The Choice You Make

When We Chose Wrong

Luke 23:13-25

- We chose to release the guilty and bind the innocent.

o - The crowd had a choice—and they chose the rebel over the Redeemer.

o - We often prefer the familiar brokenness over the disruptive truth.

o - Jesus bore injustice so we could be made right.

- We chose life for the rebellious and death for the paradigm.

Isaiah 53:3,7,9, 10b

o - Jesus wasn’t just a person; He was a *paradigm shift*, the embodiment of grace, peace, and kingdom-living.

o - The world wasn’t ready to change—so it tried to silence the change-bringer.

o - But death couldn’t hold the one who *is* Life.

- We chose the urgency of now over the awareness of transformation.

Luke 24:21

o - The people wanted a political savior, a quick fix—not the slow, soul-deep work of resurrection.

o - Even today, we chase immediacy—answers, wins, relief—missing the quiet work of God in the in-between.

o - Easter is about seeing *what God is doing* even when it doesn’t look like what we expected.

The beauty of the Gospel

Easter confrontsour choices, but God chooses to redeem them. (Romans 5:8)

Easter happensbecause of poor choices, but God still chooses us. (John 21:15-17)

- Even in our betrayal, God calls us back.

- The resurrection is God saying, “Your failure isn't final.”

Easter remindsthat we have sinned, but God chooses to use us. (1 Corinthians 1:27)

- God doesn't wait for perfect people—He empowers forgiven ones.

- The empty tomb is not just victory—it’s a commissioning.

Congregational Reading after the Invitation:

We were broken,

but God made us whole.

We were guilty,

but God called us chosen.

We were running,

but God ran faster.

This is the beauty of the Gospel.

This is the miracle of Easter.

Spurgeon: (Octorber 16th, 1864)

Deliverance of the sinner and the binding of the righteous

Harsher treatment of the innocent versus the freedom of the perpetrator

The truth that doing things the right way is rarely popular

Why would the people choose Barabbas over Jesus?

They feared the political system had more power over their everyday lives.

They feared the process of transformation.

They feared Jesus would challenge their positions of power and authority.

They feared binding the guilty and freeing the righteous.

Easter happens because…

people chose to release the guilty and bind the innocent.

people chose life for the rebellious and death for the paradigm.

people chose the urgency of now rather than an awareness of the transformation.

Title: "When We Chose Wrong"

1. We Chose to Release the Guilty and Bind the Innocent**

Scripture: Matthew 27:15–26

> “Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Christ?”

- The crowd had a choice—and they chose the rebel over the Redeemer.

- We often prefer the familiar brokenness over the disruptive truth.

- Jesus bore injustice so we could be made right.

2. We Chose Life for the Rebellious and Death for the Paradigm

Scripture: Isaiah 53:3–5

> “He was despised and rejected by men... pierced for our transgressions…”

- Jesus wasn’t just a person; He was a *paradigm shift*, the embodiment of grace, peace, and kingdom-living.

- The world wasn’t ready to change—so it tried to silence the change-bringer.

- But death couldn’t hold the one who *is* Life.

3. We Chose the Urgency of Now Over Awareness of Transformation

Scripture: John 12:12–19 / Luke 24:13–35

> “But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel...”

- The people wanted a political savior, a quick fix—not the slow, soul-deep work of resurrection.

- Even today, we chase immediacy—answers, wins, relief—missing the quiet work of God in the in-between.

- Easter is about seeing *what God is doing* even when it doesn’t look like what we expected.

The Beauty of the Gospel

Easter confronts our failures, but reveals God's faithful love.

The beauty of the Gospel isn’t that we got it right—it’s that God still chooses us when we didn’t.

Point 1: Easter confronts our choices, but God chooses to redeem them

> Romans 5:8 – “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”*

- The cross is not just a symbol of love—it’s a mirror.

- Our choices sent Jesus to the cross, but He went willingly to redeem what was broken.

Point 2: Easter happens because of poor choices, but God still chooses us

> John 21:15-17 – Peter denied, but Jesus still said, “Feed my sheep.”

- Even in our betrayal, God calls us back.

- The resurrection is God saying, “Your failure isn't final.”

Point 3: Easter reminds us that we have sinned, but God chooses to use us

>1 Corinthians 1:27 – “God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise.”

- God doesn't wait for perfect people—He empowers forgiven ones.

- The empty tomb is not just victory—it’s a commissioning.

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Closing Declaration

We were broken,

but God made us whole.

We were guilty,

but God called us chosen.

We were running,

but God ran faster.

This is the beauty of the Gospel.

This is the miracle of Easter.