Today is Thursday, April 6th, 2006; Karen's Korner #774
As we approach the Easter holiday, we tend to look back at the events surrounding Jesus' arrest and crucifixion.
Matthew 27:15 - 17 says, "Now at the feast the governor was accustomed to realeasing to the multitude one prisoner whom they wished. And at that time they had a notrorious prisoner called Barabbas. Therefore, when they had gathered together, Pilate said to them, 'Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas, or Jesus who is called the Christ?''
Continuing on in Matthew vs. 21 & 22: "They said, 'Barabbas!' Pilate said to them, 'What then shall I do with Jesus who is called Christ?' They all said to him, ' Let Him be crucified!'"
If we have been around church and Sunday School very long, we know the rest of the story. Jesus was crucified; Barabbas was let go. The short heading in my Bible around these about twelve verses says, "Taking the Place of Barabbas".
As I read these few verses this morning, I thought, "Barabbas was the first person that Jesus took someone else's place. He took the place of all the rest of us, too! I wonder what Barabbas did his new freedom. Did it change his life or did he return to a life of crime. And what about you and me? Because of Jesus, what are we going to do with our today? Return to our lives of self-centeredness and maybe self-destruction. Or are we going to enjoy new freedoms and new opportunities to live, love, and laugh."
Like Barabbas, the choice is ours!
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