Free From Sin

Series Summary: What did Jesus mean to the people of His day? This series explores the ministry of Jesus through the eyes of the people who watched Him, heard Him, and encountered Him for the first time. Before we reconsider what the Gospel means for us today, we step into the sandals of those who lived with Him. They too experiences tensions of fear, shame, expectation, oppression, and longing. What did freedom feel like to a person who had only known bondage? How shocking were Jesus’ words in real-time? How would His actions have challenged everything they believed about law, illness, wealth, politics, sin, and hope? Through this 6-week study, we will deepen our understanding of Jesus’ mission to set people free and rediscover how those same freedoms continue shaping the Church.

WEEK 5: FREE FROM SIN

Matthew 27

Big Idea: Crowds of people are on board with the message and the works of Jesus, but when it comes time for true freedom from sin, what do they think about the cost?

Introduction

Series Summary

Our series From the Outside Looking In explores the ministry of Jesus through the eyes of real onlookers.

Today, we need to make our response to Jesus.

But His contemporaries were responding to Him, too.

Their perspective might be helpful to shape ours.

This series asks: What did Jesus mean to the people of His day? We’re exploring His ministry through the eyes of those who watched, heard, and encountered Him in real time. To give us a new perspective on what the gospel is.

 Where We’ve Been & We’re Going

So far, we’ve seen that, through words and actions, Jesus frees people from:

Weight of the Law

Burden of Illness

Wounds of Shame

Pressures of Politics

But now… everything changes.

The One who healed, welcomed, taught, and restored… is condemned, beaten, mocked, stripped, humiliated, and crucified.

As the crowds watch, what are they thinking? What are we supposed to think?

Leading Up To Matthew 27…

Q | How were people feeling about Jesus? His message?

Q | We know how His opponents felt about Him, what are His allies expecting?

Up to this point, the crowds and allies of Jesus would have been all for what He’s been saying. This is the Messiah… Finally, we have hope… True freedom…

But, in just a matter of days, they’ll realize what true freedom actually costs.

They’ll watch:

Jesus be betrayed by a close friend. How could he do that?

Jesus be put on trial and no fault found. This isn’t justice…

The crowds cry out for Jesus to be crucified. This isn’t right…

Jesus bear the cost of sin and death.

Getting Into The Word :: Matthew 27

There’s a lot that can be say about the Crucifixion. But, like we’ve done with this series, I don’t want to look at it through our eyes.

I want to hear what they would have heard. And feel what they would have felt. To that, I want to just read the words of Matthew, the gospel writer. A first hand account of what the freedom from sin costs.

I need 8 readers. We’ll pick up at the arrest of Jesus. While we read, imagine what the onlookers must have thought.

Matthew 27:1-5

Matthew 27:11-14

Matthew 27:15-19

Matthew 27:20-23

Matthew 27:26-31

Matthew 27:37-40

Matthew 27:45-50

Matthew 27:51-56

Conclusion: Jesus Frees Us From Sin

Many watching Jesus on the cross would have felt:

shame, confusion, horror, fear, helplessness

This is why so many disciples ran.

This is why some stood at a distance.

This is why His mother and friends could only weep.

“Surely this was the Son of God.”

We believe that Jesus offers the forgiveness of sins.

I hope we don’t forget what it cost.

Forgiveness for you and me is free. For Jesus, it cost everything.

Praise be to God, that this is not the end. That death is not victorious.