2007-04-10 - Jesus or Barabbas?

Matthew 27:15-24 Now at that feast the governor was wont to release unto the people a prisoner, whom they would. ¹⁶ And they had then a notable prisoner, called Barabbas. ¹⁷ Therefore when they were gathered together, Pilate said unto them, Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or Jesus which is called Christ? ¹⁸ For he knew that for envy they had delivered him. ¹⁹ When he was set down on the judgment seat, his wife sent unto him, saying, Have thou nothing to do with that just man: for I have suffered many things this day in a dream because of him. ²⁰ But the chief priests and elders persuaded the multitude that they should ask Barabbas, and destroy Jesus. ²¹ The governor answered and said unto them, Whether of the twain will ye that I release unto you? They said, Barabbas. ²² Pilate saith unto them, What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? They all say unto him, Let him be crucified. ²³ And the governor said, Why, what evil hath he done? But they cried out the more, saying, Let him be crucified. ²⁴ When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but that rather a tumult was made, he took water, and washed his hands before the multitude, saying, I am innocent of the blood of this just person: see ye to it.

What were these people thinking? Let's see should I go with the thieving, conniving Barabbas or the giving, caring Jesus? Gee, that seems like a no-brainer for most of us. We would ask for Jesus in a heartbeat.

But wait just a minute before we judge the mob too harshly weren't we in that crowd shouting, "Give us Barabbas, kill Jesus"? Aren't we the ones shouting "Crucify Him"? Yes, we most definitely are. We ask for Barabbas each time we throw away God's plan for us and take what we want. Barabbas was a rebel against the Romans. He represented freedom from Roman tyranny. Jesus was just a rebel against the Pharisees offering spiritual freedom from the religious rules and regulations that had been concocted thru the years. People wanted freedom from Rome not whatever freedom Christ was offering. The people wanted to be free from Rome so it was easy for the priests to convince them to choose Barabbas. They simply traded the truth for a lie.

Isn't that what we do when we choose intimacy with strangers in chat rooms over intimacy with our spouses? Isn't that what we do when we choose pornography, masturbation, prostitution, and adultery over sex within a marriage? Isn't that what we do when we choose cheap romance novels over God's Word?

Every day we are confronted with the same questions Pilate posed to the crowd: Which of the two should I release unto you? What shall I do then with the one that is left?

Choose to release Jesus who is called Christ and, for the Barabbas' of your life, chant "Crucify! Crucify! Crucify!"

Romans 8:13 - For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live.

Choose life. Choose The Life. Choose Jesus!

IHFHBOH
Adam

adam@cfdevotionals.org
http://www.cfdevotionals.org