"Barabbas," they answered. “
"What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?" Pilate asked.
They all answered, "Crucify him!"
He had been a true zealot when it came to the nation of Israel -- Barabbas loved his nation!
He was irked by the very fact that Rome had placed a heavy yoke around the neck of the nation of Israel. But -- his desire to press hard for what he thought was right had gotten him to where he was: cold -- lonely -- hungry -- and waiting for the executioner to come for him.
Barabbas had a good start in life. His name suggests that his father had probably been a Rabbi, so he knew about the religious aristocracy -- and had a firm understanding of the tradition of the Law. But, like many -- even today -- his desire to be righteous had blended social concerns with spiritual concerns.
As a “Zealot,” the Roman Government had him in their cross-hairs -- making him a man on the run -- forcing him to do brutal things to survive -- causing him to become a hardened criminal, and not just a rebel against the government -- committing robbery, battery -- and eventually -- MURDER!
Can you imagine what was going through Barabbas’ mind when he finally heard the guard coming down the corridor to his cell? The anxiety he had when he heard the keys rattling as the jailor unlocked the door… The magnitude of his fear and dread when he heard the lead jailor say…
“You are free to go.”
Later that day, Barabbas was surely among those who watched Jesus die. Undoubtedly, as he watched, one thing he knew completely -- the one on the center cross was dying in his place.
He knew that the spikes that were driven through Jesus’ hands were his spikes… He knew in a very personal way that Jesus of Nazareth was dying in his place.
Matthew 26:16 indicates that Barabbas was also named "Jesus," but there’s another interesting thing about Barabbas’ name -- it is a compound word combining “Bar,” meaning “son of” -- and “Abba,” meaning “Father.” His name literally means “son of the Father.”
Think about that…
The "Jesus" whose name meant “the son of the father” was replaced by -- the "Jesus" who was the true Son of the Father.
You and I stand at the foot of the cross -- exactly where Barabbas stood.
Like Barabbas, the only hope you and I have is in the fact that another died in our place!
Though it is WE who are guilty -- it was JESUS who died in our place -- that we might have the forgiveness of our sins and live eternally with God and the redeemed in heaven.
Galatians 2:20: I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
No comments:
Post a Comment