Emptiness = Exoneration

You cannot listen to the news today without hearing the word “exoneration” mentioned at least twice. Exoneration is the action of officially absolving someone from blame. It is official as it comes from one with authority to declare the purported offender free from blame or guilt. While in our current political climate this has sparked much debate, in the spiritual realm if hasn’t! As we approach Easter, we notice the emptiness. The emptiness of the cross where the King of Glory died. He died – not an untimely death of a young martyr – but as the sacrificial Lamb of God slain for the sins of the world. On that cross hung the only truly innocent man in the history of mankind. He suffered and died, not for anything he had done, but exclusively and only for what we had done. The centurion who stood at the foot of the cross while Jesus’ execution transpired, witness the whole ugly scene. And witnessing Jesus’ words and actions on the cross he mutters words that fall short of what actually happened: “Surely this was a righteous man.” (Luke 23:47) Yes, Jesus was a righteous man and so much more. He was the Son of God and the only person qualified to redeem fallen humanity.

            But more important than the cross being empty was fact that the tomb where is crucified body was laid was also empty. This is where exoneration comes in. Jesus Christ through his resurrection was exonerated – vindicated – by the only authority that matters in the whole universe: Almighty God. His sacrifice was deemed as a more than sufficient payment for all sin everywhere. All sins: past, present and future. God through Jesus Christ paid a high cost for that exoneration. Thank God he did!

            We too, sinful humanity, are exonerated: absolved and set free from the blame, guilt and penalty of our sin. This exoneration extends to all of mankind. It is open to everyone, bar none. This exoneration, this being absolved, can only be credited to our account if we accept it, by grace through faith in Jesus Christ. We cannot earn it. We do not, nor ever will, deserve it. We can only accept it through placing all of our faith in trust in the One who accomplished it for us. Jesus said: “I am the way, and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) That truth is just as true today as it was the instant Jesus uttered it 200 years ago. And, it will never change.

            Our exoneration through Christ is complete. Our sins are forgiven. I am always encouraged by three promises from the Old Testament that refer to Jesus Christ’s disposition of our sins.

Psalm 103:12: “as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed
our transgressions from us.”

Isaiah 38:17: “you have put all my sins behind your back.”

Jeremiah 31:34: “For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.”

            Some people call Christianity an empty religion and it is! Empty cross! Empty tomb! Through those believers are emptied of the guilt and shame of their son. Emptiness brings freedom. Emptiness brings life. Emptiness brings exoneration.

            Alleluia! Christ is risen! The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!