From Matthew 27:15-26 / Another Jesus

In Paul’s 2nd letter to the Church at Corinth, he is concerned that through the influence of some, other sin the Church might be “led astray from a sincere and pure devotion to Christ.” (2 Cor. 11:3) He then gives them 3 examples of this can happen. The first of the 3 is one that is all too common even today – when someone proclaims “another Jesus than the one we proclaimed to you.” (vs. 4)

So it today that we find cults and false religions re-casting the Jesus of the Bible to meet their own ends. It is a demonic deception of the highest order. A few ready examples will demonstrate this.

In Mormonism, Jesus is not the eternal Son of God, the 2nd member of the Trinity, but is in fact the spirit brother of Satan himself. And a man who ascended to become a god, the way all the men who obey the tenets of Mormonism faithfully can do as well. He is not the Jesus of the Bible at all.

In the doctrine of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, Jesus is not “God”, but a god, a created being by God. He is in fact Michael the Archangel.

Christian Science too denies the divinity of Jesus, and merely some sort of spiritual “son” of God.

Examples could be multiplied endlessly. But as John Owen once famously wrote: “the ancient Christians told those men the truth,—namely, that “as they had feigned unto themselves an imaginary Christ, so they should have an imaginary salvation only.”¹¹ Owen, John. n.d. The Works of John Owen. Edited by William H. Goold. Vol. 1. Edinburgh: T&T Clark.

What does this have to do with our text? As it turns out, while the textual evidence is not absolute, we do see that a number of ancient manuscripts of Matthew’s Gospel, in both vss. 16 & 17 read in effect: “Whom do you want me to release for you: Jesus Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Christ?” The Barabbas’ forename was Jesus, the same as Jesus the son of Joseph and Mary. So the question becomes – Which Jesus do you want: The real Jesus, the Son of God, or some other Jesus, one who shares your fallenness and sin and you feel more comfortable with?

And this dear reader, is a most necessary question for us today.

I believe it was Mark Twain who once quipped that God made us in His own image, and we’ve been returning the favor ever since.

As the Children of Israel in the wilderness, when under Aaron’s weak leadership they cast a golden calf – they didn’t switch Gods – in fact after seeing the calf they called that calf the Lord! Yahweh.

We must be absolutely clear on this issue beloved, if we would be saved from our sins, reconciled to the Father and granted everlasting life. We cannot, we dare not have another Jesus. We must have the Jesus of the Bible.

The one we are to trust in with all our hearts – must be the Lord Jesus Christ of the Bible if we are to have a true salvation, and, true help in our time of need.

‌Running to the wrong Jesus is as helpful as getting the time from a wrist watch tattoo. It may have the appearance of the real – but in the end, it is an utter fake.

‌The Jesus we need is the Jesus of the Bible – so magnificently above all the fakes as the heavens are above the earth. And He is magnificent!

‌In J.C. Ryle’s incomparable book: “Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties and Roots” – Ryle makes the observation that: “It would be well if professing Christians in modern days studied the four Gospels more than they do. No doubt all Scripture is profitable. It is not wise to exalt one part of the Bible at the expense of another. But I think it would be good for some who are very familiar with the Epistles, if they knew a little more about Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John…I say it because I want professing Christians to know more about Christ. It is well to be acquainted with all the doctrines and principles of Christianity. It is better to be acquainted with Christ Himself. It is well to be familiar with faith, and grace, and justification, and sanctification. They are all matters “pertaining to the King.” But it is far better to be familiar with Jesus Himself, to see the King’s own face, and to behold His beauty. This is one secret of eminent holiness. He that would be conformed to Christ’s image, and become a Christ-like man, must be constantly studying Christ Himself…Now the Gospels were written to make us acquainted with Christ. The Holy Ghost has told us the story of His life and death,—His sayings and His doings, four times over. Four different inspired hands have drawn the picture of the Saviour. His ways, His manners, His feelings, His wisdom, His grace, His patience, His love, His power, are graciously unfolded to us by four different witnesses. Ought not the sheep to be familiar with the Shepherd? Ought not the patient to be familiar with the Physician? Ought not the bride to be familiar with the Bridegroom? Ought not the sinner to be familiar with the Saviour? Beyond doubt it ought to be so. The Gospels were written to make men familiar with Christ, and therefore I wish men to study the Gospels.” _{Ryle, J. C. Holiness: Its Nature, Hindrances, Difficulties and Roots. William Hunt and Company, 1889, pp. 278–79.}

‌Spurgeon preached: “Depend upon it, there are countless holy influences which flow from the habitual maintenance of great thoughts of God, as there are incalculable mischiefs which flow from our small thoughts of him. The root of all false theology is belittling God; and the essence of true divinity is greatening God, magnifying him, and enlarging our conceptions of his majesty and his glory to the utmost degree.”

‌In trouble, trial and tribulation, we need the glorious,stupendous, magnificent Christ of the Bible.

‌Do you remember that great confession of Nebuchadnezzar after God restored him from his humiliation? Daniel 4:34–35 “At the end of the days I, Nebuchadnezzar, lifted my eyes to heaven, and my reason returned to me, and I blessed the Most High, and praised and honored him who lives forever, for his dominion is an everlasting dominion, and his kingdom endures from generation to generation; all the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, and he does according to his will among the host of heaven and among the inhabitants of the earth; and none can stay his hand or say to him, “What have you done?””

‌This is The Lord we are being exhorted to trust in – and He is worthy of such trust.

‌You will not read Christ exalting words like these in any religion or cult, and you would certainly never invent them yourself.

‌THIS, is the Jesus of the Bible.

‌Trust HIM with your salvation.

‌Trust HIM in all His promises and that the rewards of Christ are greater than any pleasure of sin.

‌Trust HIM in His holiness, faithfulness, power, goodness, grace, mercy and love.

‌Trust the LORD, with all your heart. Trust Him as God eternal – one with the Father.

‌If you are not a Christian yet – this is the one you must trust in order to be saved from the wrath of God for your sin: Acts 4:12 “And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.””

‌And Believer – there is no one else you can absolutely trust with every care, burden, need, concern and trial: Psalm 112:6–8 “For the righteous will never be moved; he will be remembered forever. He is not afraid of bad news; his heart is firm, trusting in the Lord. His heart is steady; he will not be afraid, until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.”

‌Beloved, this is so vastly important. I need to be sure we do not let this need to know Christ in His fullness pass by without pressing it.

‌Everything hangs on it.