Most of us like to think we’re not really bad people but suppose for a moment we were. Let’s imagine for a moment we have engaged in terrorism and committed some real atrocities. Sentenced to death for murder we’re in prison on Death Row. Any day could be our last.
One day we hear footsteps in the passageway outside, the key rattles in the lock and the door swings open.
‘On your feet!’ says the guard, ‘Let’s go!’
With a mixture of dread and defiance we make our way outside where it’s dark and cold. Is this the day? We look round at the guards and to our amazement one of them reaches forward and removes the chains from our wrists.
‘You’re free to go,’ he growls, ‘Get out of here!’
What? Is there some mistake? We thought we were going to be executed. It’s what we deserve, what we earned with our crimes. But amazingly the guard is pointing to the gate which is open!
‘But how? Why?’ We protest in disbelief. ‘I don’t understand. Do you know what I’ve done? I’m guilty!’
‘Oh we know,’ says the guard and points through the gloom to where in the distance we can just make out three crosses.
‘See that middle cross? That one’s yours!’
‘But… there’s someone on that cross!’
‘Uh- huh. He volunteered. And now justice is deemed to have been served. Due sentence has been carried out. Your crime’s paid for. Because he’s there, you’ve been acquitted. Now beat it!’
People sometimes speak about ‘the cross of Christ’ but it wasn’t His cross. It rightfully belonged to Barabbas and not to him alone. It’s got my name on it. And yours and every other sinner who’s ever lived. That’s where we’re meant to be. But because Jesus took our place we can be saved and delivered.
As we walk free let’s ask ourselves how will we live and what shall we do for the One Who took our cross.
One day we hear footsteps in the passageway outside, the key rattles in the lock and the door swings open.
‘On your feet!’ says the guard, ‘Let’s go!’
With a mixture of dread and defiance we make our way outside where it’s dark and cold. Is this the day? We look round at the guards and to our amazement one of them reaches forward and removes the chains from our wrists.
‘You’re free to go,’ he growls, ‘Get out of here!’
What? Is there some mistake? We thought we were going to be executed. It’s what we deserve, what we earned with our crimes. But amazingly the guard is pointing to the gate which is open!
‘But how? Why?’ We protest in disbelief. ‘I don’t understand. Do you know what I’ve done? I’m guilty!’
‘Oh we know,’ says the guard and points through the gloom to where in the distance we can just make out three crosses.
‘See that middle cross? That one’s yours!’
‘But… there’s someone on that cross!’
‘Uh- huh. He volunteered. And now justice is deemed to have been served. Due sentence has been carried out. Your crime’s paid for. Because he’s there, you’ve been acquitted. Now beat it!’
People sometimes speak about ‘the cross of Christ’ but it wasn’t His cross. It rightfully belonged to Barabbas and not to him alone. It’s got my name on it. And yours and every other sinner who’s ever lived. That’s where we’re meant to be. But because Jesus took our place we can be saved and delivered.
As we walk free let’s ask ourselves how will we live and what shall we do for the One Who took our cross.
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