The Great Exchange

"Then Pilate set Barabbas free for them; then after he had Jesus whipped, he handed him over to be crucified." Matt. 27:26 Before Pilate did this he said three times that he had found no guilt in this man. Then it hit me an 'AHA' moment, Barabbas had to be released. How else could we appreciate the reality of the salvation plan. He didn't That was the salvation played out before us, the innocent paying the price for the guilty. Not by works of righteousness but by grace! There stood Barabbas a murderer, a thief and an open opponent of Caesar and the crowd chose Him to be set free. And then in a historic turn around the crowd called Jesus an opponent of Caesar openly antagonizing Caesar!! Those were the sins of Barabbas not Jesus! He knew no SIN, the bible says this over and again. This only points out that he is our salvation, he bore all our sins and sets us free. It is worthy of note that the passover is a time of release of one prisoner by Caesar, It was customary, and so Barabbas was released. Did the crowd choose right or wrong. They chose right. Barabbas was a prisoner, a sinner, in bondage, he needed salvation, he needed to be free, yes he needed FREEDOM! He got it. I do not know what happened to him after that and I leave you to decide that for yourself; if someone took your place, which you rightfully know is yours and died for you physically how would your life be after. Jesus did it for Barabbas. He seemed forced, but it is not true, he laid down his life. He was crucified, but he knew no sin, he died with thieves yet he was no thief, there was the physical switch. He died in my place. That is why I can say have a very happy EASTER and be resurrected with Christ. He died in my place, what do you think?