“And Pilate gave sentence that it should be as they required. And he released unto them him that for sedition and murder was cast into prison, whom they had desired; but he delivered Jesus to their will.” (Luke 23:24-25 KJV).
The mob, led by the chief priests and religious leaders kept at their shouting charade demanding that the Lord be crucified. And with all the pressure, they shouted him down. Pilate caved in and gave them what they wanted. He released the man in prison for rebellion and murder, and gave them our Lord Jesus to do whatever they wanted. The Divine Exchange of the New Covenant of grace is displayed. A guilty sinner is fully set free because an innocent Savior took his place.
Barabbas represents you, me and every single believer. Like you and me who yield our life to the Lord Jesus by faith, he did nothing to earn his freedom. He neither reform his behavior while in prison to deserve release. He was set free simply because our Lord Jesus took condemnation. This mirrors how we that believe receive righteousness and freedom under the New Covenant—purely as unearned, unmerited favor of grace.
The divine exchange is highlighted. The guilty Barabbas, who was justly convicted, walks away alive and free. Our innocent Lord is to be condemned to die. He, who is repeatedly declared having committed no crime, takes the punishment.
Barabbas, who represents us, in Hebrew and Aramaic, means “son of the father.” Hence, when our Lord stood in place of the ‘son of the father, He was standing in our place. The true Son of the Father became the ultimate substitute so that we—the fallen sons of the father—could be redeemed and renewed to be righteous children of God.
This Apostle John affirms in the epistle, as it is written: “See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him.” (1 John 3:1 ESV).
And I say, AMEN!
Daily reflections by:
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC.
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
F. A. Frias
PFC Ministries
When God says... I say, AMEN! is a provocative reflection of the Lord's holy Word. It intends to challenge every seeker of truth to dig deep into the core of the Word of Life to point every being to Christ Jesus - the author and finisher of our faith, and to draw revelations for change, for nourishment and for strength of every soul.
Partners For Christ Ministries, INC.
P. O. Box 773716
Ocala, FL 34477
Touching lives in Cambodia, The Philippines, The Middle East, The USA, and... other countries.
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