Friday, December 19, 2008

Barabbas




There was once an evil man. He was an insurrectionist, a rebel, a murderer, and a notorious prisoner. This day, however, he would face justice. He had committed crimes worthy of death, and now he was going to be a victim of crucifixion—one of the most vicious forms of capital punishment known to mankind. Death on a cross was only for the worst of criminals.

Partly due to the cold night, yet mostly due to inexpressible fear, Barabbas shivered uncontrollably as he lay face down in his prison cell. He was in utter despair. No hope. No defense. No answers.

In the distance he could hear people shouting; chanting, even. He thought he heard his own name mixed in with the barrage of yells and screams. But there was one name he heard without mistake: “Jesus”.

Barabbas had heard of this man, although some even called Him the Son of God. Supposedly, this Jesus was a worker of miracles, and He even claimed to be God in the flesh. One of Barabbas’ old followers had joined this “Christ” group a couple years back.

But he had known Jesus and His followers to be rather peaceful. Why would there be such violent shouting now? As a painful reminder of his own impending doom, he could vaguely hear the crowd shouting, “Crucify Him! Crucify Him!”

Still gripped with trepidation and terror, Barabbas heard something that made his stomach twist and his heart stop: shaking keys – the sound of justice. The very next moment, his cell door was swung open and the soldier yelled at him to leave immediately.

But Barabbas couldn’t move.

“Come on, you criminal, get out of here. You’re free.” But his own guilt wouldn’t allow him to believe it. “They’re going to kill Jesus of Nazareth in your place.”

With a thousand questions racing through his mind, Barabbas quickly lifted himself to his feet and hastily walked out of the prison and into the streets of Jerusalem.

A guilty man set free on account of another. Is that justice?

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The Gospel of Jesus Christ is a scandalous message.
It’s a shocking revelation.
It’s a prophetic declaration.
It’s a transforming proclamation.
It’s a soul-saving truth and it is the power of God for all who believe.

The Gospel is a message about God:
The Creator and Sustainer of the universe. He is perfect in all His attributes, blameless in all His ways, righteous in all His judgments. He is all powerful and all knowing. He is strong, mighty, holy, just, wrathful, vengeful, and jealous. He is caring, patient, compassionate, merciful, gracious, loving, and forgiving. God is good.

The Gospel is a message about Man:
Created in God’s image—created good: yet fallen, disobedient, rebellious, corrupt, proud, wicked, evil, sinful, unholy, unrighteous, ungodly, guilty, helpless, hopeless, lost, condemned, separate from God and destined for eternal punishment in the torments of hell.

The Gospel is a message about Jesus Christ:
The Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world. The anointed one of God who saves. Born of a virgin; killed on a cross; resurrected on the third day. Beloved by the Father, yet smitten by Him for our transgressions. Perfectly innocent, yet punished by God for our wickedness.

Jesus Christ is the only way to forgiveness. The only way to reconciliation, restoration, and redemption. The only way to eternal hope and true meaning and real purpose. The only way to lasting joy and enduring happiness and endless pleasure. The only way to salvation. The only way to heaven. The only way to God’s grace.

The Gospel is a message about you:
§ What will you do? What will you do?
§ Will you examine your wicked heart? or will you persist in blissful ignorance?
§ Will you open your mind to the truth of God? or will you disregard your guilty conscience?
§ Will you surrender your life and your plans and your future and your hopes and your dreams and your desires and your thoughts and your actions and your words – all to the Lordship of Christ? Or will you continue to deny His total call/claim upon your life?
§ Will you trust Jesus or will you reject His love?
§ Will you repent of sin? or will you proceed in vain self-righteousness?
§ Will you be set free or will you live in the bondage of evil?
§ Will you receive grace or will you face justice?
§ What will you do?
§ What will you do?

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A guilty man set free on account of another. Is that justice?

No. That’s grace.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=toEdT0VEHKI

12 comments:

  1. I loved this! Thanks for visiting my blog and drawing me to yours...

    I can tell you guys are really serious about your faith and walk with Christ. I look forward to hearing more of your work...

    Bless you both,
    Amanda

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  2. This was a brilliant perspective on a man we never talk about in the Christian faith; besides for the fact that he was replaced by Jesus, but never anything more than that. You two have an amazing talent that is extremely powerful, thoughtful, and challenging.

    Peace,

    Stephen

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  3. This video blessed me, thank you for posting it. Hope the Lord blesses you as you reach out to the masses with praise. The acoustic sound is my favorite..

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  4. thank you for this effort.
    May the Lord's anointing help you to give HIM all the glory and make DISCIPLES of Christ.
    Sharing a link which I hope will bless you
    http://www.cfcindia.com/web/mainpages/new_year_video_message.php

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  5. That's a powerful video! Very well done. Thanks for sharing!

    I just found your site through Cross-Eyed Blog and Webzine (crosseyedblog.com) and have been checking out your music. It sounds great! Your love for the Lord and desire to serve Him and encouraging and inspiring.

    May God richly bless you guys! For the glory of God!
    -Kasie (thewilli.com)

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  6. wow, incredible.
    super impacting.
    thank you guys so much for this :)

    {God Bless}
    ~Gemma Nicole

    (meuscarmenestamor.blogspot.com)

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  7. Wonderfully powerful, it touched my heart. Thankyou!
    I'm using the text for a bible study. (I hope that's alright).

    God bless you and your work.

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  8. This is Ah-mazing! I cried the first and the second time i listened to this! God bless you guys. Really well done. I was wondering if you guys could post the music that plays in the background on youtube because i really want to say this "poem" at my youth on Easter.

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  9. This is incredible. I've got a name tag in the front of my bible that says "hello my name is Barabbas". Really loved how you broke it up into a story about God, man, Jesus, and us personally. Love this.

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  10. This is AMAZING! I'm like absolutely in love with it...
    The beauty of the truth of God and His Son's sacrifice. The love He had for us sinners--the people who put Him on the cross--... His love, it's incredible and hard to understand.
    I've been witnessing to a friend for days. She's close to letting God be God of her life. Last night she asked me why God was trying so hard to get her. :) The answer is simply beautiful and brings tears to my eyes. "He loves you."
    Our Bible studies are over texts and I just typed up "Barabbas" to send to her :) Hope that's okay.
    PLEASE BELIEVE ME... THAT WAS A TIME-CONSUMING FEAT!
    ...But one that is ABSOLUTELY worth it!!!
    Thank you so much for allowing God to use you to give us this message. God bless you and your ministry for Him.

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  11. The LORD gave me this acronym some years ago (He knows I love these):
    G.O.S.P.E.L. =
    Gods Omnipotent Salvation Proclaiming Eternal Love/Life
    I cry out a hearty AMEN to this exhortation and sincerely say to you, "GOD BLESS YOU CALEB, SOL & Co.

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