45 Then the people said to Saul, “Shall Jonathan die, who has worked this great salvation in Israel? Far from it! As the Lord lives, there shall not one hair of his head fall to the ground, for he has worked with God this day.” So the people ransomed Jonathan, so that he did not die. ~ 1 Samuel 14:45
Saul spoke death over whoever ate, not knowing that his son Jonathan hadn’t heard the charge and ate. When the people of Israel found out that Jonathan would die for the sin that he didn’t know he committed, they cried out to Saul and ransomed Jonathan from death. Jonathan was ransomed from a sin that he committed unknowingly.
2,000 years ago, Christ ransomed us from sins that we didn’t realize we even committed, as well as sins that we intentionally committed. During the time of Jonathan, no one took his place, but 2,000 years ago, Christ took our place. He took our punishment and paid our debt Himself. He didn’t have to. Jonathan had just saved the people of Israel, while we did nothing of the sort for God. God took our punishment upon Himself because He loves us. You don’t have to accept the death warrant against you; Christ has already ransomed you; all you have to do is accept His free gift of salvation.
Peace. Love. Go Forth and Be Ransomed.