http://michaelkelleyministries.com/2012/04/i-am-barabbas/
He’s barely mentioned in the Bible, and yet his story, maybe more than any other, serves to explain the gospel. He is Barrabas.
Or rather, I am Barabbas.
Here is what we know about this man:
1. He was a rebel. One of his crimes was insurrection; he led a rebellion against the rulers of the land, the Romans.
I, too, am a rebel. Despite the benevolent rule of my King, I have
both willingly and by my very nature participated in heinous acts of
rebellion against the rightful rule of the God of the Universe.
2. He was a murderer. Apparently during his rebellion against the ruling authorities, someone died, perhaps at his very hand.
I, too, am a murderer. Not just of my fellow man, having wished them
harm, but of Jesus Christ whose life I have chanted for through my
varied and sundry acts of despicable sin. I have chanted along with the
crowd, “Crucify! Crucify!” for I saw Him as a threat to my commitment to
my own desires.
3. He, though guilty, was released and an innocent was punished in
his stead. Barabbas was shocked to find that somehow, some way, all
charges against Him had been dropped. Someone other than him was to die
that day, though surely he deserved the punishment.
I, too, have been released. The punishment that was rightfully due to
me has been handed down to another. Someone – an innocent man – has
been crucified in my place.
I am Barabbas.
You, too, are Barrabas.
And now we stand with this man. Suddenly freed from condemnation.
Blinking our prison-darkened eyes in the light of the sun of liberty.
Facing the penalty of death, we now surprisingly stand free. Free to
work. Free to enjoy. Free to live.
What will I do with this freedom?
And what will you?
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