The faces of Barabbas

(Adapted in part from “For all the Family' by Michael Botting - ISBN 0-86065-314-5)

Outline.....

You can tell a lot by the look on someones face.

Sad Barabbas
In prison. Sad. Cold. Facing the death penalty. By crucifixion. (Point to cross)
Why?

Violent Barabbas
His name is Barabbas. John 18:40 (NIRV)
‘Barabbas had taken part in an armed struggle against the country's rulers.’
To some he was a Freedom fighter but to the government of Rome he was a terorrist!.
Luke tells us ‘Barabbas had been thrown into prison. He had taken part in a struggle in the city against the authorities. He had also committed murder.” (Luk 23:19) He’s a violent terrorist!

Imagine its early. Footsteps. Keys rattle. ‘Oh no. I’m going to die!’ The Cell door opens. Get up Barabbas!” – You are Free! What?

Surprised Barabbas
‘Watch you talking about Jailers?’ How come? No way? Yes way… and zoom he’s out of their like greased lightning. And he’s feeling very…

Happy Barabbas
He was going to die. Be crucified. And now he’s free! He can’t believe it.
No he really can’t believe it! In fact he’s rather puzzled!

Puzzled Barabbas
He’s even more puzzled when he finds out that a man called Jesus has been imprisoned and, although its very doubtful of any crime He has committed, Jesus is now going to be crucified upon the cross that should have been his!

Perhaps we’ve asked that question. Why did Jesus have to die?
It’s a question we should ask every time we come to communion.

Now I don’t know if any of you are violent terrorists. I really hope not. And maybe none of us have dome anything as bad as Barabbas. But the Bible tells us we all have lives that are less than they should be or could be.

Romans 3:23 ‘Everyone has sinned. No one measures up to God's glory.’

The Bible also tells in 1 Peter 3:18 “Christ died for sins once and for all time. The One who did what is right died for those who don't do right. He died to bring you to God. His body was put to death. But the Holy Spirit brought Him back to life. “

Peter explains that all of us are a little like Barabbas. None of us really measure up! We are people who do wrong. But that’s just the sort of people Jesus died for and was raised for. Jesus died to bring us to God.

The bread and wine remind us that Jesus has opened the door for all of us to experience the love and presence of God in our lives! No-one is excluded. No matter how good or bad. We can all ask God to fill us with the Holy Spirit so we can live our lives the Jesus way.

Barabbas was a man who knew like no other that Jesus died for him to set him free. God wants us to know that Christ died for all of us, that we may be free to love and serve each other. Every barrier is broken down at the cross.

There was once a minister called Isaac Watts who was one day reading his bible and he came across a verse in Galatians 6:14, that said "May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world.''

Maybe it reminded him of Barabbas! We don’t know for sure, but we do know he picked up his pen and wrote a poem that could have been Barabbas’s song. It became a hymn which Christians often sing as they approach communion.

1. When I survey the wondrous cross
On which the Prince of glory died,
My richest gain I count but loss,
And pour contempt on all my pride.

2. Forbid it, Lord, that I should boast,
Save in the death of Christ my God;
All the vain things that charm me most,
I sacrifice them to His blood.

3. See, from His head, His hands, His feet,
Sorrow and love flow mingled down;
Did e'er such love and sorrow meet,
Or thorns compose so rich a crown?

4. Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.

These are things to think about every time we take bread and wine. The Jesus who died to set Barabbas free also died that we may live free and forgiven. All God asks is that we put our faith and trust and hope in what Jesus has done for us. Around this table is an awesome time and place for giving our lives into God’s hands.