There was a notorious criminal in a certain village who was sentenced to death and sent to the dungeons, awaiting his execution. Then one morning, the executioner called his name and number and before he could answer, someone answered for him and followed the executioner out. The condemned criminal wondered who answered for him. The face of the man who answered for him was covered with black cloth as is the custom so no one knew who it was. The person was taken away and executed. When the black cloth was removed, everyone gasped.

IT WAS THE KING’S SON.

He had been arrested for instigating a riot and was to be pardoned later that day. No one knew why he took the place of the notorious criminal but he did. The king, though heartbroken at losing his son, ordered that the notorious criminal be pardoned and live in the palace as his son.

The CONDEMNED became the PARDONED and took on the status of a PRINCE. This is what God did for mankind. Though we were CONDEMNED for our sins, Jesus ANSWERED the call of the EXECUTIONER and took our place on the DAY OF EXECUTION. We took his place as SONS AND DAUGHTERS OF GOD. The popular scripture, John 3: 16 tells the story.

We have a NEW HERITAGE in Christ (II Corinthians 5: 17) We should walk in the consciousness of this NEW IDENTITY and do exploits.

Happy Easter