booth up there. No pressure.

Thank you for the song, Judy. Seeing that turn from a minor key to a major key there at the end is really real. There you go. That's it. This is where we ended last week.

So we ended at the arrest of Jesus last week. And I said, this week, we'll cover trials up to crucifixion. We won't go into burial and resurrection because that's for next Sunday, but or probably the following Sunday for me. But the Roman cohort, the commander, the officers of the Jews, they all arrested Jesus. Now, was he innocent or was he guilty?

Now, we know as New Testament Christians, we know that there was no sin in him though. He had people reviling him, he didn't revile in return. We know this theologically, but I want you to see it in the scripture. Now, that's the reason I'm going, that's a lot of information. That is just covering from the arrest through the crucifixion, but if you look at the gospels, they're all passion narratives with long introductions.

This is where this is where everything happens. So that's a lot of information. We'll just go through it like this. We'll take Matthew up to there. So those who had arrested Jesus led him away to Caiaphas.

Caiaphas, the high priest where the scribes and the elders were gathered together, but Peter was following him at a distance. Remember, last week Jesus said to Peter that he would deny. As far as the courtyard of the high priest and he came inside and he sat down with the officers to see the outcome. Now the chief priest and the entire council kept trying to obtain false testimony. Why do you have to have false testimony?

Because the guy's innocent. Against Jesus so that they might put him to death. They didn't find any even though many false witnesses came forward, but later on two came forward. They said, this man said, this man stated, I am able to destroy the temple of God and to rebuild it in three days. Does that sound like that ought to be against the law?

We've got freedom of speech. Right? No. That's definitely not against the law. I'm able to destroy the temple of God to rebuild it in three days.

The high priest stood up and said, do you offer no answer for what these men are testifying against you? But Jesus kept silent. And the high priest said to him, I place you under oath by the living God. It's his prerogative to do that since he's high priest. To tell us whether you are the Christ, the son of God.

So he's putting him on the spot and Jesus says to him, you have said it yourself, but I tell you from now on, you will see the son of man sitting at the right hand of power and coming on the clouds of heaven. Nobody is gonna miss this. Remember Matthew twenty four and twenty five, we did very hurriedly three weeks ago. Nobody's gonna miss that. Everybody's gonna see the son of man coming on the clouds of heaven.

They all knew that that was gonna be the case. They all knew Daniel. They knew that that's gonna happen. So his answer doesn't really blaspheme. You have said it yourself as as close as he gets right there.

Then the high priest tore his robes. He has blasphemed. What further do we need of witnesses? See, you have now heard this blasphemy. All of us right here, what do you think?

They answered, he deserves death. He can't talk like that. And then they spit in his face, they beat him with their fist and others slapped him and said, prophesy to us you Christ. Who's the one who hit you? Now Peter was sitting outside in the courtyard and a slave woman came to him and said, you too are with Jesus the Galilee and I hear that accent.

But he denied it before them all saying, I don't know what you're talking about. One, denial. When he'd gone out to the gateway, another slave woman saw him and said to those who were there, this man was with Jesus of Nazareth and again, he denied it. Two, with an oath or a curse. I don't know the man.

A little later, the bystanders came up and said to Peter, you really are one of them, no. Since even the way you talk gives you a way. You all know where I'm from by listening to me. Right? They knew where Peter was from by listening to him.

Then they then he began to curse and swear. I don't know the man. Now, he had just tried to cut off or he had cut off the servant of the high priest, probably trying to cut off his head. He succeeded in cutting off his ear which Jesus had to fix. But now with a slave girl in a courtyard, not before the high priest, three times and with curses and immediately a rooster crowed and Peter remembered the statement that Jesus has made before a rooster crows, you'll deny me three times and he went out and he wept bitterly.

Preston, shall they talk amongst themselves while I go print it out? There we go. So that's It's alright. He is like running NASA up there. It's amazing.

The pressure is pretty heavy. Sorry. And I I kinda can't remember anything that's not written down. A real Bible? My scheme might actually there we go.

Now this is where it continues. Now when morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people conferred together against Jesus to put him to death. And they bound him and they led him away, and they handed him over to Pilate, the governor. Then when Judas, who had betrayed him. Now I said last week that the best that we can the best that we can think of Judas is he has been following Jesus for this time.

He thinks that Jesus is gonna be the way that they get out from up under Roman oppression. So the best that we can think about Judas is that he was trying to force Jesus's hand. He figured, we've got all our numbers here in Jerusalem right now. There are more of us here. There are less of them.

There's a better chance that we could actually overthrow what's going on And so since Jesus was not looking like he was willing, Judas makes a deal with the chief priest to force Jesus' hand. That's the best we can think of. That is a theory. That is not something that's explicitly stated in scripture. But when Jesus, Judas who had betrayed Jesus, saw that Jesus had been condemned.

He had been condemned by the high priest. Now, the high priests are not the full authority. They have to send them to Pilate to carry out a death sentence especially. When Judas who had betrayed him saw that he had been condemned, then he felt remorse. It's not gonna happen.

This revolution is not gonna happen. I'm not gonna be a hero. He felt remorse. He returned the 30 pieces of silver to the chief priest and the elders saying, I have sinned by betraying innocent blood. So the first person to declare Jesus as innocent is the guy who betrayed him.

He's innocent. We're going go with John up to the second point. Then, they brought Jesus from Caiaphas into the Praetorium, that's the Roman government center. And it was early and they themselves did not enter into the Praetorium. They wouldn't do that because it's Passover so that they wouldn't be defiled but might eat the Passover.

Therefore, Pilate came out to them and said, what accusation are you bringing against this man? And they answered and said to him, if this man were not a criminal, we wouldn't have handed him over to you. You just do your job. So Pilate said to them, you take him yourselves. You judge him according to your law.

The Jews said, we're not permitted to put anyone to death. So what's their goal? They want him dead. And they don't wanna be defiled. They don't wanna get their hands dirty doing it.

We're not permitted to put anyone to death. This happened so that the word of Jesus which he said indicating by what kind of death he was gonna die would be fulfilled. He had already prophesied that he would be crucified and that's not the way that the Jews would handle blasphemy. They would stone. Therefore, Pilate entered the Praetorium again and he summoned Jesus and said to him, you're the king of the Jews?

Jesus answered, are you saying this on your own or did others tell you about me? And Pilate answered, I'm not a Jew, am I? Your own nation and the chief priest handed you over to me. What have you done? And Jesus said, my kingdom is not of this world.

You don't have anything to worry about. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would be fighting so that I would not be handed over to the Jews. But as it is, my kingdom is not of this realm. Therefore, Pilate said to him, so you are a king. And Jesus answered, you say correctly that I am a king.

For this purpose I have been born and for this I have come into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice. And Pilate says to him, what is truth? Can you all see this right now in our world? Like there is such a thing as objective truth, but we try so hard to just pretend who knows what the truth is?

Your truth, my truth. What is truth? And after saying this, he came out again to the Jews and said to them, I find no grounds at all for the charges in his case. He is not guilty. Pilate says, I find no grounds at all, innocent.

Let's go to Luke for the up to the third one. Now, when Pilate heard this, he asked whether the man was a Galilean. So where are you from? I hear an accent. And when he heard that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, this is Herod Antipas, the one who killed John the Baptist, the one who Jesus called a fox earlier in the gospels.

When Pilate learned that he belonged to Herod's jurisdiction, he sent him to Herod. Herod was in Jerusalem at that time. Well, that's where he'd be. It's Passover. He's the king of the Jews.

Now Herod was overjoyed when he saw Jesus for he had wanted to see him. He'd heard all about him, heard all about him from John the Baptist, heard all about him because he's making quite a ruckus. This is not Herod the great that tried to kill Jesus at birth. Herod was overjoyed when he saw Jesus for he had wanted to see him for a long time because he had been hearing about him. He was hoping to see some sign performed by him.

Everybody likes to see a magic show. He questioned him at some length but he offered him no answer at all. Now the chief priest and the scribes stood there vehemently charging him. They could stand right there with Herod because it's not a defiled place. And Herod together with his soldiers treated him with contempt and mocked him, dressing him in a brightly shining robe and sent him back to Pilate.

So he didn't make a judgment. He was a consummate politician. He did not answer the question. And so Herod and Pilate became friends with one another that very day. They're both lily liver politicians.

Sorry. They became friends with one another that very day for previously. They've been enemies toward each other. Well, it's not my deal. Pilate says, let Herod deal with it.

Herod's like, nope. Not my deal. Here we are in Jerusalem. Now, Pilate summoned to himself the chief priests, the rulers, and the people and he said to them, you brought this man to me on the ground that he is inciting the people to revolt. And behold, after examining him before you, I have found no basis at all in the case of this man for the charges which you're bringing against him.

He's innocent. No, nor has Herod for he sent him back to us and behold, nothing deserving death has been done by him. Therefore, I'll punish him and release him. Wait a second now. Does that catch anybody else off guard?

This man's done nothing wrong so I'll beat him. Therefore, I'll punish him and release him. He was obligated to release to them at the feast one prisoner. That's a normal kind of a tradition. Keep the crowd happy, hand over a prisoner.

Pilate says again, I have no basis at all for the charges. Matthew again. Now at the Passover feast, the governor was accustomed to release for the people any one prisoner whom they wanted. And at that time, they're holding a notorious prisoner called Barabbas. So when the people gathered together, Pilate said to them, whom do you want me to release for you?

Barabbas or Jesus who is called Christ? For he knew that it was because of envy that they had handed him over. He figured the people would decide. Right? Let the people let the people decide because the chief priest and scribes are jealous of him.

So they brought him in, but the people certainly the people will say, yeah, Jesus, we want Jesus. Maybe he had heard about the triumphal entry. Right? Maybe he'd heard that there were a lot of people on Jesus' side. While he was sitting on the judgment seat, Pilate, as the judge, his wife sent him a message.

Send him a send him a text. See to it that you have nothing to do with that righteous man. She calls him innocent. He's righteous. He didn't do anything wrong.

For last night, I suffered greatly in a dream because of him. So Pilate's wife calls Jesus righteous. That's innocent. Back to John. However, you have a custom that I released you one prisoner for you at the Passover.

Therefore, do you wish that I release for you the king of the Jews? So they shouted again saying, not this man but Barabbas. Give us Barabbas. Now Barabbas was a rebel. As far as Pilate is concerned, they were bringing him they're gonna say this in a minute.

They were bringing him in and they're trying to get Pilate to believe that he is the guy who's most likely to cause a riot, Jesus. Now, he gives them a choice between a guy who's actually likely to cause a riot, this rebel, Barabbas. And they said, give us Barabbas. So Pilate then took Jesus and had him flogged because that's what you do with an innocent guy in the Roman Empire. The soldiers twisted together a crown of thorns.

They placed it on his head mockingly, they put a purple cloak on him and they repeatedly came up to him and said, hail, king of the Jews and they slapped him in the face again and again. And then, Pilate came out again and said to them, see, I am bringing him out to you so that you will know that I find no grounds at all for charges in this case. He already thought that. He got the message from his wife. He still thinks that.

He's reiterating over and over. So Pilate says again, it's been three times that Pilate has declared him innocent. And he's the guy that sits in the judgment seat and can say whether he's innocent or guilty. Find no charges. Going on in John.

Jesus then came out wearing the crown of thorns and the purple robe and Pilate says to them, behold the man. Here he is. And so when the chief priest and officers saw him, they shouted, crucify, crucify. They're not allowed to crucify. They stone.

Right? Crucify, crucify. Y'all deal with them. We don't wanna get our hands dirty. And Pilate says to him, take him yourselves and crucify him for I find no grounds for charges in his case.

And the Jews answered, we have a law and by that law, he ought to die because he made himself out to be the son of God. If it's not true, it's blasphemy. They're saying he's guilty because they don't recognize the truth. Pilate sitting in the judgment seat says he's not guilty. Luke, this is this is not a different time, it's the same time in Luke.

He said to them a third time, what has this man done wrong? I have found no grounds in his case for a sentence of death. Therefore, I'll punish him and release him. They were insistent with loud voices, demanding that he be crucified and their voices began to prevail. And so Pilate decided to have their demand carried out.

He was trying to avoid a riot. He didn't want an uprising because that meant he would lose his position in Rome. And he released the man for whom they were asking Barabbas goes free, rebel that he was, who had been thrown into prison for a revolt and a murder, but he handed Jesus over to their will. This is a place where Jesus took the punishment for something he didn't do and an guilty man went free. That's foreshadowing.

When the cries were crucify, crucify, Pilate says, find no guilt in him. John, therefore, when Pilate heard the statement, he was even more afraid and he entered to pray to him again and said to Jesus, where are you from? Wait a second. Where are you from? But Jesus gave him no answer.

So Pilate said to him, are you not speaking to me now? Jesus is being silent. For those of us who know Isaiah, like a sheep before his shearers is silent, he spoke not a word. He's getting to that place. Are you not speaking to me?

Do you not know that I have the authority to release you and I have the authority to crucify you? All I have to do is say the word and Jesus says, you would not have any authority over me at all if it hadn't been given to you from above. And for this reason, the one who handed you over to me has the greater sin. And as a result of this, Pilate made efforts again to release him. But the Jews shouted saying, if you release this man, you are no friend of Caesar.

Everyone who makes himself out to be a king opposes Caesar. So they're threatening him with his job. Politics, again. We are going to tattletale if you let this guy go. Do what we're telling you to do.

We'll go back to Luke up to the seventh. Now, two others who were criminals were also being led away. Now, Jesus has been sentenced to die and there's more to the story in the in between, but we're concentrating on his innocence and declarations of innocence. And right up to this point, it's been over and over and over again, what we had, six of them. Four of them are the guy who gets to make the determination, and he's tried multiple times.

Now, two others who were criminals, they're guilty. They were also being led away to be put to death with him. And when they came to the place called Golgotha, the skull, there they crucified him and the criminals. One on the right, another on the left, but Jesus was saying, father forgive them for they don't know what they're doing. If you look at Mark, it says that while Jesus is being nailed to the cross, that both of the criminals were reviling him.

It says that in Mark. And Jesus is praying, father forgive them for they know not what they do and they cast lots, the people there at the foot of the cross dividing his garments among themselves. That's the answer to a prophecy and the people stood by watching and even the rulers were sneering at him saying he saved others. Let him save himself. If this is the Christ, if this is the chosen one, if this is the one, let him save himself.

The soldiers also ridiculed him, coming up to him offering him sour wine and saying, if you're the king of the Jews, save yourself. Now there was also an inscription above him. This is the king of the Jews which made the Sanhedrin members and the Pharisees and everybody just furious. But what Pilate had written, he had written and was not gonna change it. Written in three languages.

This is the king of the Jews. One of the criminals who were hanged there was hurling abuse at him saying, are you not the Christ? Save yourself and us. But the other responded and rebuking him said, do you not even fear God? Since you're under the same sentence of condemnation and we indeed are suffering justly for we are receiving what we deserve for our crimes.

But this man has done nothing wrong. He declares him innocent. He also declares himself guilty. You did what they say you did. I did what they say I did, but this man has done nothing wrong.

And he was saying, Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom. And he said to him, truly I say to you, today, you will be with me in paradise. What it took was that guy's recognition of his own guilt and his recognition of Jesus' innocence as the actual king. Truly, I say to you, today you'll be with me in paradise. So the penitent thief criminal says, this man has done nothing wrong.

Seven times. And once for good measure, this is after. So that's seven times before Jesus cries out to Telestai, it is finished from the cross. And it was about the sixth hour darkness came over the entire land until about the ninth hour because the sun stopped shining and the veil of the temple was torn in two. Now, a veil, when I think of a veil, I I do mean, a lot of weddings.

I think of a veil. It's a bridal veil. It's something that's very, very, very thin. You go and it's gone. It just rips in two.

The veil of the temple is five inches thick, five inches thick front to back. It's 30 feet wide. It's 60 feet tall, and it's ripped into one of the other gospel says, from the top to the bottom. People didn't do this. It's an act of God and Jesus crying out with a loud voice said, father into your hands, I entrust my spirit and having said this, he died.

Now when the centurion, Roman soldier, centurion saw that what had happened, he began praising God. What? If you do a study of the New Testament, we know what Rome is like. We know how Rome treats people. If you do a study of the New Testament, you look at centurions, they always wear a white hat back to the western theme.

They're always good guys. They always recognize. All of the centurions that we see speak up in the New Testament turn out to be good guys. When the centurion saw what had happened, he began praising God saying, this man was in fact innocent. Just like Pilate said over and over and over.

And all the crowds who came together for the spectacle after watching what had happened, they began to return home beating their chest. That's a sign of agony. It's a sign of extreme distress. And all of his acquaintances, Jesus' acquaintances, and all the women who accompanied him from Galilee were standing at a distance and they were seeing these things. This is significant because this is Luke that's telling us.

Luke says at the beginning to Theophilus, I'm gonna give you an orderly account. I'm gonna interview the witnesses and I'm gonna do the work so that you can know that what you believe is true. And so he's telling right here in '49, he's saying, I interviewed these people. These people all saw this. So the Roman centurion says, certainly, it is no doubt about it.

This man was innocent. And so from there, we'll ride over to Luke. I mean to Mark and it says, and Mark adds that centurion called him the son of God, which is significant. He's a Roman soldier. Now, was Jesus innocent or guilty?

Jesus was innocent. He had been charged, but the charges were not substantiated. He was innocent. So the next question for each one of us is, am I myself innocent or am I guilty? Right?

In actuality, am I innocent or am I guilty? We can claim innocence for a while. But if we're gonna use the Bible, the answer is I'm guilty. That's the way it is. I've got a lot up here but we're getting I think that the point has been made.

Jesus was innocent and he was numbered with the transgressors. And if you read Romans, if you read Psalms, if you read first John, you're gonna come up with a lot. There's no one righteous, no not one. None of them. That that's a quote from Psalms.

So that was before Christ and Paul is quoting it back and saying, if you're a religious person well, here it is. Romans three. As it is written, there's no righteous person, not even one. There's no one who understands. There's no one who seeks out after God.

They've all turned aside together. They've become corrupt. There's no one who does good. There's not even one. That's damning for the whole race from Psalm 14 and Psalm 53, which are exactly the same.

Their throats an open grave with their tongues that keep deceiving. The venom of asp is under their lips is Psalm five. Their mouth is full of cursing and bitterness. Even Peter, right, when it when it was seemed insignificant. Mouth is full of cursing, deceit, and oppression under his tongue, and injustice.

What greater injustice has ever been done? Crucifying Jesus. Now, we are guilty. Feet are swift to shed blood, destruction of misery in their past, Psalm 59. They've not known the way of peace, but Jesus did know the way of peace and he was crucified for it.

There's no fear of God before their eyes. Wrongdoing speaks to the ungodly within his heart. There's no fear of God before his eyes. Romans goes on to say that, now we know that whatever the law says, it speaks to those who are under it. So that every mouth may be closed and all the world may become accountable to God.

We are all accountable to God because by the works of the law, none of mankind will be justified in his sight. There's no one. No one is righteous. No, not one for through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now apart from the law then, the righteousness of God has been revealed.

God's righteousness has been revealed. Being witnessed by the law and the prophets, books of Moses, all the prophets were all pointing towards something that would happen and it is the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all those who believe. For there's no distinction, we are all actually guilty. But the righteousness of God is he provided Jesus Christ. Why?

Because all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. First John says, if we say we have no sin, we're deceiving ourselves. So you're a liar. If you say you have no sin and the truth is not in us. Down to verse 10, if we say that we haven't sinned, we make him a liar and his word is not in us.

There's something else in the middle there. I'll come back to. The answer for each one of us though, am I myself an innocent or guilty? I am guilty. I am actually guilty.

We all are. But this is how the story continues. Being justified, being called innocent, being made righteous as a gift by his grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus because he took a punishment that he did not deserve. And individually, if we will accept the gift, God displayed him publicly as a propitiation in his blood through faith and this was to demonstrate God's righteousness because in God's merciful restraining, let the sins previously committed go unpunished. For the demonstration that is of his righteousness at this present time right now, so that he would be just and he would be the justifier of the one who places their faith in Jesus for the penitent thief, for the Roman centurion, for each one of us.

We deserved the death that Jesus died. And if we confess our sins, he is faithful, God is faithful, and he is righteous so that he will forgive us of our sins and he will cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Next week is resurrection Sunday. Next week is Jesus has overcome the grave, but the death that he died, he died to pay the penalty for the sin that I committed and for the sins that you have committed. For whoever believes in him will not perish but have everlasting life.

That's the sins of our past, the sins of our present, the sins of our future. Placing our faith in him puts us squarely in the grace of God. Would you stand with me? I'm gonna invite Judy to come forward. We're gonna sing holy holy.

It's not to be confused with holy, holy, holy. Alright? It's a different song. Maybe a new tune to some of you. But as we consider God, may we like Isaiah consider his holiness that he is completely other, sent his son to die.

Speaker 2Holy, holy, holy, holy, holy, Lord God Almighty. And we lift our hearts before you as a token of our love. Holy holy holy holy. Gracious father, gracious father. We're so blessed to be your children, gracious father.

And we lift up before you as a token of our love. Jesus father, gracious father. Precious Jesus. Precious Jesus. We're so glad that you've redeemed us, precious Jesus.

And we lift our hands before you as Holy Spirit, come and fill our hearts anew, Holy Spirit. And we lift our

Speaker 1Amen. If today, God has connected with you in a different way where you recognize the innocent son of God that was slain and you recognize your own guilt before God and you want salvation, it is available in the blood of Jesus Christ. His death mattered and it matters today and it matters throughout eternity. The center point of all history. Lord, would you bless these that are gathered in your name this morning and as we go forth, if there's anyone who's wondering if they are in the family of God, I pray that they'd reach out to someone who is in the family of God.

If that be me, lord, I'm here. If it be others, I pray that you'd give us an opportunity to share our faith. Would you, lord, lead on exactly where will you have us go? I pray your accompanying peace throughout this week as we look forward to the resurrection. In Jesus name, amen.

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