Welcome to another day the Lord has made that we should rejoice and be glad in. (Psalms 118:24)

As we continue our journey up redemption road, let’s focus on the true source of redemption.

Today’s scripture, Luke 23:18-25 (NIV) shares…
[18] But the whole crowd shouted, “Away with this man! Release Barabbas to us!” [19] (Barabbas had been thrown into prison for an insurrection in the city, and for murder.) [20] Wanting to release Jesus, Pilate appealed to them again. [21] But they kept shouting, “Crucify him! Crucify him!” [22] For the third time he spoke to them: “Why? What crime has this man committed? I have found in him no grounds for the death penalty. Therefore I will have him punished and then release him.” [23] But with loud shouts they insistently demanded that he be crucified, and their shouts prevailed. [24] So Pilate decided to grant their demand. [25] He released the man who had been thrown into prison for insurrection and murder, the one they asked for, and surrendered Jesus to their will.

Consider…
Last Sunday our preacher, Patrick Tanner, taught on the significance of Barabbas. He spoke from the perspective of us choosing our sin over Christ’s righteousness.

His message got me to thinking more about this scene with Jesus and Barabbas. While meditating, the Holy Spirit revealed an alarming truth, which is that many people focus more on the crucifixion and resurrection than on Christ.

Then the Holy Spirit showed me how an innocent Christ literally and physically took the place of a guilty Barabbas on the cross. Jesus willingly accepted the punishment planned for Barabbas, before He ever mounted the cross! Indeed, our Lord and Savior died to pay a convicted criminal’s debt.

This reminds me of Philippians 2:8 (NLT), which testifies…
[8] he humbled himself in obedience to God and died a criminal’s death on a cross.

It also makes me think of Romans 5:7-8 (NIV) which says…
[7] Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. [8] But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

I don’t know if we fully appreciate the fact that WE’RE Barabbas!

The Holy Spirit provided Romans 3:23-26 (NLT) to emphasize this fact…
[23] For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God’s glorious standard. [24] Yet God, in his grace, freely makes us right in his sight. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. [25] For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, [26] for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he makes sinners right in his sight when they believe in Jesus.

As I read these verses, it dawned on me that there was no mention of the cross or rolled away stone. However, there is emphasis on Jesus being sacrificed for sin.

Don’t misunderstand, Calvary’s Cross and the empty tomb are important, but don’t let the props make you miss the true power source of redemption.

Hebrews 9:22-26 (NLT) explains…
[22] In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. [23] That is why the Tabernacle and everything in it, which were copies of things in heaven, had to be purified by the blood of animals. But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals. [24] For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. He entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. [25] And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. [26] If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.

Notice the scripture says…
But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice.

Just like Jesus assumed Barabbas’ penalty for sin before the cross, He atoned for ours on it. Let’s be clear, we’re set from sin through the Son.

The Holy Spirit used Ephesians 1:6-7 (NLT) to make this crystal clear. It says…
[6] So we praise God for the glorious grace he has poured out on us who belong to his dear Son. [7] He is so rich in kindness and grace that he purchased our freedom with the blood of his Son and forgave our sins.

Verse 7 pressed play on Gateway Worship and Kari Jobe singing…

Oh, the blood, crimson love
Price of life’s demand
Shameful sin placed on Him
The hope of every man

Oh, the blood of Jesus washes me
Oh, the blood of Jesus shed for me
What a sacrifice that saved my life
Yes, the blood, it is my victory

Savior Son, holy One
Slain so I can live
Oh, see the Lamb, the Great I Am
Who takes away my sin

During this season of reflection, we must always remember what Christ did for us.

In fact Luke 22:19-20 (NLT) expressly says…
[19] He took some bread and gave thanks to God for it. Then he broke it in pieces and gave it to the disciples, saying, “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” [20] After supper he took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and his people—an agreement confirmed with my blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you.

Notice Jesus told His disciples, and us, to remember His broken body and sacrificed blood.

I could go on and on about remembering the Source of our salvation, more the resources He used to accomplish it. But, the Holy Spirit is telling me to leave you with one final parallel to this salvific scene with Barabbas.

The scripture that He guided me to is 1 John 2:1-2 (NLT), which says…
[1] My dear children, I am writing this to you so that you will not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate who pleads our case before the Father. He is Jesus Christ, the one who is truly righteous. [2] He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins—and not only our sins but the sins of all the world.

Notice, John said God’s goal is that we don’t sin, BUT if we do we have an advocate in Jesus who pleads our case. Now you may ask, where do we read Jesus pleaded Barabbas’ case? The answer is simply, by accepting Barabbas’ sentence of death. You see, by Roman law some criminal was going to die on that Friday. That fact adds meaning to Philippians 2:8 saying…
and died a criminal’s death on a cross

Jesus didn’t die of natural causes, He died a criminal’s death because of supernatural clauses.

2 Corinthians 5:21 (NLT) explains…
[21] For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.

Jesus willingly died for Barabbas so that He could obediently die for all of us.

So, whenever you solemnly reflect on what happened on the cross, and eagerly anticipate the victory of the empty grave, don’t forget that it’s Jesus’ broken body and poured out blood that is the true source of our redemption.

Like the hymn says…

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Refrain:
O precious is the flow
that makes me white as snow;
no other fount I know;
nothing but the blood of Jesus.

For my pardon this I see:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
For my cleansing this my plea:
nothing but the blood of Jesus. [Refrain]

Nothing can for sin atone:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
Naught of good that I have done:
nothing but the blood of Jesus. [Refrain]

This is all my hope and peace:
nothing but the blood of Jesus.
This is all my righteousness:
nothing but the blood of Jesus. [Refrain]

Let me close with another hymn refrain…

Jesus paid it all,
All to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

Jesus, WHO paid your debt, is more important than the resources HE used to pay it.

Today’s song is…
I Owe It All

Blessings 4HG (1 Corinthians 10:31)