A number of
years ago I watched a drama that tried to tell the stories of those who were
touched by the ministry of Jesus. The story centered on the lives of these
people after Jesus crucifixion. Filled with imagination, the author tried
desperately to tell the story of those who had been left behind to live out
their own lives in the shadow of the cross. It was a mix of people who had
absolutely nothing in common, other than that they knew and were touched by the
life and death of Jesus Christ of Galilee. And one of the characters in the
drama was a man named Barabbas. It is interesting that the name Barabbas really
means “Son of the Father.” It was a name that Jesus, by his words and actions,
claimed for himself. Jesus was the ultimate Barabbas – the ultimate “Son of the
Father.” But in the biblical story, Barabbas is also the name of the murderer
who was set free as a Passover Gift to the people at the time of Jesus death.
Both Jesus and Barabbas were offered to the people as that gift, but the people
chose the one who was “Son of the Father” by name rather than Jesus, the one
who was “Son of the Father” in deed.
During the
drama, Barabbas struggles with the idea that Jesus died in his stead. He was
ready to die, proud to die and feed the anti-Roman revolution with his last
breath, but instead he was allowed to live and Jesus was chosen to die. The
Barabbas of the drama talked about that day, of following Jesus up the hill,
watching the nails being hammered into his hands, seeing the cross being lifted
up and watching this man hanging very literally in his place. Barabbas
struggled to hear the words that Jesus would utter, he hoped to hear Jesus
curse the Romans with his last breath, but that never happened. Barabbas was
looking for the nearest Roman guard intent on stealing his weapons and killing
him and as many others as he could before they finally killed him. He was ready
to do it when he heard the words “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know
what they are doing.” Barabbas turned to look at the man dying on the cross. The
words were addressed to the Father, but Jesus was looking at the man called the
“Son of the Father.” The words pierced him. And in that moment everything
changed. Maybe for the first time the one called Barabbas realized his own
identity – that he was the “Son of the Father.”
Barabbas
left the hill that day along with his former life. He decided to follow the one
who lived out his name better than he had ever lived it – the one who was
really the “Son of the Father.” Not only did he follow him spiritually, but on
that day Barabbas became a carpenter. He admits that he is not much of one,
still learning the trade as it were, but he was content simply being a
carpenter and leaving the world of revolution.
And as
Barabbas works, he sings a song. The words for the song on Barabbas’s lips are
from Isaiah 49 - Shout for joy, you heavens; rejoice, you
earth; burst into song, you mountains! For the Lord comforts his people and will have compassion on his afflicted ones. The
tune isn’t much, but the words speak it all.
Isaiah couldn’t imagine a person who had been comforted and redeemed not
wanting to sing – to burst into song – about the one that had redeemed them; had
literally paid a price to buy them back. And neither could Barabbas. He had
been bought for a price, the man that had hung on the cross that day had paid for
his life with his own. And now all Barabbas wanted to do was to shout for joy.
Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: Isaiah
50
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