February 12- I Am Barabbas

Exodus 34:1-35:9
Matthew 27:15-31
Psalm 33:12-22
Proverbs 9:1-6

As Jesus stands on trial before the crowd, it is determined by Pilate that the audience should be forced to choose between Jesus the Christ and Barabbas the Notorious. Who should be freed and who should be killed? The Messiah or The Monster? The Son of God or The Scoundrel? The destiny of mankind hung upon the vote of the crowd that day. Sadly, the crowd voted correctly.

Sadly, Jesus had to die. Regrettably, the Christ paid for the sins of all mankind. The road to the cross was a bloodied and painful path that my savior was forced to endure.

Correctly, Jesus gave himself up for their cause. Rightfully, the Messiah lived an innocent life and died, while the guilty were set free.

I am Barabbas. No matter how much I want to be Jesus, I know who I really am. I deserved death that day, I committed the crime, I was worthy of the punishment... and I was set free. Two men stand on the chopping block. One was a good man. The other was a criminal. Which one am I more like? Well, the free man of course. I am more like Barabbas. That is why I choose to live like Christ!