In Our Place: Lenten Devotions From Time of GraceSample

Not guilty

It is not hard to despise the Phariseees of Jesus’ time for their small-minded stupidity, their self-righteous judging of others, and their blindness to their own wretched sin. It is not hard to mock Jesus’ disciples as dull-witted fools who usually misunderstood Jesus’ mission and agenda. It is not hard today to look around and see evildoers everywhere.

Have you seen the evildoer in the mirror?

The Roman soldiers crucified Christ. The Jewish high council crucified Christ. The Roman legal system, including the governor Pontius Pilate, crucified Christ. Isaiah did too, and so did we. “He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not” (Isaiah 53:3).

It is for all those sinful people--and it is for us--that Jesus needed to come to our world to be born, to live perfectly, and to die innocently. It is his sacrifice that makes the blood payment for us. It is his death that enables the Father to say “not guilty” upon us.

It is by his wounds, his wounds alone, that we are healed.