Are You Barabbas?

Are you Barabbas?

What a horrifying question.  A criminal, a murderer, an insurrectionist, and a blight on society are all the things of Barabbas—and more.  He was the one man that everyone believed deserved to receive the sternest punishment available: crucifixion.  There is no way you’re anything like Barabbas – or is there?

Sitting in the dungeon that day, Barabbas waited for the inevitable.  Soon a guard would come and take him to his last place of life and a painful, brutal death.  Outside, the torrent of people crowded to hear the proclamation of Pilate.  The noise was raucous, the crowd was nearly uncontrollable, and the voices of the people cried out.  Two words rose above the tumult of the crowd.  He didn’t hear the question that brought the unified response, but he didn’t need to.  Two words rang out with clarity: Barabbas! Crucify! 

His fate was sealed.

Led away by a Roman guard, Barabbas exited the dismal chamber and entered the light of day.  The crowd, still seething with caustic anger, spread apart to let him through.  He expected to be beaten, spit upon, harassed, or at least yelled at.  But the crowd simply parted and he walked past the throng into freedom.  Confused and frightened, he looked to the guard who unbound his wrists.

“Another has taken your place,” the guard said.  “You’re free to go.”

What? Another? Who could it be?

“The cross meant for you was taken by Jesus of Nazareth,” the guard said, then departed.

So I ask again, are you Barabbas?  Of course you are.  We all are.  There is, in Barabbas, a view to every single person who stands condemned by Almighty God.  We are all insurrectionists for we all have rebelled against the Sovereign in heaven.  All that waits for each of us is the execution of God’s judgment.  This world is the holding cell for the condemned. 

Your sin against God was no accident and your condemnation by God is no joke.  You have no defense for you have already been found guilty.  There is no further appeal when the high court of God has ruled.

But another has taken your place.  Jesus of Nazareth has stepped into the world and upon His shoulders your cross was laid.  And through His condemnation, God offers you a pardon for your sins and freedom from the shackles of this world.  If you trust the Lord Jesus and believe that His sacrifice paid for your sins, then you no longer have to fear the judgment of God.  It has been placed on Jesus, and there is no condemnation left for you. 

“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.” – Romans 3:23-24


(This article originally appeared on a different blog I hosted in 2012)