Jaw-dropping Jewels about Jesus
Rarely does Jesus, God the Son, do exactly what we expect of Him. It seems odd that He so frequently surprises us, given that He never changes. Hebrews 13:8 makes this absolute statement: “Jesus the same yesterday, and today, and forever.” Still, though He is blessedly consistent in His goodness, Jesus does unforeseen things. Even when He does what is expected, He does not always do it in the way that we anticipate. Let us join with Jesus on a jaw-dropping journey. (I will be using this opening paragraph for each of the brief messages in this series. The following material will change daily.)
Mark 15:15 states Pilate’s politically expedient decision: “And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged Him, to be crucified.” Barabbas was a murderer and an insurrectionist (verse 7). Thus, according to both Jewish and Roman law, he deserved the death penalty. He was a vicious, violent man. Today, we would call him a terrorist. Yet, the religious leaders decide to side with this criminal rather than the innocent Jesus; their decision reminds me of how leftists in our nation always seem to pick the worst people to protest on behalf of. Scripture tells us nothing more about Barabbas; history is also silent about him. I would like to think that his reprieve sobered him and that he came to a saving knowledge of Jesus. However, my many years as a pastor tell me that it is likely he returned to his wicked life and cynically scoffed at his good fortune and at the people responsible for his pardon,” for many be called, but few chosen” (Matthew 20:16b). In the same way that Jesus took Barabbas’s place on the Cross, He has taken the place of all people. Yet, throughout the centuries, the majority reject the Savior’s substitution. Each one in the minority is a miracle, a personal miracle, a personal miracle performed by Jesus Himself. Let us be deeply grateful for our salvation, and let us continue in prayer for those that are currently in the Barabbas majority.