In My Place

If there is a frequent thought that crosses my mind often while meditating on the suffering of Jesus, it's the thought of Barabbas. I cannot help but see myself standing in the place of Barabbas. 

The Bible says Barabbas was a notorious prisoner(Matthew 27:17) and a robber(John 18:40). He was chained with his fellow rebels, they had committed murder in the rebellion(Mark 15:7). 

In other words, a man who deserved to die. The wages of his sin was death. But when Pilate asks the crowd, Whom do you want me to release to you? Barabbas or Jesus? There was no comparison to be made between Jesus and Barabbas. On one side here is a man who served the people. Healed the blind, deaf and the mute. He cleansed the lepers. And on the other side is a notorious criminal who harmed the people. He was a threat to them. And yet the crowd shouted they wanted Barabbas. 

I like to imagine that as Barabbas was waiting in the prison, for his turn to be crucified. That’s when the soldiers must have told him  “Barabbas, you are a guilty man – but you will be released because Jesus will die in your place.” 

That's exactly who I was, I deserved to die. I deserved the penalty of my sins. I was waiting for my turn to be in eternal damnation. But a Man chose to die in my place. Lord Jesus laid down His life in my stead. 

A righteous Man, a Man who knew no sin, took the place of a notorious prisoner! Actually, He took the place of all mankind! So that you and I could taste eternal life. 

Below is a poem penned with the thought of being in Barabbas place: 

IN MY PLACE...

As I laid lone in that dark prison,

The sentence of death was imposed on me. 

The concrete cell was opened to me,

And after years I saw streams of light again. 

With confusion my eyes fought the shine,

And I feared why the door was open at this time. 

Was it already time I wondered,

For me to be crucified for I was guilty. 

But they told me I was free to go,

And said a man called Jesus would die instead. 

I couldn’t understand my emotions for a while,

Does this mean I have freedom and life again? 

As I walked the streets as a free man,

I saw people running up the mountains in haste. 

They shouted with rage Jesus is being crucified,

I joined the herd up that mountain  to see that man. 

As I made my way among the crowd,

I saw Him raised bleeding on the the cross. 

And there was only one thought that came to me,

'This Man died the death I had to die, He was in my place!!!’ 

-M@ry