"His Blood Be Upon Us and On Our Children!" Matthew 27:25

Maundy Thursday                                                             14-April-2022
Theme: “Christ’s Passion: Revealing the Thoughts Of Many Hearts!”
Sermon Text: Matthew 27:25
Sermon Theme: ‘His Blood Be Upon Us and Our Children!” by Rev. Nathan J. Rusert

I.N.R.I. Blood saves - life is in the blood. Death approached blood would save. The innocent Passover lamb laid down its life rescuing the household from the angel of death. On the first Passover the Lord through Moses commanded the Passover lamb’s blood to be upon both parents and children of Israel. The Lamb poured out his life to be painted on the door to shield all within from death. The Lamb’s flesh would be sacrificed upon the burning wood. None of his bones were to be broken. His flesh would feast those saved from death to walk forward into new life. Slaves would finally breath freedom. Freed from chains liberty was their new life.
    The final Passover arrived. The Lamb of God had been named three years earlier by Aaron’s descendant, a prophesying priest named John baptizing sinners in the Jordan River. Washing them clean, his baptism washed away their transgressions calling them to a new life freed from Satan’s enslaving chains of sin. Washing the world’s sins upon the Lamb of God. John fixed our eyes upon Jesus preaching, John 1:29 ... "Behold! The Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!.” Now this Passover Lamb had been chosen by Caiaphas the High Priest. God the Holy Spirit preached through this man’s office - “John 11:50... it is expedient for us that one man should die for the people, and not that the whole nation should perish." Scripture teaches, “John 11:51-52 Now this he did not say on his own authority; but being high priest that year he prophesied that Jesus would die for the nation, (52) and not for that nation only, but also that He would gather together in one the children of God who were scattered abroad.”
      The Passover Lamb was chosen by the High Priest and purchased for 30 pieces of silver. Examined four times by priests and ruling authorities He was found to be spotless. The sacrifice is presented with washed hands. The Innocent Lamb will take the place of the guilty rebellious murderer. The crowds now reveal their hearts as they lust for His innocent blood to be spilt on the cross shaped altar. “His Blood Be Upon Us and Our Children!” is their cry of condemnation and prayer for salvation.
    The firstborn son belonged to the Lord. He had set them apart - sanctified them to be His own on the day that His avenging angel killed all the firstborn sons of Egypt and the firstborn of all their animals. The children of Israel were protected by the blood of the blemish free innocent male lamb. Now the Lord claimed their firstborn sons to serve Him. Later He would choose Aaron and his descendants to serve as priests instead of the firstborn sons. Still the firstborn sons had to be redeemed - bought back from the Lord- forty days after their birth. Joseph and Mary were redeeming their firstborn - Jesus - when faithful Simeon rejoice to see his Salvation. He told the Virgin Mother that her Son would be a sign to be spoken against and a sword would pierce her own heart revealing the thoughts of many.
    Jesus trial is ending. History records, Matthew 27:24-25 When Pilate saw that he could not prevail at all, but rather that a tumult was rising, he took water and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, "I am innocent of the blood of this just Person. You see to it." (25) And all the people answered and said, "His blood be on us and on our children."
      God gave His covenant to the children of Israel at Mount Sinai. Moses wrote down and spoke God’s Word to the people. “All the words which the Lord has said we will do!” they responded. Then an altar was built to the Lord and history records, Exodus 24:5-8 Then he sent young men of the children of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the LORD. (6) And Moses took half the blood and put it in basins, and half the blood he sprinkled on the altar. (7) Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read in the hearing of the people. And they said, "All that the LORD has said we will do, and be obedient." (8) And Moses took the blood, sprinkled it on the people, and said, "This is the blood of the covenant which the LORD has made with you according to all these words.". The blood of the covenant sprinkled on the people brought them into full fellowship with the Lord God. The blood sprinkled on the altar confessed their full surrender to their Lord God.
        The Jewish crowd crying out, “His blood be on us and our children.” has been perverted by many as an excuse the persecute them. Jesus wept over Jerusalem and the destruction with which Rome would level it in 70A.D.. The Apostle Paul was broken hearted and, if possible, would’ve become accursed from Christ if it would save his fellow Jews. The Jewish mob present at Jesus’ trial stirred up by the high priest to demand His crucifixion. Are like Caiaphas - they don’t know what they are saying - but are speaking according to their office as God’s covenant people under Moses. Now a new and greater covenant is being established between the Lord God and all nations.
          The evening before Jesus celebrated the final Passover with His disciples. Suddenly He breaks from the Passover liturgy, Matthew 26:26-28 And as they were eating, Jesus took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to the disciples and said, "Take, eat; this is My body." (27) Then He took the cup, and gave thanks, and gave it to them, saying, "Drink from it, all of you. (28) For this is My blood of the new covenant, which is shed for many for the remission of sins.” On Sinai the children of Israel had promised to “do all the words” the Lord God commanded. They failed. In just 40 days they were bowing down to a golden calf - a idol - a nothing - a fake god of their own imagination.
Trusting in their doing, they forgot about God’s Promise spoken to Abraham. The Promise of the Savior first given to Adam on the day of the rebellion. The Promise that God comes to save us through the flesh of the Virgin mother.
    Like the Jewish mob we forget the saving cry of the New Covenant, ‘His blood be upon us and on our children.” We imagine that we earn God’s favor by what we do, think, say, or even feel. We run back to Moses on Sinai to trust in our deeds, rather than running to Calvary to Jesus’ precious blood - which alone cleanses us from all sins. Tonight stop running! Instead sit at His table and receive the blood of His new covenant. Not of doing, but of done! Complete! Finished for you! Sealed with the living blood of Christ Jesus!
    50 days after Passover, after Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, the pilgrim crowds again gathered in Jerusalem. It was the feast of weeks, of the first harvest, of the giving of the Law at Sinai.   On that day, the prayers of the mob demanding Jesus’ crucifixion was answered. His blood was poured out upon them and their children. Hearing a rushing wind they were gathered to hear the message of the cross preached.   Peter convicted them of crucifying the Lord of Life by lawless hands. The Jews were cut to the heart crying out, “Men and brethren, what shall we do?” Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said to them, "Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. (39) For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call." On that day Christ’s blood was washed upon 3,000 men and their children in holy baptism.
    Dear Christian - when you rise in the morning and go to bed at night saying, “In the Name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit” as you trace the sign of the cross pray, ‘His blood be upon me and upon my children!” Rejoice that in the rosy red water of your baptism forgiveness of sins is worked for you today, rescue from death and the devil is effected for you today, and eternal salvation is gifted to you today! Cling to Christ’s Word and promise that His real blood saves real sinners like me and you!
    “His blood be upon us and on our children!” Graciously the Lord heard and answered this prayer. The first Jewish Christian Church is gathered and sustained by the blood of Jesus. St. Luke records, “Acts 2:42 And they continued steadfastly in the apostles' doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers.” The Jewish Christian congregation clung to the message of the cross confessing Christ’s doctrine given through His apostles. One in Christ’s doctrine bound them together in fellowship as a community. One in doctrine, one in Christ’s body - they celebrated the Lord’s Supper every Sunday - Luke calls it “the breaking of bread”. Bound together in common confession they shared the prayers - the common liturgy of Christ’s church echoing His Word in the Temple and Synagogue liturgy from the ancient church.
    ‘His blood be upon us and upon our children!” Dear confirmands, this is your parents prayer for you. They prayed it bringing you to Him in holy baptism. They pray it every day in family devotions. They confess it every Sunday bringing you to His Church to receive His cross won - empty tomb certified forgiveness in absolution. Now they rejoice for you to be served by your Living Lord Jesus at His table. In bread He gives, seals, and places upon your lips His whole living body given as ransom for you! Never doubt that He has redeemed a sinner like you. In wine He gives, seals, and places upon the very lips of your body His whole living blood poured out for you washing away all your sins. His life eternal now fills your body, knits you into Himself. Every time you commune, Jesus draws near to bring you into true fellowship with God, not with the sacrificial blood of mere animals, but with His holy precious blood, the Lamb of God without spot or blemish.
        “His blood be upon us and on our children!” The Lord’s Supper is a community meal of fellow Christians knit together in Christ’s doctrine by God the Holy Spirit. You cannot celebrate the Lord’s Supper in private, isolated from others, by yourself - it is a congregational meal. A meal that points us forward to the Life of the World to come!   1 Corinthians 11:26 For as often as you eat this bread and drink this cup, you proclaim the Lord's death till He comes.” Every time you kneel here to be feasted by Christ Jesus on His living flesh and blood - you are confessing - I crucified Jesus - He bears my sin, my guilt, my shame, my lies, my death, and my hell. He is the Lamb of God, my Scapegoat - I lay all my sins on Jesus. Then I hear from His gracious lips, “Peace, Take eat this is My body, take drink, this is My blood - I gave and shed it FOR YOU - you are forgiven!” Death will now pass over you - for I live - you shall live also - for where there is forgiveness of sins, there is also life, and salvation. Amen.