CONCERT OF PRAYER

Pray Week 958

“Choosing Barabbas”

Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he usually did for them. And he answered them, saying, “Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?” For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead. And Pilate again said to them, “Then what shall I do with the man you call the King of the Jews?” And they cried out again, “Crucify him.” And Pilate said to them, “Why, what evil has he done?” But they shouted all the more, “Crucify him.” So Pilate, wishing to satisfy the crowd, released for them Barabbas, and having scourged Jesus, he delivered him to be crucified. (Mark 15:6-15)

For several years, Jesus walked among His people teaching them, showing God’s love for them, healing the sick and raising the dead. How then we ask ourselves could these people who were literally in touch with God Himself turn their backs on Him and choose Barabbas instead. Barabbas had dared to resist the mighty power of Rome and was caught in the act of rebellion. He was probably a zealot, at any case a rebel who had committed murder.

Barabbas was an insurrectionist, Jesus a resurrectionist.

Barabbas fought against Roman rule, Jesus turned the other cheek.

Barabbas represented taking control in one’s own strength, Jesus taught us to trust in God.

We may question the actions of the Jews in their day, but before we get all self-righteous about it we should examine our own actions that in effect choose Barabbas over Jesus every day. How do we choose ‘Barabbas’ you ask? We choose ‘Barabbas’ over Jesus whenever we choose a path of sin over the path of obedience to God’s will and commands. We choose Barabbas when we remain silent allowing the minority voice of evil an undue influence in our society and its laws.

When we choose to divorce our spouse, we choose Barabbas.

When we choose to remain silent at the polls allowing evil a foothold we choose Barabbas.

When we defile our mind and body with immorality, we choose Barabbas.

When we choose to satisfy our addictions of the flesh, we choose Barabbas.

When we seek first the material and neglect the spiritual, we choose Barabbas.

When we seek vengeance and harbor unforgiveness, we choose Barabbas.

Reflect on your life style choices. Are you walking the narrow path of integrity that God has laid before you or are you disgracing God’s grace by choosing the wide path of the world? Choosing Barabbas represents choosing the wide and easy path to destruction. Choosing Jesus represents the narrow path to eternal life. “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. (Matthew 7:13)

May the Holy Spirit equip you and empower you to stand firm in the faith and avoid the pull and momentum of the crowd to take the wide and easy path of the world. May your lifestyle example preach the Truth of the Gospel and lift the Light of Jesus high for all the world to see. And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.” (John 12:32)