What do all believers in Jesus Christ have in common with Lil Wayne, Richard Nixon, and Jimmy Hoffa?

We have all received pardons! They have received a presidential pardon and we who call Jesus Lord will receive the King’s pardon! 

There’s a lot of talk about who will pardon whom in the political realm right now. It came up in the first presidential debate for the 2024 election and is likely to be a hot topic in future discussions. (I’m not trying to be political here. This happens on both sides of the aisle.)

What is a pardon? A pardon is the use of executive power that exempts the individual to whom it was given of punishment. In fact, it absolves them from guilt.

I was thinking about this concept recently when I was reading: 

“In those days and in that time, declares the Lord, iniquity shall be sought in Israel, and there shall be none, and sin in Judah, and none shall be found, for I will pardon those whom I leave as a remnant.” Jeremiah 50:20. 

The context of this verse is that God is warning his wayward people of the impending destruction of Jerusalem and the exile and captivity of his people. But as always, God has a plan to restore his people. This verse is a foreshadowing of Jesus. 

Like governmental pardons, we are given a pardon for our transgressions. It’s not that we’re not guilty – because we do in fact sin.  And, spoiler alert, Romans 6:23 tells us: “The wages of sin is death.” Jesus gave us the proverbial, “Get out of jail free card” but in fact it wasn’t free for Him. We have sinned, we are guilty, but God pardons our sin because of Jesus. 

As you may recall from previous blogs, I am a dictionary nerd. I think true definitions add so much to our understanding. So according to Merriam Webster:

Absolve: ab·​solve. transitive verb: to set (someone) free from an obligation or the consequences of guilt.

To absolve someone isn’t to say that they are not guilty, but that they don’t have to pay the fine or sentence for the crime. For example, when President Ford pardoned President Nixon, it wasn’t because he thought Nixon was innocent, but because of the pardon, Nixon didn’t have to pay the penalty for his crimes. 

In the case of Lil Wayne, when President Trump granted a pardon, he wasn’t saying that Lil Wayne wasn’t guilty of felony gun possession but that instead the rapper wouldn’t have to serve his time because of some positive changes he had shown in his life. (Others might say that he was pardoned because he had shown support to the President.)

Many times in the case of these pardons, it’s about who you know. These pardons are not usually given to your average Jane Doe or “Joe Schmoe.” They are usually given to people of fame, people of influence or at least people who know people with influence. You’ve got to know someone to get a pardon. Sometimes these pardons happen because someone famous takes up an individual’s cause and then they peddle their influence on behalf of the other. 

The same can be said about Christians. It’s all about WHO WE KNOW. If we know Jesus, it is His influence that matters before the Father. Jesus goes before God on our behalf. He is the one who makes our case because He is the one who paid the price. In my mind, I picture the scene like this: I have come before God the Father in the great throne room. Jesus is standing in front of me, between me and God, and He says to the Father, “she’s with me.” That is all the Father needs to hear! On the word of Jesus, on His say-so, I am absolved of all guilt and shame and I am permitted entrance into the kingdom. 

“No man comes to the Father but by me.” John 14:6. 

You may have heard similar illustrations of this “Jesus paid it all” theology, but for me this idea of the pardon really hit home. It should stop us in our tracks. This pardon should make us want to fall on our knees and praise Him. I can’t go 15 minutes without a sinful thought or action. God sees and knows every sin I have committed. He is not blind to them. And yet, because of Jesus’ willingness to die on my behalf, to take the punishment for my sin, I am pardoned! I’ve been set free! Alleluia what a Savior!

ABOUT OUR BLOGGER

Bonnie Kotler and her husband Mitch have two daughters, three sons, seven grandchildren and three grand-puppies. She was a stay-at-home mom for many years before re-entering the workforce after receiving her M.S. in Counseling and Human Relations from Villanova University. She is a licensed professional counselor at The Peacemaker Center and her own private practice, True North Counseling. Bonnie has been on the Willowdale women’s ministry teaching team since 2012. Bible studies have played a key role in her walk as a believer, and in turn, she loves to help other women find their peace with God and grow in their faith. She enjoys writing Bible study materials, reading fiction, spending time with family and doing anything in the sunshine. Bonnie loves to laugh and considers laughter as the best medicine. Psalm 126:2