Barrabas

“Which of the two do you want me to release to you?” asked the governor.
   “Barabbas,” they answered.
“What shall I do, then, with Jesus who is called the Messiah?” Pilate asked.
   They all answered, “Crucify him!” (Mat 27:21-22)

Yesterday I was part of our after school program's chapel service.  The kids were lead through a short version of the stations of the cross. Our first station was Jesus before the Roman Governor Pontius Pilate. The governor didn't want to execute Jesus because he found nothing in the accusations against Him deserving death.  The politics of the situation, however, led him to sentence Jesus to death by crucifixion.  He even tried to let Jesus go by an old custom to show clemency to a prisoner during the Jewish holy season of Passover.  He offered to release Jesus, a man who claimed himself King of the Jews, or Barabbas, a thief or murderer or possibly a zealot who killed Romans. The crowd called out for the release of Barabbas.

The thought occurred to me that Barabbas represents something for us all.  He is brute force.  He is self will. He represents our desire to do what we will.  Barabbas wanted liberty for Israel from the hand of oppressive Rome and he was willing to use any means necessary to fight them.

Jesus represents the path of obedience to God.  Jesus did not want to die.  He asked God to let the cup pass from him the night before.  Then He prayed, "not my will, but Thy will be done." (Mat 26:39) The way of Barabbas is the sword and fist.  The way of Jesus is the cross; to suffering for the gospel and dying at the hands of evil men silent and humble like a lamb led to slaughter.

Adam and Eve had a choice between obedience to God or following their own inclinations. They chose to follow their inclination to eat of the forbidden fruit at the seductions of the serpent.  They lost paradise. 

All of us make these kind of choices all the time.  Will I do it God's way or my own way?  Often we don't even ask the question. We don't pray and wait for God to direct our steps. We just act on impulse and inclinations. God save us!


The choice of the crowd reminded me of my inclinations of late during this fast. I want to eat what I want to eat. I'm bored with this fast.  My inclination is to cancel my vow to God to fast all through Lent.  I even had a dream last night that I ate fried chicken on Good Friday!  The very day my Lord died for me and in my subconscious I am abandoning Him for fatty foods.  God would have me honor Him with this time of staying close to Him through self-denial.  He offers me life through the way of the cross.  Those who deny themselves find their life. Those who try and grab what they think they want out of life end up losing. (Mat 10:39)

Lord, forgive my selfish inclinations.  The heart is full of sinful thoughts and disobedient desires.  Thank You for acting to save me from this sinful heart. I hold out my heart to You. Wash me clean with Your blood and fill me with Your grace that I might have the strength to persevere unto life eternal. Amen