Walking With Christ

Who are you?  The bible is a rich tapestry that is simply full of characters of all types.  Every type of person this planet has ever seen is on full display in the pages of the bible.  In every moment, thought, action, or inaction we reflect someone from the bible.

There is obviously Christ, the one we all want to reflect.  Then there is a whole list of other great possibilities.  Paul, James, Mary, Moses, Noah, Ruth, Esther, David, and the list could go on and on.  I most often relate closest to Peter because I’m brash and quick to impulsive action that is driven by a need to be in control.  I’ve been called Barnabas because I can often be found encouraging others through difficult times and tend to see the best in people even when others cannot.

There are other, less favorable, characters in the bible as well.  Judas Iscariot, for example.  At times, we are all Judas.  All of these are wonderful examples of who each of us can be in any given moment, but I don’t think any of them, save for Christ, are as important to the real story of the bible as one individual in particular.  Why this character?  How is the one person so important to the story?  I’ll get to that.  The passage is a bit lengthy, but you’ll understand why at the end.

Matthew 27:15-26  (15)Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to release for the crowd any one prisoner whom they wanted.  (16)And they had then a notorious prisoner called Barabbas.  (17)So when they had gathered, Pilate said to them, “Whom do you want me to release for you:  Barabbas, or Jesus who is called Christ?”  (18)For he knew that it was out of envy that they had delivered him up.  (19)Besides, while he was sitting on the judgement seat, his wife sent word to him, “Have nothing to do with that righteous man, for I have suffered much because of him today in a dream.”  (20)Now the chief priests and the elders persuaded the crowd to ask for Barabbas and destroy Jesus.  (21)The governor again said to them, “Which of the two do you want me to release for you?”  And they said, “Barabbas.”  (22)Pilate said to them, “Then what shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?”  They all said, “Let him be crucified!”  (23)And he said, “Why?  What evil has he done?”  But they shouted all the more, “Let him be crucified!”

(24)So when Pilate saw that he was gaining nothing, but rather that a riot was beginning, he took water and washed his hands before the crowd saying, “I am innocent of this man’s blood; see to it yourselves.”  (25)And all the people answered, “His blood be on us and on our children!”  (26)Then he released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, delivered him to be crucified.(ESV)

Barabbas was called notorious in one gospel and a murderous rebel in another.  Pilate picked the absolute worst criminal he had available at the time.  This was someone who absolutely deserved death.

Both Barabbas and Christ were standing there and listening to this exchange.  It’s nearly a guarantee that there was a multitude of angels standing there listening as well.  They were just hoping that Christ would say the word.  That’s all He had to do.  He could have spoken up for himself in front of the crowd.  Yet, he remained silent.  He knew that his death meant that the worst of the worst would go free and be given a full pardon before returning to the exact same path he had chosen before.

Christ went to the cross for Barabbas.  Even if Barabbas would never know about His sacrifice, Jesus went to the cross FOR him.  Barabbas may not have ever known what the sacrifice truly meant.  He may have gone immediately back to the life he lived before his meeting with Christ.  Christ still went to the cross for him.

I asked at the beginning of this, who are you?  I would say that I am Barabbas.  I would say that we are all Barabbas.  We don’t deserve what was done for us, and most of us won’t fully understand the real depth and breadth of it until we meet Him face to face.  The love of the Father.  The obedience of the Son.

We are all saved by faith through grace unto good works as we are washed in the precious blood of Jesus Christ.