Session 14

Jesus Took My Place

From Understanding and Applying The Bible

John 18:29-40

29 So Pilate went outside to them and said, “What accusation do you bring against this man?” 30 They answered him, “If this man were not doing evil, we would not have delivered him over to you.” 31 Pilate said to them, “Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law.” The Jews said to him, “It is not lawful for us to put anyone to death.” 32 This was to fulfill the word that Jesus had spoken to show by what kind of death he was going to die. 33 So Pilate entered his headquarters again and called Jesus and said to him, “Are you the King of the Jews?” 34 Jesus answered, “Do you say this of your own accord, or did others say it to you about me?” 35 Pilate answered, “Am I a Jew? Your own nation and the chief priests have delivered you over to me. What have you done?” 36 Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would have been fighting, that I might not be delivered over to the Jews. But my kingdom is not from the world.” 37 Then Pilate said to him, “So you are a king?” Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world—to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice.” 38 Pilate said to him, “What is truth?” After he had said this, he went back outside to the Jews and told them, “I find no guilt in him. 39 But you have a custom that I should release one man for you at the Passover. So do you want me to release to you the King of the Jews?” 40 They cried out again, “Not this man, but Barabbas!” Now Barabbas was a robber.

You might not know...
Jesus didn't even try to get out of this seemingly bad situation. If you thought Jesus' life was taken from Him take a careful look at this conversation He has with the person who sentenced him to death. Reality is, Jesus gave up His life for us knowing it was the only way we could be saved.

What does it say? 
In this section, we get some insight into some of the last moments of Jesus before He is taken to the cross. Jesus is standing before Pilate, the Roman governor, and despite the pain He is walking through, He is steady and patient. Pilate is so interested in this man named Jesus. Christ's own people, the Jews, brought Jesus before Pilate to be sentenced to death. But Pilate can't figure out what he's done wrong. Still, the people continue to insist that Jesus should be crucified. So, Pilate makes the decision to condemn Jesus to death and releases a prisoner who actually deserved death instead.

What does it mean? 
Jesus lived a perfect life and did not deserve to die. But He took the place of somebody on death row, somebody that did deserve to die. 

What does it mean to me? 
I am alive because of Jesus. I deserve to die because of my sin, but He took my place. He died so that I don't have to. And now He lives, so I can too.