April 17th, 2025
Thursday, April 17th
Barabbas and I
Anna Williams
There are so many moving pieces to the account of Jesus’ trial. We see the judicial process of the conquering Romans, the politics of the religious leaders and the crowd work of the rebels. Recent events with prisoner exchanges in parts of our world today deepen our level of relatability.
“But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed. So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded. As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished.” -Luke 23:23-25 NLT
It’s easy to resent the injustice of the life of a man like Barabbas being traded for the life of Jesus. We know Jesus could have stopped it at any moment, but he chose not to. Why? Jesus knew that Barabbas would merely be the first of countless lives that he would trade his own to save.
Without the grace and forgiveness of God, each of us belong under the column of SINNER with Barabbas – not under the column of SINLESS like Jesus. It is only through the miraculous saving grace of his sacrifice upon the cross that we have any chance of freedom and eternal life.
What did Jesus wipe clean from your past that you can praise him for today? How has he changed your life after you made him Lord of it? Reflect on those things as you go about your day.
Barabbas and I
Anna Williams
There are so many moving pieces to the account of Jesus’ trial. We see the judicial process of the conquering Romans, the politics of the religious leaders and the crowd work of the rebels. Recent events with prisoner exchanges in parts of our world today deepen our level of relatability.
“But the mob shouted louder and louder, demanding that Jesus be crucified, and their voices prevailed. So Pilate sentenced Jesus to die as they demanded. As they had requested, he released Barabbas, the man in prison for insurrection and murder. But he turned Jesus over to them to do as they wished.” -Luke 23:23-25 NLT
It’s easy to resent the injustice of the life of a man like Barabbas being traded for the life of Jesus. We know Jesus could have stopped it at any moment, but he chose not to. Why? Jesus knew that Barabbas would merely be the first of countless lives that he would trade his own to save.
Without the grace and forgiveness of God, each of us belong under the column of SINNER with Barabbas – not under the column of SINLESS like Jesus. It is only through the miraculous saving grace of his sacrifice upon the cross that we have any chance of freedom and eternal life.
What did Jesus wipe clean from your past that you can praise him for today? How has he changed your life after you made him Lord of it? Reflect on those things as you go about your day.
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