““What is truth?” Pilate asked. Then he went out again to the people and told them, “He is not guilty of any crime. But you have a custom of asking me to release one prisoner each year at Passover. Would you like me to release this ‘King of the Jews’?””
John 18:38-40 NLT
Today as I read this passage of scripture, it brought me pause. I just imagined the crowd that morning. Who was there. The mix of people.
Some who wondered.
Some who believed.
Some who had seen his miracles.
Some who had heard him teach with profound wisdom.
Some who had followed him in the crowd.
Some who were his disciples.
Some who were in the streets just days before singing Hosanna as he rode the donkey into town.
Yet, the crowd shouted ~ give us Barrabas. Give us the criminal.
What kind of criminal was Barrabas. He has been described as a robber, troublemaker, murderer, leader of a riot.
Pause here. Ponder the reality of it in your heart. Let that sink in.
A man who: healed • prayed • taught • loved • forgave • did no harm -> crucify.
A man who: stole • caused trouble • murdered • harmed others -> set free.
Is it any surprise to us now that the world shouts for the death of Christ like attributes such as: holiness, righteousness, purity, God first, sacrificial love, truth, and morality.
While shouting for freedom of the captive of sin such as: sexual immorality, immodesty, God last if God at all, unrighteousness, unholy, false doctrine, lies, deceit, impurity, immorality, sin, lust, and drunkenness.
Just like the crowd then, we have a crowd today.
Some who wonder.
Some who believe.
Some who have seen his miracles.
Some who have heard him teach with profound wisdom.
Some who have followed him in the crowd.
Some who have been his disciples.
Some who were in the streets just days before singing Hosanna to The King.
I ask you today, what are you doing as the culture – crowd shouts “Give Us Barrabas” “Give Us Death” “He Is Not Our King”
Are you silently observing?
Are you hiding?
Are you denying?
Are you caught up shouting with the crowd?
Are you yelling ~ Give Us Barrabas
Or
Are you risking it all: fame • fortune • reputation • your life, to say, I stand With Jesus.
Give Me Jesus!
The soul is the goal ~ you cannot shout for both. You only get one.
Choose, you must.
Choose wisely. Pray for discernment. Know who you are shouting for. Acknowledge the path you are pursuing and where it takes you. Down a road that leads to death or life ~ one way takes you to destruction chasing after the criminal while the other takes you to hope eternal chasing after The King.
Bobbie
