“He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds you have been healed.”
1 Peter 2:24
We’ve zeroed in on Barabbas for a few days, yet we know the real story is that an innocent One, Jesus, died for the unapologetically guilty one. If we cringe at this guilty man going free, we have to cringe at ourselves, who were just as guilty before God.
The Bible tells us that every single member of the human race is Barabbas: “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6); “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10).
This, of course, is not a popular sentiment, even at Easter. We don’t dress up in our spring best and go to Grandma’s house because we’re thinking about what depraved sinners we are. The truth is that in the eyes of our holy God, everyone is guilty, convicted, and sentenced by God Himself.
Yet like Barabbas, we have the chance for freedom. We can shake off our chains, walk out of the prison of sin and death, and be given a miraculous, undeserved opportunity for new life. Jesus purchased it for you with His blood.
The Bible tells us that every single member of the human race is Barabbas: “We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all” (Isaiah 53:6); “There is no one righteous, not even one” (Romans 3:10).
This, of course, is not a popular sentiment, even at Easter. We don’t dress up in our spring best and go to Grandma’s house because we’re thinking about what depraved sinners we are. The truth is that in the eyes of our holy God, everyone is guilty, convicted, and sentenced by God Himself.
Yet like Barabbas, we have the chance for freedom. We can shake off our chains, walk out of the prison of sin and death, and be given a miraculous, undeserved opportunity for new life. Jesus purchased it for you with His blood.
Scripture Focus
1 Peter 2:21-25
Insight
“Jesus was not dying for His own crimes, but for the crimes of others; … He did not die for Himself, He died for us!” (Sinclair Ferguson, 1999)
Bible In A Year
- Numbers 23-24
- Psalm 73
- John 14-15
