God sent Jesus, his one and only son, to come live and die for our sins.
Q: How many times have you heard that?
A: Too many, a lot, almost every Sunday, at least once a month, once a year. You answer.
I received a text this morning from a good friend asking if I have ever seen/heard this particular YouTube video. I replied, "no, should I?" The suggestion to watch was obvious. She probably knew that I had never seen it, seeing as there are millions of videos on YouTube. However she replied with a quick "Um.. yes!" There was no hey, hello, or good morning that became before the first text, just the question. I had no idea why she decided to ask me, I doubt she really had that much of an idea besides it felt right. God was calling her to do so. God was blessing me through her. Pretty dope eh?!
The video she suggested was entitled Jesus is Loving Barabbas, a short sermon by Judah Smith. I had never really heard of Barabbas before, all I knew was that he was from the Bible. Maybe I didn't even know that, I just made the connection because the name sounds like a Bible name. So needless to say I had no idea of anything about Barabbas. However, if you asked me now who Barabbas was I could answer in a heart beat.
I am Barabbas. You are Barabbas.
For those of you who don't know who Barabbas is I will give a little background lesson. Barabbas was a murderer, he was a thug, he was a leader of a rebellion. Barabbas was a man of chaos. Barabbas had been captured by the Romans and placed upon death along with Jesus. At this time in history it was tradition to let one of the captives free on the Holy day. And this day, a day that would change the entire course of life, happened to be one of those days. The choices… Barabbas and Jesus Christ. Pilot would allow one of these men to be freed, his way of doing so would be to let the people decide who that one person would be. Barabbas the murderer, the man who embodied sin? Jesus Christ the healer, the Son of God?
"Give us Barabbas! We want Barabbas!" the people shouted.
The guards came and unlock Barabbas from his chains, they let him free. This whole time Jesus is standing silently for he knew the will of the Father. Our Father had to treat Jesus like Barabbas so he could treat Barabbas like Jesus.
STOP!
Think about that for a moment.
Barabbas walks away thinking that the people have freed him. That the people have saved his life. Barabbas has no thought to turn around and thank Jesus for what he is about to do. I have no idea if Barabbas ever came to know and love the Lord after God spared him his life. It really doesn't matter at all if he did. It would make the story happier that's about it. However, God did what he did not just Barabbas, but for each and every single person that has walked, or ever will walk this earth. He did what he did for you and for me. It doesn't get any more personal than that!
The people did not save Barabbas. The LOVE and MERCY of God our Father saved Barabbas. Jesus did not deserve to die, Barabbas did! Barabbas deserved to be standing there on death row, his actions had lead him right to it! Did Jesus deserve to die? All he ever did was heal, love, teach, and care for people. However the story remains the same.
"For while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Now this is where it gets personal for me. I want to focus on the word deserve for a little bit.
Barabbas deserved to die right? Barabbas deserved to pay the consequences for his actions! Right? Barabbas lived this life full of sin and darkness. Barabbas never thought to turn his head to heaven and repent for what he had done. Barabbas did not feel any shame leaving Jesus Christ standing alone on the platform to be subject to torture and death. Barabbas deserved the worst! Right?
How often have I been that person standing on the platform? How often have I been the one that was set free from my chains and my bondage? How often have you been that person? How often are you Barabbas?
When I find myself facing temptation, and when I fail, and when I find myself back in dark places I face the same dilemma. I try my hardest to do what I can to break the chains. I try to be more disciplined, I try my best to be happier, I try my best to right the wrongs I have done to people. I tell myself that I do not deserve God's love and help when its me who has messed up over and over again. I knowingly make the same mistakes when I know God has already saved me by Grace, so how then can I call upon God to help me when I am back face first in the dirt? I deserve it all.
"No"
"Give me your sins Son."
"Let me have it, let me take it for YOU."
I can not do it on my own. You can not do it on your own. That is the WHOLE POINT for which Jesus died upon the cross! Our greatest challenge is not more discipline, or more patience, or more of anything that has to do with only us! Our greatest challenge is our faith! Our greatest challenge is our belief in the Gospel. Believing that there is a God that is so loving, so compassionate, so merciful, so powerful, so expansive, so welcoming, so PERFECT!
"Let me have your sin son, let me have your sin daughter."
We reply "Ok. Take it. Take what I deserve and let me be loved."
Through all of this, and all the battles I wage within my own mind their is one simply, honest, fact. That Jesus is enough. His blood was sufficient for my salvation! And if his blood is sufficient for my salvation it is sufficient to sustain me! It will sustain me in times of joy and times of struggle! It will sustain me in fear and in temptation! His blood has covered every inch, every ounce, every hair on my body! On your body! He is the only one that can free me of my chains! He is the only one that could save my life, and he has.
Jesus. Is. Enough.
Always has been
Always is
Always will be
I want to take a moment and say thank you to my sister in this amazing family of God. Thank you Kate for blessing me today, I pray that God continues to bless and pour out his love on you. I pray and look forward to all the chances I will have to grow with you, and from you! You are an amazing person, whom I am blessed to know and love.
Check out Kate Goelers blog y'all! This girl is walken with the Spirit. Maybe you can catch a lil fire too!
