His blood be upon us...

When morning came, all the chief priests and the elders of the people took counsel against Jesus to put him to death; and they bound him and led him away and delivered him to Pilate the governor. When Judas, his betrayer, saw that he was condemned, he repented and brought back the thirty pieces of silver to the chief priests and the elders, saying, "I have sinned in betraying innocent blood." They said, "What is that to us? See to it yourself." And throwing down the pieces of silver in the temple, he departed; and he went and hanged himself. But the chief priests, taking the pieces of silver, said, "It is not lawful to put them into the treasury, since they are blood money." So they took counsel, and bought with them the potter's field, to bury strangers in. Therefore that field has been called the Field of Blood to this day. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken by the prophet Jeremiah, saying, "And they took the thirty pieces of silver, the price of him on whom a price had been set by some of the sons of Israel, and they gave them for the potter's field, as the Lord directed me." Now Jesus stood before the governor; and the governor asked him, "Are you the King of the Jews?" Jesus said, "You have said so." But when he was accused by the chief priests and elders, he made no answer. Then Pilate said to him, "Do you not hear how many things they testify against you?" But he gave him no answer, not even to a single charge; so that the governor wondered greatly. Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted. And they had then a notorious prisoner, called Barabbas. So when they had gathered, 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 out of envy that they had delivered him up. Besides, while he was sitting on the judgment seat, his wife sent word to him, "Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much over him today in a dream." Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the people to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus. The governor again said to them, "Which of the two do you want me to release for you?" And they said, "Barabbas." Pilate said to them, "Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?" They all said, "Let him be crucified." And he said, "Why, what evil has he done?" But they shouted all the more, "Let him be crucified." So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd, saying, "I am innocent of this man's blood; see to it yourselves." And all the people answered, "His blood be on us and on our children!" - Matthew 27:1-25

If only Judas had known. If only he had known that the Christ was destined to be condemned to death from all eternity. It is even more evident here that an argument can be made that he rests with the other disciples in the arms of the King. He thought he was bringing about a revolution in which he would be a chief in the King's house. When he saw that the Man known as Jesus was going to die, and not find victory over the oppressors, he was broken. He repented and came to the only place he thought he could find forgiveness.

That's where the temple was most needed. Sins being forgiven was it's business, just like Christ (tear down this temple?). But those who should have comforted him and brought him back into relationship with God turned him away. "What is that to us? Deal with it yourself." How can we? Where can we go for the words of life if those who know them and whose lives are about them lead us no where but to death? Where we hang ourselves by our own sin. Sin which can be forgiven. Which, through the blood of the King of the Jews, are forgiven. Where our sin means something to those hands that were pierced.

Judas' place in salvation history was set at the beginning. For God is a using God. Not in a negative way where He uses us like a needed child, but in such a way that He sees evil we might do and says "I can use that." The betrayal of Jesus by Judas was meant for good. The envy of the Pharisees was used for good to make sure that the sacrifice would be made. The lack of evil done by Christ was necessary for a spotless Lamb to bring about the salvation of all creation.

It also paints a picture of our own sins as so reprehensible that we chose to condemn an innocent Man who had done nothing to deserve it so we might keep them in hand. Hands that we wash thinking we are innocent. Hands that still permit condemnation. That do not rescue the innocent or fight for the broken. But even those hands need the blood we wish to deny. A blood that we wished to spill not knowing that it was that act for which we are made clean and forgiven.

So His blood be upon us and our children. May His blood cover all our sin. It was His blood that was in sight when the sweating began in the garden. It was His blood that was spilled at first in the courtyard when He was scourged. It is His blood which takes our scarlet stains and makes them white as snow. The blood is enough to cover even the most wicked of men. Even one who may betray and condemn the Savior Himself.

TW