INDEPENDENCE DAY, Bishop’s Letter for Palm Sunday/Good Friday, 13 April 2025 Anno Domini, the Anglican Orthodox Communion Worldwide
The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. Matthew 27:21
A certain man was found guilty by the High Court and sentenced to death. The evidence against him was so overwhelming that no one could contest or deny the decision. The man deserved death, and death he would get. The date for his execution was set for Friday, the day of the month when criminals were put to a slow and tortuous death.
The man lingered in his cellar jail cell in custody of the authorities with only an occasional serving of bread and water. He could not sleep owing to his restless worry and misery. Suddenly, his sorrowful solitude was interrupted by a burst of excitement as another prisoner was being questioned in the courtyard above his cave-like cell. His curiosity of that event was interrupted when the guards came to drag him out shackled hand and foot. He was dragged across the paddock and up to the balcony of Pontius Pilate. His troubled mind could not comprehend what this could be about. He was drawn up beside a horribly beaten and disfigured man who stood silently by the governor when suddenly, he heard the Roman governor ask, “Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas!.” Unbelievably the crowd demanded the release of Barabbas – a murderer and insurrectionist – and the crucifixion of the other so horribly wounded.
Though this was the verdict of the multitude, Barabbas remembered hearing Pilate declare Christ innocent, but suffered Him to be crucified, nonetheless. Was it possible for Pilate to be absolved of the guilt of a totally unjust sentence simply by washing his hands?
That man, Barabbas, was set free while Christ took his place on the cross; and Barabbas represents each one of us. Though the freedom of Barabbas was freedom from a horrible physical death, the freedom that Christ purchased for you and me was one of eternal life. We were convicted in our bondage to sin, and Jesus took the penalty for our transgressions upon Himself. How relieved was Barabbas, and so should we enjoy an even greater relief.
Such is the meaning of our Independence Day in Christ – we are made free from the bondage of sin by our Passover Lamb just as surely as Israel was made free of the yoke of servitude to Egypt at Goshen during the first Passover.
The victory of our salvation would follow some three days hence following the death and burial of our Lord Jesus Christ. That victory was sealed by His resurrection from the Garden Tomb on Easter Sunday. What a joy and benefit we have received through no labors or works of our own. Our salvation has come by His righteousness and sacrifice and none of our own. This is the decision of a Sovereign Lord and Father.
I pray that we will all be mindful of what an immeasurable price has been paid for our salvation from the bondage of sin this Good Friday and following Easter.
