READ: MATTHEW 27; ROMANS 10:9-13; 1 JOHN 1:7–2:2

"His blood is on us and on our children!” the people shouted. This quote comes from Matthew 27:25. The people are gathered around the Roman governor of Judea, Pontius Pilate. They are begging him to have Jesus crucified. At this point Pilate has already reluctantly agreed, literally washing his hands to show he does not condone this punishment. He declares in verse 24, “I am innocent of this man’s blood…It is your responsibility!”

I was re-reading this passage in preparation for Easter, and I couldn’t help but be struck by the terrible irony in the words of the people. They are declaring they want Jesus dead so badly they don’t care if they, and future generations, are basically held responsible for His murder. They’re shouting, “His blood is on us and on our children!”

Little do the people know that Jesus is about to go to the cross and shed His blood—for them. For the crowd. For the criminals beside him. For Pilate. For everyone. For you. For me. And here they are insisting He be crucified, lying about what He’s done to deserve death, and shouting for His murder.

And it’s not like the people stopped once Jesus was on the cross. No. They kept mocking Him, even putting up a sign labeling Him as “King of the Jews” (verse 37). Yet, He is King of the Jews. And of everyone else. He is the Messiah, the one the Jews had been waiting for. But it was the Jewish religious leaders who paid Judas, Jesus’s disciple and friend, thirty pieces of silver to betray Him (26:14-16). But that is our Jesus. His blood covers us all. But not because anyone said, “His blood is on us and our children.” No. It’s because the cost of our sin was death. And a perfect sacrifice was required to pay off our debt. And that’s what Jesus offered willingly. His blood covers us and all of our guilt—for everyone who trusts in Jesus and receives it. • Natty Maelle

• Have you ever done something so bad you felt like God would never accept you? Well, that’s why Jesus died for you and rose again. He made the way to forgive and cleanse those who mocked and killed Him. He can—and wants to—forgive you (Romans 15:7). Consider taking a moment to confess any sins that have been weighing on you, and thank Jesus for shedding His blood to forgive you. If you want to know more about this good news, check out our "Know Jesus" page.

But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin. 1 John 1:7 (NIV)