And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and
said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in
remembrance of me. After the same manner also he took the cup, when he
had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do
ye, as oft as ye drink it, in
remembrance of me.
For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this
cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come. (1Co 11:23-26)
Before Jesus to be
hanged on the cross, there was a notable prisoner,
called Barabbas.
One described as a 'robber' in Joh 18:40; he had made an insurrection and had committed murder. Mr 15:7-15.
The name Barabbas could
means also as ("son of the father.") A contrast to the true Son of the
Father! The Jews asked the murderous taker of life to be given as a
favor to them (since it was being customary to release one prisoner at
the pass-over), and killed the Prince of life! Peter did not fail to
charge upon the Jews concerning releasing Barabbas, "Ye denied the Holy
One and the Just, and desired a murderer to be granted unto you." Ac
3:14.
As the story goes in
remembering the Lord’s death, Pilate tried to release Jesus but the
chief priests and elders successfully persuaded the multitude against
Pilate that they should ask for Barabbas, and destroy Jesus.
The governor answered and said unto them, Which of the two will you that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. (Mt 27:21)
And so Pilate, willing to satisfy the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified. (Mr 15:15)
The great exchange has happened.
If Barabbas, after his liberation, had gone out to Calvary to witness the Crucifixion, and had informed himself as to who it was that had taken his place on the central cross, he would have known five things. First an "Innocent Sufferer" had taken HIS PLACE. Second; he HAD DONE NOTHING TO MERIT THAT SUBSTITUTION. Third;That Christ's substitution in his place SATISFIED THE LAW. Fourth; he was a JUSTLY CONDEMNED SINNER. Fifth;That Jesus was an INNOCENT SUFFERER.
A picture of the efficacy and "Substitutionary" character of the Atonement of Christ on the Cross for the fallen human race.
A true story of another substitutionary event ...
One night on the month of July, 1794, an elderly man walking in the dark trying to identify people who were locked up in the underground prison of Paris. He noticed a young guy in a deep sleep which he had been looking for. Could he? Yes, indeed he is his own son.
Without the knowledge of his father, the boy had been arrested and imprisoned. The heart of the father was terribly sorry knowing the fate that will befall his son; awaiting death penalty with guillotine. Throughout the night the father guards his son as he prayed not to wake him up from sleep.
Early morning three men entered into the cave prison and one of them called out: 'Jean Simon de Loiserolle! “Soon the father jumped up from his place and said: "Here!"
When walking to place of execution, they passed a sign that listed name crossed off of the prisoner. 'Jean Simon de Loiserolle age of 37? ", inquired the soldier. "That's my name, 'replied the old man,' but I was 73!" "One writes in error!", grumbled the soldier, 'Seventy-three, not thirty-seven! " as he corrected. And they continued walking to the guillotine.
The son woke up, expecting every moment the call out. Finally one said: 'During the night an old man sitting watching over you, and when the guard called out your name this morning, he replied on your behalf and go to the execution. "But I'm Jean Simon de Loiserolle," cried the boy, but his cry was in vain. With a deep bitterness he realized that his own father had replaced his place, because the father and son have the same name.