our voices in that moment

And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”

Matthew 27:25

The last words that Matthew records coming from Jesus’ official trial before Pilate, the Roman authority who granted execution, was this interchange between Pilate and the frenzied crowd. Pilate made the dramatic gesture, an emphatic dodge of responsibility, washing his hands and declaring himself innocent in the decision to hand Jesus over to be crucified.

The crowd by this time is in a fury of hatred. They speak viciously without realizing just how prophetic their words would be. They literally said they didn’t care if Jesus bled out all over them and their children. They were perfectly fine being the executioners of Jesus. But what they did not realize is that the crowd spoke for sinners everywhere for all time. Jesus would shed His blood for even their murder of Him. He would die for their children and for every generation after them. He would shed His blood so that sinners everywhere for all time, in any situation, could come to Him to be covered by His bloody sacrifice, find forgiveness, and receive eternal life.

In this horrific prophetic chant: “His blood be on us…” is the power of the gospel and the essence of what we must believe to be saved. Because Jesus’ blood covers sin, forgives our trespasses, and heals our souls, we benefit from what was a hateful cry to kill Him. Our voices in essence were in that very moment.

And as a sinner in need of salvation, at one point of my life, I prayed in trust knowing my sins deserved hell, but that Jesus died to forgive me. And in that moment of belief, my voice joined a chorus, not of hate, but of faith, accepting Jesus’ blood on me for the forgiveness and grace that I needed. Sinners may have cried out for His blood to be shed. Sinners wanted Jesus dead. But now sinners in need find grace, healing, and eternity with God because His blood is upon us. God’s grace turns gloriously full circle. His blood be on us! His blood be on our children! His blood be on me! Amen!