To Barabbas With Love

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9


A few weeks ago I watched The Passion of the Christ for the first time since I saw it in the theater. Ever since then I have been thinking about Barabbas. I can honestly say I have never given a whole lot of thought to his role in the crucifixion of Jesus. Sure, I knew he was the guy who was chosen to go free instead of Jesus, but just imagine being in his sandals…

A convicted murderer, he was just hours away from a sentence of capital punishment at the hands of a cruel and vicious Roman government. I can only imagine his astonishment when he was paraded out before the masses for a vote to determine who would go free. He must have figured there was NO WAY anyone would vote for him. He had been tried and convicted. Everyone KNEW he was a murderer, but no one could prove that this man called Jesus had committed any crime. Even the governor, Pontius Pilate, said he could find no fault in Jesus and recommended that he be released. Imagine Barabbas’s shock and dismay when the people began to shout his name, “Barabbas! Barabbas! Barabbas!” Then before he even had time to consider what this meant he was being unshackled and told he was free to go! WHAT?


Because of Jesus, on that day a guilty man sentenced to die for his crimes received the greatest gift ever given…the GIFT of LIFE. I can relate. Like Barabbas, I too have been found guilty and sentenced to die in my sin, forever separated from God. On that day over two thousand years ago Jesus took my punishment making it possible for me to be unshackled from sin and set free. His gift is still available to anyone willing to accept it. Hallelujah! What a Savior!

LOVE...50% off?

Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love. 1 John 4:8

While grocery shopping yesterday I noticed several signs with this shocking pronouncement… "ALL Valentine’s Day merchandise now 50% off!” It’s hard to believe that less than a week ago the stores were crowded and the roads were clogged with people searching for that “perfect” Valentine gift. Price was no object as people lined up to empty their wallets to declare their undying love and affection. Now the same cards, stuffed animals, and candy are only worth half as much.

Society tells us that you are no one without a “special someone” so we are willing to go to great lengths to win a heart even if we do have to spend our entire paycheck. The really sad thing is that there is no guarantee that our love will be returned by the one we give it to. When the roses live no more and the chocolate is but a faint memory to the taste buds will we have more love in our lives or just less money in the bank?

The truth is the love we desire can never be won because it is already ours. It can never be found with another human because perfect love only exists in God, our Father. 1 Corinthians 13 is often read at weddings because it is known as the “love chapter.” However, it is a description of love that couples can only aspire to and never achieve for it is a description of the perfect love of God for mankind.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails.  1 Corinthians 13:4-8

1 John 4:8 tells us that “God is love.” Therefore 1 Corinthians 13 is also a description of God Himself.


GOD is patient.

GOD is kind.

GOD does not envy.

GOD does not boast.

GOD is not proud.

GOD does not dishonor others.

GOD is not self-seeking.

GOD is not easily angered.

GOD keeps no record of wrongs.

GOD does not delight in evil, but rejoices with the truth.

GOD always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

GOD never fails.

Give your heart to the one who loves you with a perfect love that cannot be duplicated.

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16

You WILL have trouble...

…In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world. John 16:33

TROUBLE!

We have all experienced it…car trouble, money trouble, relationship trouble, law trouble, work trouble, and the list goes on. Some days even qualify as “double trouble”. You wake up late for work because you set the alarm for PM instead of AM. You stub your toe getting out of bed, spill toothpaste on the shirt you planned to wear, and the only socks that are clean don’t match. The milk for your cereal is sour and there is no mayo for the ham sandwich you were going to take for lunch. Those are the kinds of mornings when you really consider going back to bed.

Even Jesus warned us that this life would not be free from trouble, but He did not leave us without hope. In John 16:33 He tells us to find our encouragement in the fact that He has overcome the world and we know that if Jesus overcame the world then we can too. Very truly I tell you, whoever believes in me will do the works I have been doing, and they will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. John 14:12

Earlier in John 16, Jesus tries to comfort His disciples who are distressed to learn that Jesus is going away and will not be with them. Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy. John 16:22

Today’s world is full of trouble. Unemployment and crime are up. The stock market is down. Governments and entire countries are disintegrating before our very eyes. It is a time of grief for many, but Jesus IS coming back and when He does we will have great joy and NO ONE will take it away. Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

Like An Olive Tree...

But I am like an olive tree

flourishing in the house of God;

I trust in God’s unfailing love
 for ever and ever.
I will praise you forever
for what you have done;

in your name I will hope,
for your name is good.
I will praise you
in the presence of your saints. 

Psalm 52:8-9

    The writer of Psalm 52, is comparing and contrasting the righteous and the unrighteous. While the unrighteous trust in their own wealth only to be brought down to everlasting ruin, the righteous who trust in God are like a flourishing olive tree.

An olive tree?

• Olive trees are extremely resistant to drought,

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst  for righteousness for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

• disease,

...And by His wounds we are healed. Isaiah 53:5b

• and fire.

When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze. Isaiah 43:2


As a result olive trees can live to be hundreds and even thousands of years old!

• The olive tree's incredible root system is capable of regenerating the tree even if the above-ground structure is completely destroyed.

We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.
2 Corinthians 4:8-9

• The leaves of the olive tree have long been a symbol of abundance, glory, and peace and over the years its fruit has been the symbol of peace, wisdom, glory, fertility, power, and purity.

Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, Nor have entered into the heart of man
The things which God has prepared for those who love Him.
1 Corinthians 2:9

 
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
John 14:27

So I am like an olive tree? Yeah that's me!

Write...

And He said to me, “Write, for these words are true and faithful.” Revelation 21:5b

     I have never written a blog before and I wonder if anyone will even read it, but when the Lord impresses something on my heart I am compelled to obey. The purpose of this blog will be to share what I have learned over the past several years as well as what God continues to reveal to me. Grace and peace to you through our Lord Jesus Christ! Amen