Good Friday Really Is Good!…By Bobbi

In the account of Barabbas being released found in Matthew 27:15-26, I was recently made aware of some awesome realities of God. As Pilate made his decision to release Barabbas, there is not indication of Barabbas questioning Pilate or petitioning him as to “why” he was being unconditionally given his freedom. He did not ask Pilate, “Don’t I have to do something to earn this deliverance? Shouldn’t I work to merit this release?” NO! He just received his pardon and probably ran as fast as he could and as far away as he could from that prison house! Amazing what a dynamic picture this is in the natural of our total and complete pardon and deliverance in Christ. Yet how often we insist on trying to merit our salvation or prove our worthiness by seeking “things we could and should do”. This visual of a guilty man receiving his undeserved pardon without hesitation should speak to any pull from the enemy that says we must work for what has already been freely given to us.

It’s amazing the details of God we discover in the scriptures! Even in the means used to determine Jesus’ death sentence, a guilty man was set completely free. The death of a sinless Man, Jesus, made the pardon of a guilty man possible. Wow – could God make it any clearer? There is nothing we can do to save ourselves or free ourselves. Only by the mercy of God is it all possible. Jesus bore ALL our sin in His body on the cross and offered His life for ours. Now by His grace, we are freely pardoned and released from ALL judgement which was against us based on our own sin. Jesus’ death and resurrection has secured for us who believe an irreversible exchange of lives. Jesus’ life was given in exchange for Barabbas; the sinless Man died and the guilty ones now live! May we embrace the totality of what God’s gracious gift has secured for all eternity!

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