Mary Surratt made her way from the prison and climbed the ten-foot-high gallows with freshly dug graves waiting beneath. With her hands and feet in chains, she sat down in a chair along with three other conspirators. Although evidence was sketchy regarding her role in the assassination of Abraham Lincoln, she was condemned, nonetheless. She asked President Andrew Johnson for a reprieve, so soldiers stood on the prison walls watching for a rider to deliver the eleventh-hour pardon. But it never comes. Surratt became the first and only woman ever hanged by the United States government.

“Condemned”—it’s a solemn word with heavy consequences. Often, it precedes the words “to die.” Condemned to die. Condemnation conveys hopelessness. In Scripture, the word describes physical death accompanied by spiritual and eternal death as well. A sinner’s condemnation is a certain and final ending, a ceaseless separation from God, i.e., eternity in hell. All have sinned and fall short of God’s holy standard. All have sinned and are condemned.

But before the believer reaches the gallows, Jesus comes.

Romans 8:1-2
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death.

He declares that he has paid the penalty for us; he has died in our place and rose again to life. Jesus brings the reprieve that we have longed for. He unlocks the chains held tight by the law. The condemned is declared “Not guilty!” Pardon is given. We are set free! Spiritual and eternal death is replaced by life. Because of Jesus, we are free to live…forever!

Lord Jesus, we know that the penalty of our sin is death, and death is what we deserve. Thank you for paying the penalty for us. Thank you for your eternal pardon. Thank you that there is no condemnation for those who have their identity in you. Amen.