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TITLE: Barabbas, What’s Your Choice? 3/15/2021
By Laurie Kiel
03/16/21
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I appreciate any and all critiques and look forward for suggestions on what can be improved. Thank you in advance.
Barabbas lay on a rag on the cold stone floor of his jail. It was hard to sleep, knowing tomorrow he would die. And not just any death, death by crucifixion. Wouldn’t you know it would be the sadistic Romans who had devised the most painful death ever invented. Well, he wouldn’t beg for mercy. He wouldn’t give them the satisfaction. He only wished his mother wouldn’t have to see him die on the cross. He’d cost her so much pain already, and now this.

“Hey, Barabbas,” called a fellow prisoner, “You’re awfully quiet in there. Scared to death of the Romans finally?”

“The day I’m scared of the Romans is the day Caesar starts giving us barrels of money instead of stealing every last denarius we have. “ Barabbas sneered, bravado pushing out the fear that fermented in his stomach.

There was a clank of iron as the bars opened and two Roman guards walked into the cell, yanking Barabbas to his feet. A squad of Romans followed them, poised to slice Barabbas to ribbons if he tried anything. He wanted to know what they wanted, but knew any questions would be meant with silence or jeers. So he followed them with stony silence.

“Hey Barabbas, where are you going?” called a voice.

“Don’t you know,” one said with sarcasm, “Why, today’s the day that the Jews are allowed to choose one prisoner to be set free. The Jews love our Barabbas so, they’re clamoring for it to be him.”

“That must be it!” another chimed in, “He’s killed, and robbed countless others, and so they want to show him their appreciation.”

As Barabbas trudged along with the guards, his mind buzzed with questions. Why was he being summoned. Had they decided to crucify him now? No, of course not, they never crucified at night. But why?

The guards hissed at him, “You’re going before Pontius Pilate, so mind your manners.”

Pontius Pilate? But why? Barabbas had been sentenced long ago.

Pilate said to the crowd, “Who shall I release to you, Barabbas, or Jesus, the one you call King of the Jews.”

He had heard all about him, healing the sick, raising the dead. And rumor had it, forgiving sins. Forgiving sins. Barabbas had sneered at the thought because it was too unbelievable to even imagine. Though Barabbas had liked how Jesus had defied the pharisees. But what was Jesus doing here? He had broken no law, Barabbas was sure of it. Barabbas gathered the spittle into his mouth, getting ready to spit into the crowd when they would choose Jesus. For they would surely choose Jesus.

“Give us Barabbas!” the crowd yelled. Barabbas choked on his mouthful of spittle. They had chosen him over Jesus.

“What would you have me do with your king of the Jews?”

“Crucify, crucify him!” the crowd screamed with one ravenous voice, screaming for the blood of Jesus.

With a nod from Pilate, the soldiers shoved Barabbas into the crowd. Unbelieving at first, Barabbas slowly took a couple of unbelieving steps and then realizing he was really free, he ran for his life.

Laughter bubbled up into his throat. Free! Free! He wasn’t going to die tomorrow.As he strode through the crowd, daring the crowd to challenge him, he glanced back over his shoulder.

There stood Jesus, his hands bound, his dark eyes staring at Barabbas. Barabbas would have sworn that Jesus was looking at him with eyes of … love?

“If I were in your place,” he muttered under his breath, “I’d be staring with eyes of hate at the man who the crowd chose instead of me.” But he wasn’t in Jesus’s place. He stopped still a moment, when he realized. He wasn’t in Jesus’ place, but Jesus was in his.

The next day, Barabbas found himself irresistibly drawn to the crucifixion. There were two of his friends, on crosses, and there in the middle was Jesus. Barabbas cursed himself. What was he doing here? With all these Romans around here, with no doubt a spare cross and some extra nails in case Pilate changed his mind. But he couldn’t tear himself away.

He’s done nothing wrong! He wanted to scream at the crowd, Pull him down! I belong up there!

“Father, forgive them; they don’t know what they’re doing.”

“Some Messiah you are! Save yourself! Save us!”

:Have you no fear of God? You’re getting the same as him. We deserve this, but not him –he did nothing to deserve this.”

“Jesus, remember me when you enter your kingdom.”

“Don’t worry, I will. Today you will join me in paradise.”
“
“Surely this man was the son of God.”


Jesus breathed his last. Barabbas took a deep breath and walked away. Free. He was free. Another had died in his place.

A couple of days went by and Barabbas heard an incredible rumor. Jesus was alive! Raised from the dead!

Nathan came running up to Barabbas. “Barabbas, you’re free! I should have known no Roman cell could hold you! Listen my friend, we are gathering another group and this time we know we can overthrow the Romans. Are you with us?”

Barabbas looked at Nathan, and then he looked over at the disciple. Jesus had died in his place. He was guilty and should have died. He had a fresh start. Would he take a new life or go back to the old?

Nathan shook Barabbas’ arm. “Barabbas, what’s happened to you. You were always a man of action. Make a decision! What’s your choice?”


We don’t know what Barabbas did with his second chance at life. Did he go back to his criminal ways? Or did he become a Christ follower? We don’t know his choice, but we know we have a similar choice. Like Barabbas, the choice is ours. Some of us have made the decision, others, like Barabbas straddle the fence trying to choose between the old life and the new. So, what’s your choice?
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