Good morning! I’m glad to welcome you to worship today at Hillcrest Baptist Church. 

In our continuing study of Matthew we again experienced the trauma of Jesus’ betrayal. We saw the deceit and deception that moved Jesus into a series of trials and abuse that will ultimately lead to his crucifixion. Each step along the way reveals another tragic reality that will finally end in Christ’s death. God’s grand plan of redemption is about to be consummated in the final payment for sin through the shed blood of Jesus.

Today we move from the betrayal and farcical trial before the Jewish leaders to his coming before Pilate to gain government sanction and action for his condemnation. Here his innocence is acknowledged, yet passively ignored, as Jesus is given over to a death sentence. Interestingly though, both Judas and Pilate illustrate for us the power of sin in one’s life and the desperate need for a savior. Sadly, both men rejected Him as the Son of God and the savior of the world.

The question for us today is the same: What will you do with Jesus?