I am Barabbas

Bible Reading: Matthew 27:11-26and Luke 23:15–22

Memory Verse:  "For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 6:23

Barabbas was a well known criminal and trouble maker that was in jail for murder.  He was headed for a punishment of death.  He did not deserve a release.  There was no evidence of repentance or sorrow for the sins that he committed.

Romans 5:8 says this: " But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners."

Jesus, the innocent, gave his life first for Barabbas, an unrepentant sinner.  Barabbas did nothing to deserve this, but had the same love and opportunity as everyone.

Jesus loved you first while you were in the worst of your sin.  You don't deserve this love, but He gives it freely.  You have the opportunity to respond to this love by accepting the free gift that God offers through Jesus.

We are all guilty and deserve condemnation but because of the willing substitution of the innocent Christ in our place, there is a free gift of freedom from those sins for those who accept. “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick,” Jesus says in Mark 2:17. “I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

I identify with Barabbas as a sinner who was released from the deserved punishment of the sin.  I am Barabbas.

Page Johnson
Interlocking Ministries