So, what does the death of someone who many viewed as a punk and gangster have to do with Easter? In the book of Ezekiel, God says that, "I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked." God instead desires that the wicked would "turn from his wicked way and live, turn back, turn back from your evil ways." See Ezekiel 33:11, 14-16. Aaron Hernandez had the opportunity to live as a prince, but he chose to live as a gangster. He had the opportunity to live a life that people only dream about, but he chose to live a nightmare life instead. Why? The world will debate the answer to that question.
The Bible, however, makes it very clear that an enemy of our souls is roaming this world seeking to steal and kill and destroy and devour. John 10:10, 1 Pet. 5:8. In contrast, Jesus says that He came to give life - abundantly and eternally. John 10:10, 28. In John 10, Jesus says that He is the good shepherd, the one who cares for and protects the sheep who listen to his voice. As the "good shepherd," He lays down His life for the sheep. 10:15. As the author of life, however, He is able to take His own life up again after giving Himself up for the sheep. 10:15-18.
Jumping back to Ezekiel, in the very next chapter, 34, God condemns the shepherds who fail to protect and nurture the sheep. "... you do not feed the sheep. The weak you have not strengthened, the sick you have not healed, the injured you have not bound up, the strayed you have not brought back, the lost you have not sought, and with force and harshness you have ruled them. So they were scattered, because there was no shepherd and they became food for all the wild beasts."
Because there was no shepherd for the sheep, God told the people, "I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep." "I will rescue my flock and they will no longer be prey." See Ezekiel 34:8, 15, 22. God Himself must become the good shepherd.
Jesus became the good shepherd by becoming the "Passover lamb that takes away the sin of the world." John 1:29. He did exactly what he said - He lay down his life for the sheep and then He took it up again, conquering death for us.
So, what does that have to do with Aaron Hernandez? Aaron represents everything that the enemy of the sheep is trying to do in our lives: steal our calling and squander our gifts; kill our soul and eventually our bodies; and destroy every good thing that would otherwise direct us toward our Creator and Redeemer, the good shepherd of our souls. In the Gospels, Aaron is represented by Barabbas, whom the Gospels tell us was a thief, a murderer and an insurrectionist (destructive rebel). Barabbas represents everything that the enemy is trying to do in our lives and everything that the enemy did in Aaron's life.
The life of Jesus, perfect and holy, was exchanged for the life of Barabbas - the most unfair exchange in history. Barabbas was set free and Jesus took his place on the cross. Barabbas represents Aaron Hernandez, and you and me. We are guilty. We are victims of a vicious enemy. We deserve a terrible punishment, because our sin is so evil. Yet, Jesus exchanged His life for the penalty of our sin. He exchanged our sin for His own righteousness, so that our sin separated Him from God the Father for a brief and wretched period in time on the cross.
God offers us, as He did with another confessed murderer, Saul/Paul, life abundant and eternal if we are willing to confess our sin, repent (turn) from our sin, and trust Jesus to give us the righteousness needed for relationship with a holy God. That is the message of John 3:16 - that God so loved everyone in this world that He sent His only Son (eternal, pre-existent, triune God) to die in our place. There is no need for us to take our own life, because Jesus substituted His life in our place. God did this that whoever believes (faith) in Jesus will inherit (have fully vested rights to receive) eternal life.
That takes us back to Ezekiel 34:23-24. God says that in a latter day, King David will return (from the dead) to be the shepherd of His people. This either refers to a resurrected David or to David's descendent, Jesus. Either way, we remember that David too was a confessed murderer and adulterer. His self-centeredness destroyed his own family and alienated him from his children. Yet, he confessed his sin and repented and was given a covenant promise that the Messiah would come from his descendants and rule over the house of Israel forever. Thus, Aaron and David have this in common, they are murderers. Yet, they knew they needed a holy Savior to redeem them.
Like David, we can be raised up from our sin into new life that is abundant and eternal. The enemy of our souls can and will be defeated. God calls us to faith in what Jesus has accomplished for us. Did Aaron have that faith? I don't know, but I do know that one of the last thoughts in his mind and heart was to cling to the promise of John 3:16. How about you? Have you embraced that promise and chosen to accept the great exchange that Jesus accomplished for you through His life, death and resurrection? I pray that you will before it is too late. There are too many Aarons in this world who die without ever realizing the full benefits of the abundant and eternal life that Jesus offers to them.