I Wanted Barabbas

“So the governor asked again, "Which of these two do you want me to release to you?" The crowd shouted back, "Barabbas!" -Matthew 27:21

I wanted Barabbas!

In my sinful, selfish nature, I wanted Barabbas.

On that dark day over 2,000 years ago,

While Jesus was hanging from the cross,

I wanted Barabbas!

You see, I related to Barabbas more than I did to Jesus.

Barabbas lived a life where no one told him what to do.

He lived a murderous life.

Because of his lifestyle, He was chained up.

I once lived like Barabbas.

I was in control of my life,

It was my way or the highway,

It was all about me!

I thought I was living the life,

When in reality, I was also chained up in my sin and dying.

You see, I didn’t want to let go of my control over my life.

I was one of the people in the crowd saying, “Give us Barabbas!”

Why give MY control over to this so called Savior, who was bleeding to death on the cross.

When asked what to do with Jesus, I was one who said, “Crucify Him!”

I was one yelling out for His blood to be shed!

While I was doing this, Jesus was suffering the worst death possible.

Nails on His wrists and feet, bleeding to death on a cross;

A crown of thorns on his head,

Being insulted by many.

In the midst of this, Jesus says, “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

He was thinking of ME, He was thinking of YOU!

What I didn’t see at the time was that it should have been ME on that cross.

I am a sinner!

For the wages of sin is death!

I deserved to die because of my disobedience to God!

By having Barabbas released, I rejected Jesus.

But Jesus DIDN’T reject me!

While on the cross, He was paying MY price,

A price He did not owe.

He was dying MY death,

A death He did not deserve.

He loved me so much, that He gave His life for ME, for YOU.

The question is, "Did He defeat death once and for all?"

On the third day, a violent earthquake shook the earth in the early morning hours,

The heavy stone was rolled away from the tomb,

Inside the tomb was no sign of Jesus’ body.

Instead there was an angel that proclaimed, “HE IS ALIVE!”

That was the moment that Jesus had done only what He could do!

He conquered the grave, He conquered death!

I realized that Jesus is truly the Son of God!

I believed it! I wanted to go tell everyone that HE IS ALIVE!

I accepted Him into my life as my Lord and Savior.

When Jesus came into my heart, everything changed!

Jesus paid it all for ME, for YOU!

I was selfish, full of myself, deep in my sin for wanting Barabbas,

I decided to crucify my former life and former desires.

The life I now live, I live by faith in the Son of God who loved me and gave Himself for me!

I couldn’t earn the love of God, I didn’t deserve the love of God, still,

He gave Himself for ME, for YOU!

I don’t want Barabbas anymore, I want Jesus!

I want Jesus to be my Savior, my Lord, my King!

Do you want Barabbas, or do you want Jesus?

Happy Easter everyone!

Let’s go tell the world that HE IS ALIVE!