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Barabbas - I am he.

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I heard a brief bit of a sermon on the radio today. It was about the trial of Jesus. I don't remember ever hearing a sermon of the crucifixion discussed this time of year. I didn't hear enough of the sermon to know which Gospel he used.  I don't know how he came up with what he said and I can't confirm it but it still made me think of something I'd never contemplated.  So I wanted to share it.

Jesus was before Pilate. He was there before a man who didn't REALLY want to put Jesus to death, or have anything to do with him. Reading the text even makes it sound like Pilate wanted to let Jesus go. He offered to let someone go free.  He offered a choice between Jesus and Barabbas. We don't know enough of the story to know how Barabbas' name came up.

We don't know if Pilate suggested Barabbas or if the crowd came up with Barabbas' name on their own (with the help of the Jewish religious rulers perhaps) as the one to release. This is an interesting idea. That Pilate suggested Barabbas. Think about it. Barabbas was an insurrectionist and, even worse, a murder. (Mark 15:7 & Luke 23:25)  It is possible that Pilate thought that putting Jesus up against a murderer and rioter would ensure that Jesus would be set free.  After all, his wife wanted Pilate to have nothing to do with Jesus. (MT 27:19 While Pilate was sitting on the judge's seat, his wife sent him this message: "Don't have anything to do with that innocent man, for I have suffered a great deal today in a dream because of him.") Pilate even introduced Jesus to the crowd as "your king", "king of the Jews", and "Jesus, the Christ". Surely these titles would rouse the people to ask for Jesus to be released and Barabbas to be crucified. But, as we know, that is not the way the story goes.

Now the part that really made me think. Barabbas was not the least bad of the criminals. He was likely the worst.  Of the ones we know of, there was Jesus, Barabbas and the two criminals who were crucified with Jesus. According to the bit of sermon I heard on the radio, the two criminals were petty thieves, harmless, a nuisance, certainly not as bad as Barabbas the murderer. So Jesus took the place of the worst of the criminals that were being crucified. Let me say that again. Jesus TOOK THE PLACE OF THE WORST of the worst. He literally took the place of Barabbas on the cross.  He took the punishment meant for the worst of the worst.

Isn't that what he did for me?  Isn't that what he did for you?  He took and is still taking the punishment that I deserve. He who was blameless, holy, a perfect model for me, takes the punishment every day of my life and your life and all the lives that come after us until He returns. Since Jesus is in heaven, after defeating Satan and death, He is not still being punished, but the punishment he endured on the cross was heaped with my sins and your sins. I don't fully appreciate this......I am partially and intentionally trying to submit fully, to be a perfect reflection, but I fail. How many things do I cling to that I won't give up, that I won't surrender completely as my thanks, my humble thanks and repentance for what Jesus did?  I am no better than Barabbas or the thief next to Jesus who hurled insults while they were both dying on the cross. (Jesus died before the two others who were crucified that day.  Do you think the second criminal came around when he saw and heard Jesus' dying words? - Just something to think about.) (See John 18 - 19, Matthew 27, Mark 15 and Luke 23)

Jesus, You are my King and my Redeemer. I need Your help giving it all to you, surrendering everything to You, Please forgive my neglect and un-repentance. Help me turn away from my bad self and to You.  Amen.
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