The “Barabbas” in All of Us

As we recount the Easter story each year, one of the pieces of the story that often gets rushed through and passed over is the story of Barabbas.  We touch on it for a moment, and emphasize it as if to say, “how could you.”  How could the Jews choose Barabbas over Jesus.  How could they choose to set free a known criminal over one who was known to be innocent?  And, how could Barabbas have even accepted such an offer, as if he deserved it.  Couldn’t he have at least put up a little resistance to the idea?

I think part of the problem is that we really have no idea what happened to Barabbas after his release.  The Bible gives us no accounting for Barabbas post release, and we don’t even have any solid Jewish legend or traditional account to hang our hats on.  Instead it simply comes down to the fact that Barabbas went free, and Jesus went to His death on the cross.  One lived.  One died.  This bothers me.  I want more.  I want a grand story about how Barabbas changed his ways after realizing that it was Jesus’ death that paved the way for his freedom and life.  Wouldn’t the story be more attractive if we read how Barabbas became a leader in the Church, maybe even a Church planter, and went around the region telling his story of deliverance?  Maybe the death and resurrection of Jesus, and the fact that Christ took his punishment, forever changed his life.  Or, maybe nothing changed.  Maybe he just saw it as a lucky break, became a repeat offender, and eventually ended right back in custody.

It strikes me to realize that this scenario of “what ifs” continues to be played out every day up to this very moment in history.  How many folks come face to face with the reality that Jesus died for them and their lives will never be the same.  They meet the Savior, are confronted by His love that compelled Him to trade places with them on the cross, and they are forever changed.  Yet, how many folks come face to face with the same reality, and simply see it as someone else’s “thing”.  It’s just not for them.  Not interested.

Jesus died on the cross for Barabbas.  It didn’t matter what he would choose to do or not to do.  Jesus still went because He came to die for all, so that all might be saved.  Even so, some reject and ignore Him.  Yet, Jesus keeps going to the cross.  He keeps walking up that hill.  And he does it because even if one Barabbas realizes his good fortune and believes upon the Lord Jesus Christ and is saved, it is worth it.  It blows me away to think that Jesus went to the cross even though there were no guarantees that anyone would accept his sacrifice and the salvation he was offering through His death.  Yet He went because He so loved the world – and someone just might.  I am forever grateful, Jesus, that you made salvation possible for me.  Thank you, Lord, for taking my place.  Thank you, for dying for this Barabbas.

The Beginning of A Quest!

“From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing,and forceful men lay hold of it.”  - Matthew 11:12

I am living in Matthew 11 these days.  I sense God has taken me there, and He has a lot to teach me.  I imagine a number of my posts over the next several weeks will come from this chapter in the Gospel of Matthew.

The verse above is one that has captivated me.  I wonder if there is something here.  A hidden treasure.  Vital truth.  A clue for those wishing to discover what it means to truly know Christ and to truly live.  From the beginning of time as we know it the kingdom of heaven has steadily been advancing, moving forward, proceeding just as God intends.  There is nothing that can hinder its progress.  Whether we are aware of it or not, the advancement continues.  We may give the advancement of the kingdom of heaven no thought whatsoever, yet it continues to move, it continues to proceed, accomplishing the purposes of God.  It has been set in motion and nothing can stop it.  Most are oblivious.

If we want, we can continue to be oblivious.  That is option one.  Option two I will call “distraction attraction.”  Occasionally, something happens in our lives, an event or experience, and we suddenly sense it’s movement.  We realize there is something happening behind the scenes.  We catch a glimpse, and wonder how to get on the kingdom train.  For a moment we step out of the virtual reality we live in and into the reality of the kingdom.  But who can really stay here too long?  We gotta get to work, the kids need a ride somewhere, the microwave dings, “ooh, is it really already time for Dancing with the Stars?”. We find ourselves continually, and easily, distracted, and honestly it is really just too much to think about.  ”Squirrel!”

Option three I will call “controlled curiosity”.  There is a life that our soul’s long to know.  We have heard that it is possible.  We know the Bible speaks to it, others have testified to knowing it, and boy, we sure have read a lot of books about it.  We read, and listen, with a true desire to discover this “Kingdom life”, but just before we stick our toe in the water we pull back.  ”That’s far enough, buddy.”  We come to our senses just in time.  ”Whew, that was close!”  Think of the work that would have been required.  Think of the changes one would have had to undergo.  Though the inner us really wants to sign up – the outer us cautiously retreats.

This verse tells me there is a fourth option.  It requires a “forceful” approach.  Grabbing hold and not letting go for anything.  Two images come to mind.  First, it kinda reminds me of Jacob wrestling with the angel, injured, but refusing to let go until the angel blessed him (Genesis 32).  Second, I think of standing in front of a merry-go-round at the playground.  It is spinning, and spinning, and spinning.  I study it, calculate when I should jump on, take the treacherous leap, and then hold on for dear life!

As I read Matthew chapter 11, I get the sense that Jesus is inviting me to jump on.  I feel like he has been leading me towards this decision.  It is different from other invitations he has given to me in the past.  Different than the invitation to salvation, to sanctification, or even to the ministry.  I don’t know how to explain it yet, but its different.  And you know what?  I’m going to do it.  Here goes everything!