I Am Barabbas
I saw this post earlier by Mark Batterson that has really consumed me throughout this day. Mark serves as the lead pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC. He is also an avid blogger and a great writer and author. Anyway like I said, I can't get the thoughts of this simple post out of my head...I was just going to paraphrase it and re-write it in my own words, however, I just decided to re-post it in its entirety.
This thought keeps going through my mind today: I am Barabbas.
Imagine what that Friday must have been like for him. He was sitting in a jail cell awaiting his execution. He knew it was the last day of his life. It was the end. There was no hope. Then he hears the crowd chanting his name and the next thing he knows he's a free man. The charges are dropped. His life that was almost over starts over. And a sinless man named Jesus literally takes his place. He expected to die. He deserved to die. But his execution, in the sovereign plan of God, was scheduled on the same day Jesus was arrested.
If ever there was a picture of II Corinthians 5:21 this is it: "God made him who knew no sin to become sin for us."
I am Barabbas.
I'm forgiven because you were forsaken...I'm accepted, You were condemned...I'm alive and well Your Spirit lives within me...Because You died and rose again.
What an amazing sacrifice...what an amazing love.