Questioned For Christ – A Question of Sacrifice
I hope that by this time in the Lenten season you’ve already begun to anticipate the question I’ll be asking. It’s also my hope that this question is causing us to squirm uncomfortably a bit in our pews. For we are, once again, subjected to the interrogator’s spotlight. In asking ourselves this important reflective question, we begin to sweat under the hot light of God’s law as we’re grilled with the searing question: If you were arrested for being a Christian, would there be enough evidence to convict you? It’s a question that becomes painfully uncomfortable, because we know that we too, sit in the hot seat along with Barabbas.
As I say this, I’m sure that the first thought that crosses many people’s mind is, “there’s no way.” In no way can you stand there and compare me and my actions to those of the likes of Barabbas. Common sense dictates that my indiscretions are in no way comparable to the likes of a murderer and insurrectionist. We rationalize that there’s no way that any slap on the wrist we might deserve, could even closely be compared to the punishment earned by a man like Barabbas. Our own self-righteousness and sense of fair play makes it easy for us to dismiss our own guilt by comparing ourselves to the most criminal among us. Surely we aren’t as bad as, say, a member of ISIS or Boco Haram, a Timothy McVeigh or a Charles Manson. After all, we haven’t murdered or led rebellions; we haven’t incited riots or insurrections. We don’t rob banks, steal cars, or burglarize stores. We attend church, pay tithes, taxes and give to the poor and otherwise excuse ourselves of our shortcomings by saying that we may not be perfect, but—compared to many—we’re nearly innocent, just barely sinners, only modest transgressors. Rationalizing our guilt in this manner makes us feel better, but does that make it true? Is that the way God see’s things? After all, doesn’t God categorize sin in the same manner as we do our lies? There are those sins that are, without question, out and out wrong; evil actions that society writes laws against. And then there are those “harmless” indiscretions; actions that while possibly are frowned upon, are not so bad or might be labeled as innocent, like little white lies for example?
If God’s law were tailored after man’s law, perhaps we could make a case for a reduced sentence. Maybe our crimes might be considered simple misdemeanors, minor infractions that are entitled to special consideration, perhaps just a little community service time and a suspended sentence. But God’s ways are not our ways. His law is clear: “You therefore must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect” (Matthew 5:48). What we’re faced with, is the fact that God’s law leaves no room for plea-bargaining. Sin is precisely defined in God’s codebook, as James declares: “For whoever keeps the whole law but fails in one point has become accountable for all of it” (James 2:10). The Bible doesn’t provide for wiggle room, no extenuating circumstance. We can’t even claim it’s a first-time offense. Paul is clear when he says that the punishment is severe: “The wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23).
The cross was reserved for the most hardened criminals—those deserving public disgrace and punishment. Again Paul makes it very clear that none are excluded when earlier in Romans he writes, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). Paul laments our condition in the words of David’s psalm: “None is righteous, no not one” (Romans 3:10). So it’s with these passages ringing in our ears that we plead, where can we go for refuge? What defense strategy is available to us? What lawyer would be willing to plead our case? Who would be willing to intervene on behalf of someone who’s clearly guilty?
When a suspect is caught red-handed, with witnesses, with plenty of evidence, topped by a confession, there are no options. The accused is caught dead to rights. We find we have no rights—they are dead to us. On our own, we realize that we have no appeal before God. Our hope of freedom is crushed and so we are crushed under the weight of our guilt. Then, we hear the most amazing turn of events.
Jesus walks into the interrogation room to offer Himself in your place. Paul writes: “For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:7-8). Like Barabbas, who was guilty as … well … as sin, we walk scot-free; no trial, no plea bargain, no parole. In Christ we’re declared not guilty. It’s as if no crime were ever committed. Previously, we were left without a choice, nothing with which to bargain. Yet we were released; no charges, no citation, not even a smudge on our record. How is this possible; how could this be? The Lord Himself became our sin, our punishment, our advocate, our mediator.
John tells us in his first epistle, “If anybody does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ, the Righteous One. He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world (1 John 2:1 NIV). Yes we are undeserving, yet God loved us: “This is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins” (I John 4:10 NIV). Jesus took our sins onto Himself: “For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God” (2 Corinthians 5:21). We are credited with His righteousness. Again in Paul’s letter to the Romans we read, “It will be counted to us who believe in him who raised from the dead Jesus our Lord, who was delivered up for our trespasses and raised for our justification” (Romans 4:24-25). Jesus chose to go to the Cross in our place. And because of His suffering and death, we are pardoned, even as Pilate pardoned Barabbas.
Having confessed our guilt and placed our faith in the One who can redeem, we can now take comfort in the promise that we have been set free through the death and resurrection of Jesus and turn our eyes and hearts to our crucified and risen Lord. We can look to Him for strength to make the right choices, to make loving decisions and selfless sacrifices, and we look to Him for His blood-bought forgiveness each time we fail. Even that ability, to make God-pleasing choices, to live as children of light, is a blessing from God. The fruit that grows in our lives is the fruit of the Holy Spirit. As Jesus said in John chapter 15, “You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear much fruit and that your fruit should abide” (John 15:16).
The promise is clear for those who confess their sins and believe in Jesus as their Lord and Savior: But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:12-13)
In Jesus’ name. Amen.