Saturday – (Taking the Place of Barabbas)
We trust that you will find these devotions helpful on your spiritual walk with Christ. Please meditate on the Scripture passages, understand the story in context, then reflect on how this story relates to your life today. May God bless you this Easter season.
SCRIPTURE: Read Luke 23:13-25
SUMMARY: Pilate, the Roman governor, calls together the chief priests, the rulers, and the people and presents Jesus to them. He declares that he has found no basis for the charges brought against Jesus, neither in terms of the accusations of subverting the nation nor of forbidding payment of taxes to Caesar.
However, the Jewish leaders persist in their accusations against Jesus, stirring up the crowd’s emotions. Pilate, seeking to appease the crowd, proposes to punish Jesus and then release him. Yet, the crowd vehemently demands the release of Barabbas, a notorious prisoner, instead of Jesus.
Pilate, faced with the escalating crowd pressure and fearing a potential riot, gives in to their demands. He releases Barabbas, the insurrectionist and murderer, and he hands Jesus over to their will, agreeing to have Jesus crucified.
This passage underscores the political dynamics at play during Jesus’ trial, as Pilate struggles to maintain control and appease the crowd while ultimately yielding to their demands for Jesus’ crucifixion.
STORY: Pilate finds no fault in Jesus, he is an innocent man (Luke 23:14, 15, 22).
SELF-EXAMINATION: Jesus was the perfect human being, never sinning in word, thought, or deed. He is also the God of creation who has always existed, long before the nativity or even the creation of the universe. Jesus is called the God-Man, 100% God and 100% man. Sure, the math does not add up, but this is a theological construct! However, it is not too difficult. In human terms, I am 100% a husband, 100% a father, and 100% a brother. There is not a time in my current existence when I am not all of these, however, understanding my function and focus will change from time to time. Jesus is the Word of God who was at the beginning (John 1:1-2), and this Word became flesh and dwelt among us (John 1:14). Theologians call this the incarnation.
Pilate found no fault in Jesus, the Lord had simply done nothing wrong, he did not break any laws against the Roman empire. The theological debate may be this: as God, if Jesus “was not able to sin,” it’s hard for us to identify with him. It’s like he would have an unfair advantage over human beings (he’s got this divine nature that cannot sin). However, as a human being, it is more accurate to say that Jesus “was able to not sin.” Do you see the difference? If Jesus was able not to sin, we now can identify with the full humanity of Jesus. Perhaps that modern advertising campaign is correct, “He Gets Us.”
SOUL-SEARCHING: The human Jesus “was able to not sin” when given choices throughout his earthly life. That really is good news for all of us. Since we have the power of the Holy Spirit’s presence in our life, we too can make better choices and say NO to sin. We are no longer slaves to sin, since we have been set free (John 8:31-32), forgiven (Luke 24:47, Acts 26:18, Colossians 1:14), and have the indwelling Holy Spirit (John 14:26, 16:8), giving us the power to say NO to sin.
- The Bible reminds us that those who are in Christ are no longer slaves to sin (John 8:34, Romans 6:6, 16-17). So, are you in Christ, or just in the church?
- The joy of resurrection Sunday is that Jesus secured our victory over sin and death. He died and was raised from the dead. The resurrection is the evidence that Jesus is exactly who he claimed to be.
- Salvation is not automatic, like we can just believe that Jesus died on the cross and rose from the dead. We must willfully and intentionally place our faith in Jesus, the one who is the only mediator between God and mankind (1 Timothy 2:5).
- The Father will then see the righteousness of Christ covering us, and He will declare, “I find no fault in him.”
This is such good news! What greater story is there than one about a death and a resurrection? (check out my footnote below)
- So, where do you stand with Jesus? We have only one life to get this right. There are no second chances after death.
- What barriers must be overcome for you to begin this journey with Jesus?
- If you’re already saved, what obstacles were in your way before you came to faith in Christ?
- Don’t put it off, the Bible tells us that, “And working together with Him, we also urge you not to receive the grace of God in vain— 2 for He says, “At the acceptable time I listened to you, and on the day of salvation I helped you.” Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:1-2).
- What prohibits you from being “all in” with Jesus, even at the risk of being labeled a fanatic?
Again, don’t put it off. We can help. Find out more HERE: kgbc.us/more
FOOTNOTE: Movies that stole our resurrection story from the New Testament…
- Remember ET, and the heart light scene? He literally came back to life in that movie.
- What about Neo in the Matrix? That dude was dead and came back to life with amazing power. Don’t forget that his disciples called him “the one.”
- Then there is Superman, in Man of Steel: Kal-El was 33 when he sacrificed himself for the people of Earth, right? Also, Clark Kent dies in Batman vs. Superman, and is resurrected in Justice League.
- Finally, there’s Aslan from the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Aslan, the royal lion, was killed at the stone table by the white witch. He is later seen alive again, and the story includes several post-resurrection appearances.
If you can think of another movie I left out, would you write to me and tell me about it? [ Click Here ] (send to Scott Chafee )