The Substitute

Our church has gone on several mission trips to help hang sheetrock for churches that are building a new building but are saving funds by getting volunteers to do different parts of the work. We were some of those volunteers.

For an amateur like me, walls are hard to sheetrock. Ceilings are VERY hard. Sometimes because of a shortage of lifts or the shape of a given room, we had to manhandle the sheetrock up to the ceiling and hold it in place while it was being screwed into the ceiling.

For someone who does not do physical labor often, the exertion required was painful and tiring. It was such a joy when another worker would offer to give me a break to rest for a moment. I needed a substitute.

In Luke 23:13-25 we read about how the trials of Jesus ended. Pilate, the Roman official overseeing the trial, found no grounds to hold Jesus, much less impose the death penalty. But, the religious leaders incited the crowds to call for Jesus’ crucifixion. “Crucify Him!”

Pilate offered to release one of the prisoners as a gesture of good will since it was the Passover season. Pilate knew that the crowds would choose to release Jesus, especially since the other candidate was a murdering rebel named Barabbas.

Pilate points to Jesus, then Barabbas, and asks which person the crowds wanted released. “Release Barabbas to us!” shouted the crowds. Trying to persuade them otherwise, Pilate asks again. The crowds get more raucous and shout louder for Barabbas. They insist that Jesus should be crucified.

And so it was. Barabbas, a murderer and a rebel, went free. Jesus went to the cross. The one deserving death walked away. The one who is innocent walked up Calvary.

And so it is. We who are also marred by sin and rebellion in our hearts have the opportunity to be free to follow Jesus. Why? Because Jesus went to the cross for us. Barabbas was the literal one who went free. We are the spiritual ones who can be free of sin.

Jesus was the substitute who went to the cross that Barabbas deserved. Jesus is my substitute who went to the cross that I deserved. Jesus took the punishment I deserved as He took my place to make the payment for my sin. That is the glory of the cross. He died, so I could be forgiven and live. What a substitute!

I know that we all have COVID-19 on our minds. And we should. But, our bigger problem is the problem of sin. I think God will walk with us through the Coronavirus 2020 event. I know He has already handled the problem of sin through Jesus.

While working through the difficulties of your life now, I invite you to call out to the One who was your substitute in order to deal with an even bigger problem in life, your sin.

(Questions/Responses? jeff.perkins@mbclife.org)